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Peter Sculthorpe Composes

Video clip synopsis – Peter Sculthorpe wants to create a perfect work of art. He created "Irkanda One for Violin" by tracing the landscape around Canberra on a 360 degree graph, then wrote music to follow the contours.
Year of production - 1999
Duration - 1min 53sec
Tags - art, artists, creativity, music, see all tags


Peter Sculthorpe Composes

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About the Video Clip


Peter Sculthorpe Composes consists of excerpts from the program Peter Sculthorpe (26 mins), an episode of Australian Biography Series 7 (7 × 26 mins), produced in 1999.



Australian Biography Series 7 is a Film Australia National Interest Program.

Curriculum Focus




Speaking and listening standard: Students, when engaged in discussion compare ideas, build on others’ ideas, provide and justify other points of view, and reach conclusions that take into account aspects of an issue.




Background Information


Born in Launceston, Tasmania in 1929, Peter Sculthorpe was educated at Launceston Church Grammar School, at the University of Melbourne and at Wadham College, Oxford. He has worked internationally as a composer in academic institutions and has received many high Australian honours.

Peter Sculthorpe has written works in most musical forms, and his output relates easily to the unique social climate and physical characteristics of Australia. He is Australia’s best-known classical composer, and his works are regularly performed and recorded throughout the world.

Sculthorpe’s most recent major work, Requiem, involving chorus, orchestra and solo didgeridoo, received its premiere performance in March 2004 during the Adelaide Festival.

In 1998 a popular vote elected him one of Australia’s 100 Living National Treasures. In 1999 he was made one of Australia’s 45 icons — 'a visionary, an opinion maker, one who is making statements about something the nation needs to think about at this time’.

Classroom Activities

  1. Write a 100-word summary of this video clip. In your summary include answers to the following questions.
    1. What are your impressions of Peter Sculthorpe?
    2. What does the video clip tell you about creativity?
    3. Who would be the best audience for the video clip?
    4. What is the message(s) of the video clip?
    1. In small groups discuss and write a definition for the term, ‘Australian Living National Treasure’. Include a list of 5–10 conditions candidates need to meet.
    2. Discuss and write reasons why Peter Sculthorpe is an ‘Australian Living National Treasure’.
    3. List five more people you would make a National Living Treasure if you had the chance Give reasons for your choices.
  2. Research the actual list on
    1. What does the list tell you about Australia?
    2. Choose one name from the list and write a 250-word notice for a media text announcing their selection and reason why you think they were chosen.
    3. Choose another name that interests you from the list and write a 600-word biography of that person.

Further Resources


Go to Australian Biography and select Peter Sculthorpe.