One of Australia’s foremost composers, Peter Sculthorpe, has passed away at the age of 85. Sculthorpe’s extensive body of work (including eighteen string quartets) addressed a wide range of subjects, including the Iraq War, the plight of detained immigrants seeking asylum in Australia, and climate change. His music demonstrates a polyglot palette that includes Aboriginal and Asian influences.
Here is a link to video of Sculthorpe’s Twelfth String Quartet (from Ubirr), performed by the Zephyr Quartet.