Kakadu (Sculthorpe)

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For the Beethoven composition, see Kakadu Variations.

Kakadu (1988) is a composition for orchestra by

Aboriginal music.[1]

Conception

The composer explained the way he conceived Kakadu thus:

The work takes its name from the Kakadu National Park in northern Australia. This enormous wilderness area stretches from coastal tidal plains to rugged mountain plateaux, and in it may be found the living culture of its Aboriginal inhabitants, dating back for fifty thousand years. Sadly, today there are only a few remaining speakers of kakadu or gagadju. The work, then, is concerned with my feelings about this place, its landscape, its change of seasons, its dry season and its wet, its cycle of life and death. In three parts, the outer sections are dance-like and energetic, sharing similar musical ideas. The central section is somewhat introspective, and is dominated by a cor anglais solo. ... Apart from this solo, the melodic material in Kakadu, as in much of my recent music, was suggested by the contours and rhythms of Aboriginal chant.

— Peter Sculthorpe, [2]

Sculthorpe also used some material from his earlier works Djilile (1986) and Manganinnie (1980).[citation needed]

Instrumentation

The music is scored for two

tenor trombones, a bass trombone, a tuba, a timpani, three percussive parts, as well as string parts.[2] A didjeridu part was later written in 2003 for a recording by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.[3]

Kakadu notably features some sections with no

chromatic nature of these sections.[5]

Commission and performance

The work was commissioned by Emanuel Papper as a present for his wife upon her birthday and first performed by the

Classic 100 Twentieth Century countdown.[citation needed
]

The Australian premiere was given by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to celebrate Sculthorpe's 60th birthday in April 1989.[citation needed]

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-7546-4072-1
    .
  2. ^ a b "Programme Note" (PDF). Australian Music Centre. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Kakadu : for orchestra / Peter Sculthorpe". Australian Music Centre. Faber Music. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  4. ^ Sculthorpe, Peter. "Kakadu (Sample)" (PDF). Australian Music Centre. Faber Music. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  5. ^ McLaren, Norman (23 March 2010). "Kakadu (1988) – Peter Sculthorpe (1929-still kicking)". Monash Composers. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
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