CANTATA FOR DOMITILA
An Inspiring Production

On a spring afternoon in September, 2002, a remarkable concert was held in Sydney, Australia to celebrate Domitila Barrios de Chungara, a Bolivian woman devoted to the struggles of the tin miners in her country during the 1960s, ‘70’s and ‘80’s.

The concert, held in the Ashfield Town Hall, ended with a standing ovation. This was followed by a traditional Bolivian tinku dance in which the delighted audience participated, led by members of the Bolivian community.

The afternoon featured the “Cantata for Domitila” which illuminated aspects of Domitila’s heart-wrenching story through bilingual dialogue and music, including Bolivian folk rhythms in fusion with the Japanese koto and classical stringed instruments.

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The Cantata had been a long-standing dream of bilingual folksinger Mary-Jane Field, who wrote the script based on the book by Domitila herself, Let Me Speak (Si Me Permiten Hablar). Her script is a dialogue between a young Bolivian woman representing Domitila and an Australian representing the general public.

The conversation between these two people links and explains the songs and brings out aspects of Domitila’s life and her remarkable story. Parts of the dialogue are in Spanish and others are in English.

Mary-Jane started some of the songs back in the 1980’s, when she first read Domitila’s book, and others were composed in the months preceding the concert. The music includes songs in traditional Bolivian style with instruments such as the charango, zampoña and bombo as well as the modern fusion pieces. All the songs with words are in Spanish.

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The Cantata for Domitila has been hailed for its sensitive, informative and emotive depiction of the story of Domitila, as well as for the stirring and beautiful music.

SOME COMMENTS BY PARTICIPANTS AND BY AUDIENCE MEMBERS

Just wanted to congratulate you and the performers on a splendid, exciting concert...I just love the zest for life in the music....Domitila’s story is inspiring...my friend...is looking for her book today. A.C., koto student and audience member

The music was so beautiful! I couldn’t believe how the violins and the koto worked with the traditional sounds. F.G., audience member

Congratulations on last night’s success!...I was pleased to be involved in such a significant project.... C.M., participant

I think that your cantata turned out just beautifully. You should be very proud.... (translation) L. Ch., participant with zampoña

What a successful night, I enjoyed every single thing about the show, as I’m sure everyone else did...It would be excellent if Domitila can find out that on the other side of the world people still remember her heroism, after all these years, and let her know that her work will never be forgotten....A.A., audience member

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Mary-Jane Field, who devised and directed the show, said:

“It has meant so much to find that my words and music have enabled Domitila’s moving story to reach people.

“Because of the warm and gratifying response we have had we are looking forward to sharing the story again, in future performances of the Cantata and with the recording of the music.”