Mark Atkins
Encyclopedia
Mark Atkins is an Australian Aboriginal musician
known for his skill on the didgeridoo
, a traditional instrument.
Mark Atkins is also a storyteller
, songwriter
, composer
and painter
. He descends from the Yamatji
people of Western Australia
. He was the 1990 winner of the Golden Didjeridu competition. He has worked with Robert Plant
and Jimmy Page
of Led Zeppelin
, Hothouse Flowers
, Philip Glass
, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra
, among others.
In 2001 he collaborated with Wurundjeri
elder Joy Murphy Wandin
and composer Philip Glass
in the concert work Voices, performed at the Melbourne Town Hall and New York's Lincoln Centre. The composition was commissioned by the City of Melbourne
to relaunch the Melbourne Town Hall Organ.
Mark was profiled in the television documentary Yamatji Man in 2003
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
known for his skill on the didgeridoo
Didgeridoo
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago and still in widespread usage today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe"...
, a traditional instrument.
Mark Atkins is also a storyteller
Storytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. He descends from the Yamatji
Yamatji
Yamatji is a name commonly used by Aboriginal people in the Murchison and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia to refer to themselves, and sometimes also to Aboriginal people generally, when speaking English. The word comes from the Wajarri language where it has the meaning 'man' or 'human being'...
people of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. He was the 1990 winner of the Golden Didjeridu competition. He has worked with Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
and Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Hothouse Flowers
Hothouse Flowers
The Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock group that combines traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel and rock.-Career:The group first formed in 1985 when Liam Ó Maonlaí and Fiachna Ó Braonáin began performing as street musicians, or buskers, on the streets of Dublin,Ireland as "The...
, Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
, among others.
In 2001 he collaborated with Wurundjeri
Wurundjeri
The Wurundjeri are a people of the Indigenous Australian nation of the Woiwurrung language group, in the Kulin alliance, who occupy the Birrarung Valley, its tributaries and the present location of Melbourne, Australia...
elder Joy Murphy Wandin
Joy Murphy Wandin
Joy Murphy Wandin is an Indigenous Australian, Senior Wurundjeri elder of the Kulin alliance in Victoria, Australia. She has given the traditional welcome to country greeting at many Melbourne events and to many distinguished visitors where she says in the Woiwurrung language "Wominjeka Wurundjeri...
and composer Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
in the concert work Voices, performed at the Melbourne Town Hall and New York's Lincoln Centre. The composition was commissioned by the City of Melbourne
City of Melbourne
The City of Melbourne is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the central city area of Melbourne. The city has an area of 36 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 93,105 people. The city's motto is "Vires acquirit eundo" which means "She gathers strength as she...
to relaunch the Melbourne Town Hall Organ.
Mark was profiled in the television documentary Yamatji Man in 2003
Discography
- Didgeridoo Concerto 1994.
- Plays Didgeridoo 1995.
- Didgeridoo Dreamtime ARC MusicARC MusicARC Music Productions International Limited is a specialist world music and folk music label based in West Sussex, United Kingdom. It was established in 1976...
, 1999. - The Sound of GondwanaGondwanaIn paleogeography, Gondwana , originally Gondwanaland, was the southernmost of two supercontinents that later became parts of the Pangaea supercontinent. It existed from approximately 510 to 180 million years ago . Gondwana is believed to have sutured between ca. 570 and 510 Mya,...
: 176,000 Years in the Making (compilation), Black Sun Music/Celestial Harmonies 1997. - The Rough Guide to Australian Aboriginal Music (compilation), World Music Network.
- City Circles.
- Ankala : Rhythms from the outer core World Network.
- Ankala & World Orchestra : Didje Blows the Games World Network.
- Walkabout.
- Creeper Vines and Time Maguari Productions.
- "Didge Odyssey" 2006
- "The Reason To Breathe" 2006
- "The Bushman" 2010 (Independent Release)
- "Dreamtime" 2011 (ARC Music)
External links
- Extended Mark Atkins profile at the Australia CouncilAustralia CouncilThe Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
- Yamatji Man - documentary