Little Fledgling

Little Fledgling is a poem in Australian Sign Language by deaf poet Walter Kadiki. The poem was set to music composed by Andrea Keller, as part of the larger project titled Across Silence. Across Silence: The Art of Music, Auslan and Haptics (presented by the Newmarket Collective) is a collaboration the first of its kind in Australia. Delivered in Auslan and sung by Gian Slater, Deaf artists Walter Kadiki and Marnie Kerridge perform a series of poems set to music by Andrea Keller. Walter and Marnie wear vibro-tactile haptic vests created by Music: Not Impossible. Consisting of a body pack, wrist and ankle bands they allow the performers to receive vibrations across 24 touch points on the body by programmed software, to feel the instruments and music live on stage. The actuators on the suits are all individually programmed to receive different instruments, frequency and intensity levels, and can be manipulated in real time, creating a unique mix for the performer. In collaboration with Walter, Andrea has scored Little Fledgling Australia’s premiere work for M:NI haptic vests, Auslan poetry, voice and ensemble. Composing material with not only the audible outcome as the focus, how the storytelling and musical elements can be communicated through the vibrations is key for the Deaf artists to obtain a similar experience of the music to the hearing musicians and audience. These vests also allow Walter and Andrea to improvise together, as Walter can immediately feel everything in the piano through his vest with zero latency. Alongside the new commissions for this concert, various works from Andrea’s Still Night album are signed by Marnie Kerridge, and arranged by Andrea for piano, voice, clarinet and double bass. The group were joined by Amber Richardson as Auslan Interpreter. Walter Kadiki – Deaf Poet Marnie Kerridge – Deaf Actor Andrea Keller – Piano/Composer/Arranger Gian Slater – Voice Natasha Fearnside – Clarinets Kylie Davies – Double bass Amber Richardson – Auslan Interpreter.