Add to Channel ^(beta)

It was a musical whim that took Emily Burridge to Brazil in the early 1990’s and this visit inspired her to record “Earth Songs” her first album.

She was then asked to perform this piece at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio. Here she met up with some indigenous tribes and formed a strong bond with one in particular – the Xavante.

In collaboration with the Chief (left) they formulated a project to benefit the community – the Xavante Centre of Herbal Medicine – and on returning to the UK she founded a registered charity “Indigenous People’s Cultural Support Trust”

The project gained support from both organisations and individuals and over the next four years Emily regularly lived and worked amongst the Xavante. The centre was inaugurated amidst festive songs and dancing in January 1998 (below).

Emily was invited to make an audio recordings of both groups and individuals and over the years compiled a library of their traditional singing.

These recordings are now being integrated into her new production “Bridge Between Worlds”, an orchestral work written for full orchestra and featured ‘cello.

We caught up with Emily just before she returned to Brazil to play the finished result to the Chief and his tribe. She spoke to us of her plans, what is was like living with the Xavante and she played us some of her new album.

More info: www.emilyburridge.com