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Commendations

Rod Cameron, OSA's Commendation for

                       Red Land Songs

 

Dear 'Keis' and Maria, …The very beautiful Red Land Songs have contributed richly to my ministry, especially when I give the six day retreats and use the songs in my presentations. I have given retreats based on the Dreaming, at Canberra and Ormiston (Brisbane). In 2001, I will go to Adelaide. At St Joseph’s House of Hospitality and Prayer I will spend a week. 'The Dreaming' is having a powerful appeal.  (Thank you) for your priceless assistance. God bless. Sincerely, Rod (Cameron - 3/4/2000)

 

Some Other Testimonials

 

Dear Maria, You’d better frame this card for I rarely put pen to paper; a card from me is unique! We are on holidays at present so I’ve been trying to catch up on study. I have such poor motivation I need to play music that is inspirational to crank up the ol’ brain. This week I’ve been playing Red Land Songs. I do appreciate your talent. I’ve been so inspired that I decided to write to tell you how much I enjoy the aura you bring to the lyrics. … What a marvellous gift you are to us, Maria! Paul

 

Dear Maria Rosa, Could we be sent a copy of the tape Red Land Songs?  We like to sing at XY College and your songs sound good.  I certainly want to heighten awareness of Aboriginal realities. Tye

 

Dearest Maria, I hope I can make music as beautifully as you do and put into it my being and soul as you do in your music, the music of a whole people and land. Jue

 

The music is a joy to listen to – it rinses and cleanses the soul. I am welcomed by the music that she sings. James Cornell

 

Thank you so much for your tape Maria. We listened to it this weekend and very much enjoyed it. Ron was commenting that it is in a Pentatonic style (which he said was without the semitones) – to me it sounded very 'Irish' in its rendering. Whatever it was very beautiful and thank you for letting us share it. Sue (Trudinger - 4/7/1994)

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Dave Austin, OSA's Commendation for

Fire Wrapped in Stone

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Fire Wrapped in Stone brings to life the soothing music and song of Maria Rosa enriched with the subtle haunting sounds of the Australian Bush.  Inspired by the poetry of Rod Cameron OSA, these songs remind us that, 'This is a land where every horizon sings!'

(Fan the flames, Cameron, Rod, Karingal: A Search for Australian Spirituality.  Sydney, St Paul's Publications, 1995:56) - Provincial of Australasian Augustinians.

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'Sublime. Healing. Touching the universal. Among other superlatives - superb!'

                                                - Teresa and Allan Alexander

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'meddling with magic and mystery, conjuring forgotten bones till dark and pain grow young and strong’ – until, like many composers, ‘seduced into childbirth’ via composition the singer becomes a song. Her music works to present poetry more fully and aims to convey 'story’.'

 

                        - James Cornell

'The songs of the album Fire Wrapped In Stone are characterised by peaceful tranquillity.'

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- Walter Shovk, Member of Australian Music Examiners Board (AMEB)

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'Outstanding!'

                       - Dennis

 


At a concert in Cairns (North Queensland), Rod Cameron asserted Maria Rosa’s music both extended and released his poetry giving it 'another dimension'. The profound insights held within the simplicity of Rod’s words still hold true thirty years later. Like the Arrernte Alcheringa (and its equivalent in other Australian Indigenous languages), Rod’s works transcend time.  Enjoy!

Vale Rod!  Entered eternal life 29/5/2009

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© 2023 by Tyler Reece. Proudly created with Wix.com

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Warning to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders: This site contains images of and reference to people who have died and the voice of two of them.

 

Photos and videos of Rod Cameron OSA: Used with kind permission of the Augustinian Order of Australasia.

Use of sketch of little girl welcoming Rod Cameron at Bidyadanga: Permission given by Rod Cameron OSA - taken from text The Red Land published in 1972 by the Augustinian Order of Australasia. All illustrations in latter text - except for two - are by Olwen Roser

Other Photos Copyright: Maria Rosa

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All albums (except Red Land Songs) able to be downloaded from this site have been co-produced with, mixed and mastered by Brent Hodgkins at

Warrior Records, Bruthen Music Studio, Victoria, Australia.

Red Land Songs was recorded with the valuable assistance of Allan Black formerly of Black Inc, St Leonards, New South Wales.

 

Please note: Neither Rod Cameron OSA/Keis/James Cornell nor Maria Rosa are persons of Australian First Nations descent.  This site therefore does not speak for any one with Australian Indigenous lineage. Rather, as fellow Australians, we instead have worked with them to broaden understanding of their realities while living within the liminal space created when their cultures and the mainstream culture of our country meet. These songs have grown from our encounters and experience of learning from the First Australians. English is not the first language of many First Nations peoples in Australia and around the world. 

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If you wish to arrange any of the music or use it in any non-private way such as in print, online, plays, ballet, advertisements, film or TV you need the permission and a licence from the copyright owners of the musical work and sound recordings. APRA AMCOS will assist you in obtaining such a licence. This organisation's contact details are as follows: APRA AMCOS, Locked Bag 5000, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012

 9am – 5pm, weekdays (AEST) Call: +61 2 9935 7900                                   

Email: apra@apra.com.au

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Disclaimer: All available up-to-date due care has been taken by me and due diligence acted upon to ensure  all uploads are free of viruses.  Thus no responsibility will be accepted for any viruses or other compromise to your equipment which surface any time after music has been downloaded.  M Rosa

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Deep thanks to Rod Cameron OSA, Elizabeth Macris (Sr Eleanor Mary Macris RSC, AM), Keis, and Brent Hodgkins for their affirmation of artists.

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