TRACK 1 (Mar98-14-s01) Song 1: Walakandha Ngindji
| Sung text | Free Translation |
| walakandha ngindji kiny warri kurzingata devin bugim rtadi-nanga kuwa(mana walakandha)(repeated) | A certain Walakandha is living here for a whole yearAll he has is a solitary house with a white roof(Brother Walakandha) |
This song, whose title translates as ‘a certain Walakandha’, was composed by Maurice Ngulkur, and is an adaptation of ‘Walakandha No. 2’ from the Walakandha wangga repertory (chapter 8, track 23). The text, originally composed simultaneously by Thomas Kungiung and Terence Dumoo, is about Terence Dumoo living alone at Kubuwemi for a whole year following a move back to his traditional country from Wadeye. Here Ngulkur adapts the the Walakandha wangga text by singing it to a melody widely used in the Ma-yawa wangga repertory, modifying the melody in various ways so as to accommodate structural features typical of Marri Tjavin song (see further details in the music analysis section of this chapter). For a more detailed discussion of the ways that Ngulkur evokes in song the common, yet separate, interests of the Marri Ammu and the Marri Tjavin by balancing different formal elements in this song, see Marett, 2005, pp 137-50.
Song structure summary
VOCAL SECTION 1
Melodic section 1
Text phrase 1
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
| walakandha | ngindji | kiny | warri | kurzi | mm |
| walakandha | one | whole | wet season | 3MIN.S.R sit | SW |
A certain Walakandha is living here for a whole year
Text phrase 2
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
| ngata | devin | bugim | rtadi | -nanga | kuwa |
| house | solitary | white | roof | 3MIN.M.ADVERS | 3MIN.S.R stand |
All he has is a solitary house with a white roof
INSTRUMENTAL SECTION 1
Rhythmic mode 5a (fast even)
VOCAL SECTION 2
Melodic section 1
Text phrase 1
Rhythmic mode 1 (without clapsticks)
| walakandha | ngindji | kiny | warri | kurzi |
| walakandha | one | whole | wet season | 3MIN.S.R sit |
A certain Walakandha is living here for a whole year
Text phrase 2
Rhythmic mode 1 (without clapsticks)
| ngata | devin | bugim | rtadi | kuwa | mana | walakandha |
| house | alone | white | roof | 3MIN.S.R stand | brother | walakandha |
A solitary house with a white roof is here Brother! Walakandha!
INSTRUMENTAL SECTION 2
Rhythmic mode 5b (fast doubled)