BARRY CONYNGHAM (b.1944): Vast.

Description: This 68-minute ballet was first staged in 1988 and was one of the largest dance productions ever staged in Australia with its subject being nothing less than the geographical and physical sprawl of the entire continent (it's in four parts: "The Sea", "The Coast", "The Centre" and "The Cities"). It may seem rhapsodic at times and as if it were a film score for a documentary but a single theme and harmonic underpinning knits it all together. While the other three parts have descriptive titles, "The Centre" consists of a prelude and postlude surrounding four mini-concertos for each of the string section principals. Australian Youth Orchestra; John Hopkins. Original 1990 release.