PETER SCULTHORPE (1929-2014): Complete String Quartets with Didgeridoo - No. 12 "From Ubirr", No. 14 "Quamby", No. 16 & No. 18.

Description: Sculthorpe constantly revised his music, with and without altering the forces for which it was originally intended and these late string quartets are no exception (only the 2010 No. 18 is unrevised). The addition of Didgeridoo to the first two made a set of this type a good idea. Deeply emotional pieces, concerned with environmental devastation, the treatment of the aboriginal inhabitants of Australia and the similar heartless reception given to refugees from various war-torn regions looking for safety in that country, they are tied together in one way by the inimitable sound of that aboriginal instrument which functions both as conscience of Sculthorpe and voice of the mistreated. No. 16 uses material freely based on a love song from central Afghanistan as the composer continued to broaden his knowlege of world musics even as late as 2005. 2 CDs + Blu-ray audio disc. Del Sol Quartet, Stephen Kent (didgeridoo).