Search - Peter Sculthorpe :: Sculthope: Requiem

Sculthorpe's unique idiom to the fore in this excellent rele

Robert Coulter | Delaware, USA | 12/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is unfortunate that the Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe has generally remained under appreciated beyond his own shores, where his standing is well emphasised by the fact he was named as one of Australia's "Living National Treasures" in 1988. Sculthorpe's style is undeniably original, identifiable and eminently listenable. Paradoxically, there is something slightly chameleonic about his compositions too. With a strong European training, he has endeavored to write music which reflects (or is influenced by) the varied indigenous cultures of the Pacific region, especially the Aboriginal peoples of Australia.



It is probably a consequence of this lack of recognition outside Australia that there aren't all that many recordings of his works. On this release, we get two wonderful disks of his music.



The 1st disk contains one of his longest and most substantial works so far -- his Requiem. The work was completed, I would guess deliberately, on Australia Day, 2004, and premiered within 8 weeks by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. They were to record the work 18 months later; I think it may remain the only recording to date. The work is scored for choir, orchestra and didgeridoo (a wonderfully reverberating, ancient Aboriginal wind instrument which has been used by Sculthorpe in several other works). While I confess to having had a little trouble assimilating the didgeridoo's role within the piece on my first run through of the work, I have to say that I now find it a completely natural and essential component. (My experiences with Sculthorpe's other works involving the instrument have been similar -- I suspect this is more a failing on my half, perhaps borne from my familiarity of the instrument in only a "tribal" setting rather than an orchestral one. The fact is that I have always come round to Sculthorpe's use of the instrument.)



On the 2nd disk, we get 3 more significant pieces, an abridged version of another significant piece, and a short (5 minute) work. As with the Requiem, one is drawn in to these pieces, Sculthorpe's sound-world a seemingly irresistable force. My Country Childhood is possibly my favourite Sculthorpe orchestral piece.



The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra gives excellent performances on both disks. The Reqiuem was recorded in late 2005 with Arvo Volmer conducting, while all of the 2nd disk was recorded earlier, in June 2000, under James Judd (who later recorded more of Sculthorpe's work with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra on an excellent Naxos release). The well presented booklet gives an informative, in-depth analysis of all of the works, along with biographies of the conductors and soloist. Apart from a slightly annoying problem with how the packaging has been put together, there is really nothing not to like about this release. Discover Sculthorpe, buy this release!"