A really beautiful song, must listen! Garrkuluk

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:46 pm

Take a listen to Garrkuluk attached below, you don't have to know the words but the music will touch you.

Sung by Alfred G*rr*tj*r* Gurruwiwi and Larry Winiwini, with Larry on keyboard too, shared here with permission from the Gurruwiwis.

This song is doing the rounds in Arnhem Land with those with Bluetooth-capable mobile phones and also recently featured on an internet radio show. Thanks to Stuart Yanganiny for sending this to my Nokia.

The file is in wma format which PC users can easily handles, those on a Mac will need Windows Media Player which is free to download on the internet, do a Google search and you'll find it.

Guan

Ahaw · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:46 pm

Hi Guan, there seem to be a technical problem : the little MediaPlayer window is displayed and says it's "ready" but nothing will launch.
And cannot upload the file to listen it off-line.
Arg.
Is it my computer only ?

kdidj · **Joined:** Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:03 am **Posts:** 470

I've got the same problem here. Can you attach it without embedding it Guan?

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:47 pm

Sorry guys, I think I've fixed it, it is now downloadable instead of playing inline. Let me know if there are further problems. The file is pretty big at 10 plus MB so it'll take a while to download if you don't have broadband, but it is worth it as the sound quality is high.

Enjoy!

Guan

loic · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:32 pm

Thanks Guan!
Beautiful!!! really enjoyed it!

kdidj · **Joined:** Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:03 am **Posts:** 470

Very nice - the sections with Alfred singing remind me of the soundtrack to Yolngu Boy as they've got the same atmosphere and ethereal quality to them and the middle bit featuring Larry's vocal talents reminds me of Gurrumul and of the music of the South Pacific. I reckon this would do well in the charts (if edited down to under 4 minutes of course) following Gurrumul's recent success. Way to go Wuduku!

logrhythm · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:50 am

That is absolutely beautiful. Thanks to you and the Gurruwiwis for sharing. It would be special to have the translated lyrics...

Ahaw · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:46 am

-( YEEEAAAH ! )

And +1 with Logrythm for the translated lyrics

martin · **Joined:** Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:25 pm **Posts:** 151

Thanks Guan and the Gurruwiwi's for sharing this. It is indeed beautiful and I agree with Kyle that
Larry's singing reminds one a lot of Gurrumul. and Alfred's voice is sublime as always. .
From googling it seems that Gurrukul means clear water, clean..? Is that close to the meaning of the name
of the song.
cheers, Martin

garawirrtjaboys · **Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:32 pm

Dhapirrk!

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:52 am

Garrkuluk is a freshwater belonging to the Galpu.

Guan

logrhythm · **Posted:** Thu Mar 05, 2009 3:48 am

I would be curious to know how this song came about. Was it a collaboration before Alfred's passing, or did Larry put it together after? Also, is there a family (blood) relationship between the 2? I am captivated by the simplistic yet passionate compostition and feel, and something makes me yearn for more detailed info.

ididjaustralia · **Posted:** Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:18 pm

The song came to Alfred's sister and was done before Alfred's passing. Alfred is Larry's father, Larry being Djalu's son and Djalu and Alfred being brothers with 1 father Monyu. So Alfred and Larry both have Monyu's blood to put it this way.

The song is a gospel song which makes reference to Galpu-specific themes. Garrkuluk is pure, clean water - Holy Water, the Water of Life - which has cleansing, protecting, and comforting properties. Larry sings:

... Garrkuluk Garrkuluk djulararri lurryun yaka
Bapawuru bamay'nguru djarimi dharrawara nyinan
Malu Djesu Malu Djesu marrkapmi
Malu Djesu Malu God marrkapmi
Malu Djesu Malu God marrkapmi ...

Malu Djesu is literally Father Jesus, Bapa (also father) is God.

The tune sung by Alfred is Galpu, that's how Galpu men sing in ceremony with that type of melody.

I'm going to see if Skinny Fish Music would like to develop Larry's talents as a musician, or even if the recording could be re-done in a studio environment, that could be a good thing!

Guan

marcuz · **Posted:** Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:21 am

hi there!

lovely song indeed... what a talented duo...

Guan, I already spoke with Michael Hohnen (Skinny Fish co-boss, Gurrumul's double bass player and producer) two years ago and insisted him about Winiwini's talent... I also had told Larry that I knew Michael and therefore Larry kept insisting me to call him while I was at Galaru... I think we even played the song for him on the phone, maybe not this particular one, but one of the 3 or 4 hits that Larry had at that time, all of which are worthwhile a listen...

But my proposal never reached a formal level, it stayed at a "mate-phone-chat level", I had to fly back home and couldn't travel again in 2008, so it stayed there... Michael is really busy, specially now with Gurrumul, plus they have to keep an ear around the whole of Arnhem Land and Northern Australia for a big bunch of bands they promote and publish... and aboriginal talent for music is known by all, so it's quite common to receive suggestions of the kind "you have to listen to this, this one has talent!..."
so perhaps he never thought my suggestions deserved further attention... or he possibily forgot... But he is a kind man, an excellent musician with sensible ear and I'm sure he'll have time to put an ear for that if you tell him...

I'll do my best from my side, the more voices reccomending, the better... dunno how to contact him from BCN coz i lost his email address, but I'll try to find it or if not I'll ring him...

cheers,
M!

iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

A really beautiful song, must listen! Garrkuluk

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