Jabiru Dreaming (or the 3rd Sonata for Strings), is a work inspired by the Kakadu region of Australia’s Northern Territory. It first came to life as String Quartet no. 11, comissioned by the Kronos Quartet. The composer arranged the piece for the Darwin Symphony Orchestra and this version was premiered in 1993 in the Kakadu National Park. In the first movement, Deciso the rhythmic patterns of the didjeridu playing from this region are imitated. These rhythms also suggest the stride of the Jabiru (pictured above). The main theme of the Liberamente; Ecstatico is based on an aboriginal chant written down in 1802 by a member of the Baudin expedition. It is combined with two other transcriptions: a rhythmic ‘Air de danse’ and a ‘Cri de ralliement’ (or the Australian bush call “Cooee!”). Like many of Sculthorpe’s other works, Jabiru Dreaming also features insect and bird sounds.
Peter Sculthorpe
Born in Launceston, Tasmania in 1929, Peter Sculthorpe was educated at Launceston Church Grammar School, the University of Melbourne and Wadham College, Oxford. Considered the spiritual father of new music composition in Australia, his catalogue of compositions consists of well over three hundred works, many of them regularly performed and recorded throughout the world. Sculthorpe has a deep love for his country and for its landscape, “In almost all of my music I seek the sacred in nature and the sacred in the landscape”. Because of this, one of the most constant themes in his output is the protection of Australia’s environment, as well as that of the whole planet. The recipient of many awards, Sculthorpe regards the most significant as being chosen as one of Australia’s 100 Living National Treasures.
Jabiru Dreaming -
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