To celebrate the fiftieth year of Papua New Guinea’s Independence, the Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) Artistic Director Aaron Choulai has created a stunning choral concert, Ane Ta Abia, in collaboration with the Tatana Village Choir from PNG.  The next stage of Choulai’s We Don’t Dance for No Reason, which was programmed at WOMADelaide 2009, this new work features the Motuan singing style of Peroveta (prophet songs). Bringing together a 12-piece choir, eight members of the AAO and a series of short films, Ane Ta Abia highlights the challenges faced by the Motuans in an independent PNG. Peroveta singing emerged out of the colonisation of Papua in the late 19th century. It adapted harmonies, melody and rhythm from Western hymns, and transformed these sounds into a unique form of choral music that replaced pre-colonial chants and dances in the community.

Commissioned by Asia TOPA, Arts Centre Melbourne and co-produced by WOMADelaide.

The Australian Art Orchestra and Tatana Village Choir's performance of Ane Ta Abia on Sunday will be followed by a choir-only performance on Monday.