TRACK 7 (Moy68-01-s03) Song 5: Duwun Crab Song

As in the preceding track, the text in Emmi (text phrase 2) explains that the preceding section in ghost language (text phrase 1) came from a ghost, that is, ‘the one who is always singing this.’

This long performance—comprising twelve vocal sections—was recorded by Alice Moyle in 1968 at a tourist corroborree at Mandorah (Jimmy Muluk was also recorded on this occasion, see chapter 5). It accompanies the Crab dance, which continued to be performed at tourist corroborees at the Mandorah Hotel into the 1990s and beyond (albeit to a different song). The text has no direct relationship to the subject matter of the dance, during which the dancers mime hunting for and catching a crab (the dancers can be heard occasionally in the background). Unusually, there is only one instrumental section in this performance, which occurs after the final vocal section. Here the dancers, having caught the crab, perform the stamping movements typical of wangga.

VOCAL SECTIONS 1-12

Melodic section 1

Text phrase 1

Rhythmic mode 2 (slow even)

yene ne yene ne

yene ne yene ne

Text phrase 2

Rhythmic mode 1 (without clapsticks)

This song came from the one who is always singing this

INSTRUMENTAL SECTION 1 (after final vocal section)

Rhythmic mode 4e (moderate doubled)