April 22 is Earth Day. Few composers have embraced environmental concerns quite as extensively as the Australian Peter Sculthorpe, many of whose works draw inspiration from the Australian outback, the bushland, Aboriginal elements, and the natural heritage of Oceania. Much of his music is tied up with the preservation of the environment and, more recently, concern over climate change.
Sculthorpe’s “Earth Cry” is a very good example. Here’s a fine performance, posted on YouTube, though it seems to lack the didgeridoo so prominent on the more recent Naxos recording.
Sculthorpe will turn 85 on April 29.
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