First Rhythms: Adam Manning and the Australian Art Orchestra

First Rhythms

Adam Manning and the Australian Art Orchestra

Adam Manning’s piece First Rhythms recontextualises clapsticks, First Nations rhythms, and visual art within a contemporary performance setting, guided by the Indigenous understanding that everything is alive and carries a pulse—such as the earth’s natural rhythm. By integrating traditional percussive elements with modern instrumentation, multimodal art, and a blend of improvisation and notation, First Rhythms embodies a living, breathing dialogue between sound, movement, and Country. In the composer’s own words:

"Working with the AAO allows me to place the clapsticks at the centre of a conversation - not just as instruments, but as carriers of memory, movement, and connection to Country."

"This collaboration with the Australian Art Orchestra is more than a performance - it’s a living dialogue. I feel like we’re creating a sonic canvas where tradition and innovation meet, grounded in the pulse of Country."