| Description |
Tape#2: Music of New Guinea Recordings and Journey of Ray Sheridan
Side A & B
Ray Sheridan undertook a ABC Project for music recordings in Rabaul in 1953 for their collections and archive. He did various broadcast features in the duration of the project and made presentations upon his return to Australia with various ABC indigenous programs and Diplomatic core entertainment with these New Guinea and Aboriginal music recordings.
Ray's local music knowledge and experience from various ethnic and cultural groups like the mixed race community with Ambonese Indonesian, Malay, Chinese, Japanese, New Guinea Islands and New Guinea Mainland produced such rich music recordings of various guitar based and other instruments. The mixture of indigenous music were Tolais', New Irelanders, Manus, Bouganville, Sepik and Makolkol people of New Britain were some groups recorded.
A main feature in ABC feature was the "Kambiu Club" who had well established band where Ray played violin and some women singers.
Ray's relationship with the Kambiu Club members influenced his return to Rabaul for a job with CPL (Coconuts Products Ltd) then the Government Stores from 1954 to 1960. He continued his musical interest and recordings with the connections with Administrators and Planters who were involved with the local music.
From 1960 to 1966 he transferred to Kavieng in New Ireland and posted with the Malaria Health Unit in New Hanover island and communities where he undertook patrols at the same time still involved with music recordings which was mostly undertaken in Rabaul for the various groups or individuals that were involved with Ray in this journey. Most guitar music was introduced and developed after second World War for indigenous people of PNG and published and contributed articles about his music recordings in the Papua new Guinea Encyclopedia.
From 1966, Ray moved to Port Moresby till PNG independence in 1975 continuing Government work and music. He also travelled in the Papuan areas recording and had similar musical experiences with one interesting story of a man playing the violin left by either American of Australian solider along the Kokoda trail.
Ray returned to Sydney, Australia after PNG independence in 1975.
(Steven Gagau, July 2019) |
