Antarctica: Music, sounds and cultural connections

The Antarctica Music Festival and Conference at The Australian National University’s School of Music on 25–29 June 2011 generated a great sense of excitement. Concerts at the festival included the dawn performance of John Luther Adams’ ‘Inuksuit’ at the James Turrell Skyspace in the Australian National Gallery, the inspired playing of harpist Alice Giles, the movement of dancer, animator and choreographer Lisa Roberts, and the cold magic of Norwegian percussionist Terje Isungset with his monolithic ice instruments in front of a capacity outdoor audience at the School of Music in Canberra, in 0°C on a winter’s night. The conference ‘Antarctica — Music, Sounds and Cultural Connections’ on 27–29 June 2011 was unique in celebrating the theme of music in Antarctica. This volume presents papers from the conference.