Recently I have found some videos of a new composition for mandolin orchestra and percussion by Australian composer Richard Charlton: The adventures of the Duyfken
The vessel Duyfken was a Dutch ship that was the first ship to reach Australia in 1606:
In 1606, the small Dutch ship Duyfken sailed from the Indonesian island of Banda in search of gold and trade opportunities on the fabled island of Nova Guinea.
Under the command of Willem Janszoon, Duyfken and her crew ventured south-east. They sailed beyond Os Papuas (Papua New Guinea) and explored and chartered part of the coast of Nova Guinea. They did not find gold – but they did find the northern coast of a huge continent: Australia. Captain Janszoon was the first European to map and record Australia in history so Duyfken‘s voyage marks the beginning of Australia’s recorded history.
Richard Charlton composed The adventures of the Duyfken in 2007:
“Commissioned by Geoffrey Barber with funds from the Australian Mandolin Music Association…”–P. i.
The first two videos show a performance by the dutch mandolin orchestra Eerste Schiedamse Mandolineorkest ONI:
The Adventures of the Duyfken – Richard Charlton, PART ONE
The Adventures of the Duyfken – Richard Charlton PART TWO
The next two videos were played by the West Australian Mandolin Orchestra conducted by Robert Schulz. The WAMO announces on its homepage that it will travel to France and Germany in June 2010 – I guess that the orchestra will also play at the big Eurofestival in Bruchsal.
The Adventures of the Duyfken – R. Charlton PART ONE
The Adventures of the Duyfken – R. Charlton PART TWO
Finally another video with one movement of this suite played by the British group Fretful Federation:
The Fretful Federation play Charlton’s Duyfken Arafura Sea
Additional information:
The original Duyfken: http://www.duyfken.com/original/
Website of the Eerste Schiedamse Mandolineorkest ONI: http://www.mandolineorkestoni.nl/
Website of the WAMO: http://www.wamo.com.au/
Youtube chanel of the WAMO: http://www.youtube.com/user/wamandolinorchestra
Website of the Fretful Federation: http://www.fretful-federation.co.uk/