Topology have put the drought to music

A new documentary series highlighting the water battles faced by regional Queensland communities will feature a soundtrack of classical contemporary music. Sarah Hudson speaks with the composer.

On camera: Filming farmers for Topology’s Drought Stories Texas.

COUNTRY music is usually the soundtrack that accompanies rural footage.

That distinctive twang and drawl of the singer and their guitar against a backdrop of drought and flooding plains.

So it’s a little unfamiliar to view a video showing farmers in drought accompanied by a score of classical contemporary music.

But that’s what Brisbane-based quintet Topology have done with their Drought Stories Texas, a documentary released in May that highlights the water battles faced by regional Queensland communities, especially the town of Texas in southeast Queensland.

Topology composer and saxophonist John Babbage says the group decided to put their score, which includes violin and piano, against a backdrop of drought as a reminder the five-year dry is not over and COVID-19 is not the only crisis the nation now faces.

“D rought Stories Texas is a new work that has evolved from my personal involvement over the years with the communities of Texas, and other remote towns, working on a mutual trust so we can share their stories through music and film,” says John, who composed the score of the documentary.

“With little or no rain over the past month, very dry conditions continue and I’ve been personally touched by the strength and resilience of the people of these towns.

“So the project highlights how we respond to and deal with drought, including politics, economics, philosophy, and issues of living on the land.”

In the documentary, Texas farmer Bernadette Guymer talks about the deeper environmental and economic emergency facing many regional families and workers.

“Water is life, isn’t it? If you don’t have water, there’s no life of any sort,” Bernadette says.

John says the new six-minute documentary is the first instalment of what will be Topology’s planned seven-episode full-length documentary.

This full-length version will include other towns such as Stanthorpe, Dalby and Longreach and their water stories and be filmed and created this year, while Topology visit rural areas to teach workshops. It is hoped the final documentary will be shown and performed as part of the 2021 touring program of the 23-year-old Topology.

“Farmers themselves want to be a part of the project because drought has been a focus of the last few years, but they’re still struggling, still focused on trucking in that next load of water.”

Drought Stories Texas is available for purchase, along with its accompanying sheet music.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCaux7ovIZw or topologymusic.com

MORE

VICTORIAN AG SOCIETIES SHARE IN $300,000

WHY ALEX WORKS TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN AG SECTOR

THE STORY OF A BENALLA SNAKE CATCHER