Description
Henry Lawson, Australia’s best known and loved poet and short story writer, resided in Gulgong during the 1870s Gold rush and drew on the area for many of his stories and poems in later life. A tragic romantic, he died far too early after losing a battle with alcohol and serving time in jail because he could not pay his debts. Ironically, his face appeared on the first ten dollar note along with Gulgong street scenes.
The CD contains nine poems, one story and four songs with musical arrangements by Bob on most tracks. The Lawson works, with two exceptions, were written between 1889 and 1900 when Henry Lawson was at his revolutionary best and fired by sympathy for working class people around the time of the 1891 Shearers Strike that played such an influential role in the consciousness of that period. Local musicians, Dennis Ryan and Ross Kurtz also played on several tracks.
Dennis Ryan is a local farmer who has been a lifelong exponent of the Scottish bagpipes and a latter day convert to the haunting, evocative Irish pipes which he plays to great effect on two tracks. In recent times Dennis has spent extended periods each year improving his techniques in Ireland. Ross Kurtz, well known and respected painter and member of the famous Stringybark Band plays tin whistle.
The CD was mainly recorded, mixed and mastered by local musician and highly qualified audio technician, Brett Kenny at his Fauxbia Studios. One track was recorded and engineered at Golden Gong Studios in Gulgong.
The pencil drawings of Henry Lawson and Bob Campbell on the CD label were drawn by Gulgong artist, Steve Mountford whose drawings can be viewed around many Gulgong establishments. Steve won first prize at the 2006 Gulgong Show for his Bob Campbell drawing.
