'Sculthorpe is as central to Australia’s music as Aaron Copland is to America’s music', said the Kronos Quartet of this composer. Djilile expresses Peter Sculthorpe’s fascination with the landscape and environment of Australia. This 5-minute piece, lyrical and hypnotic, is inspired by an Aboriginal folk melody that Sculthorpe has returned to elsewhere in his work; the title means ‘whistling-duck on a billabong’. This 6-minute piece appears in a range of instrumental configurations and arrangements – a reminder of its lyrical authenticity and musical warmth.

This version for cello and piano is from 1986.