At a young age this Australian composer attended a "Corroboree, " a ritual ceremony of the native Australian peoples. When Antill grew up, his magnum opus was this ballet score, accompanying a representation of the extraordinarily complex rituals. In the ballet, various totem groups dance their characteristically imitative movements, there are astronomical signposts, and, finally, a huge, powerful conclusion featuring the whole orchestra. Naturally, there is significant use of the percussion, including the instrument known as the "bull roarer, " which is a slotted board whirled around the player at the end of a thong so that the air passing over the slots makes an eerie, deeply pitched whir. The great variety of new orchestral combinations is calculated to re-create some of the sounds of real Corroborees, and the emotional feeling of being more and more overwhelmed by the spirit forces that surround mankind does grow as the piece progresses. A memorable and distinctly unusual piece, published both in the form of a suite and as the entire ballet.

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