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  Douglas Lilburn (aged 21, 1936) Episode 2, Practicalities

The second episode, Practicalities, looks at aspects of the working life of Douglas Lilburn the composer. Writing music for film, theatre and radio, and the creative partnerships with Dame Ngaio Marsh, Richard Campion, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, and the National Film Unit.

The programme also looks at early excursions into electronic music, from the music composed to accompany the radio dramas The Axe, and The Pitcher and the Well, through to the establishment of a pioneering Electronic Music Studio at Victoria University.

Martin Lodge talks about the tension between Douglas the academic and Douglas the creative artist; John Hopkins talks about the 3rd Symphony, Douglas's last major orchestral work; Helen Young talks about Douglas's role as advisor to broadcasting; and Douglas himself talks about the founding of Waiteata Press.


People who feature in Episode 2: Joyce Hamilton, Gwyneth Brown, Dame Ngaio Marsh, Richard Campion, Douglas Lilburn, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, Ropata Erwin, Dean Major, Helen Young, Ashley Heenan, Philip Norman, Ross Harris, John Rimmer, Martin Lodge, John Hopkins, Margaret Nielsen, and Dorothy McKegg.

Broadcasts:     2pm, Sunday 13th June 2004 nationwide on Concert FM.

Duration: 53'06

Reference (sometimes media) numbers are listed next to archival material that can be sourced from Sound Archives/Nga Taonga Korero [SA/NTK] or the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand/Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa [ATL].


00:00 Music: Introduction and opening music from This Is New Zealand (1949), a BBC/New Zealand Broadcasting Service radio documentary.
00:50 Joyce Hamilton: Scene setter, post World War II in Christchurch.
Underscored by Diversions for String Orchestra (1947), performed by the Alex Lindsay String Orchestra, recorded in 1956 [SA/NTK 14297].
02:15 Gwyneth Brown: Ngaio Marsh theatre rehearsals.
Underscored by Duo for Violin and Viola (1942), performed by Ruth Pearl (violin) and Jean McCartney (viola), recorded in 1966 [SA/NTK 14558].
04:30 Dame Ngaio Marsh: Writing music for the theatre. Archival talk extracted from Music Ho, Douglas Lilburn 50th Birthday Tribute, recorded in 1965 [SA/NTK 14551].
05:45 Richard Campion and Douglas: Ngaio Marsh productions, New Zealand poetry. Archival interview recorded in 1989 [SA/NTK 14477].
Underscored by Occasional Pieces for Piano (1942-73), performed by Margaret Nielsen (piano), recorded in 1981 [SA/NTK 14358].
08:20 Alistair Te Ariki Campbell: The Wellington Group. Composers had a hard time in the 40's and 50's.
09:42 Douglas Lilburn: Composing conditions were poor in the 50's. Archival talk recorded in 1973 [SA/NTK 14546].
10:13 Ropata Erwin: Douglas had high performance standards that weren't met in the 40's.
11:04 Dean Major: Enjoyed first performance support - but...
Underscored by Symphony No. 2 (1951, 1974 revision), performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alex Lindsay, recorded in 1974 [SA/NTK 14310].
14:25 Helen Young: Introduction to the Schola Musica and Ashley Heenan.
Underscored by Canzona, performed by members of the NZSO Chamber Orchestra, recorded in 2001 [Radio New Zealand].
16:15 Ashley Heenan: Unearthing works for the Schola Musica to play.
18:13 Music: Title Music from the National Film Unit production of Journey For Three (1948), recorded in 1948 [SA/NTK TANZA CL2].
19:05 Philip Norman: Writing for film.
Underscored by the Race Meeting from the National Film Unit production of Journey For Three (1948), recorded in 1948 [SA/NTK TANZA CL3].
22:25 Richard Campion and Douglas: Have you considered writing an opera...musical theatre? Archival interview recorded in 1989 [SA/NTK 14477].
Underscored by St. Joan (1955), performed by members of the National Orchestra conducted by James Robertson, recorded in 1955 and remastered in 1988 [SA/NTK 14435].
24:25 Music: Willow Song (1944), performed by Gabrielle Phillips (mezzo-soprano) and Pauline de Schryver (piano) [SA/NTK TANZA CL1].
26:14 Philip Norman: Writing for theatre - Richard and Edith Campion.
27:57 Richard Campion and Douglas: Recording the music for St. Joan. Archival interview recorded in 1989 [SA/NTK 14477].
Underscored by St. Joan (1955), performed by members of the National Orchestra conducted by James Robertson, recorded in 1955 and remastered in 1988 [SA/NTK 14435].
29:10 Music: Introduction and opening music from the radio drama The Pitcher and the Well (1964) [SA/NTK TX868].
30:08 Philip Norman: Early electronic works for the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand.
30:50 Audio: A brief extract from The Pitcher and the Well (1964) [SA/NTK TX868].
31:26 Douglas Lilburn: Using electronic music in theatre and drama. Archival interview recorded in 1971 [SA/NTK 14552].
Underscored by The Return (1965), electronic sound image - poem by Alistair Campbell, read by Tim Elliot, voices by Mahi Potiki [SA/NTK 14384].
32:09 Ross Harris: Douglas returns from overseas to set up the Electronic Music Studio. Archival talk recorded in 1985 [Radio New Zealand Tape 3491].
32:41 John Rimmer: Using university breaks to compose.
34:30 Martin Lodge: Academic / Artist. Douglas was a creator not an analyser.
36:29 Richard Campion and Douglas: University life. Archival interview recorded in 1989 [SA/NTK 14477].
37:28 Music: Symphony No. 3 (1961), performed by the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation National Orchestra conducted by John Hopkins, recorded live at the premiere performance in Wellington, 31 July 1962 [SA/NTK 14263].
37:50 Dean Major: The Lilburn revival began in the mid 70's.
38:59 John Hopkins: Lack of recordings meant it was very hard to access his music. Underscored by Symphony No. 3 (1961), performed by the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation National Orchestra conducted by John Hopkins, recorded live at the premiere performance in Wellington, 31 July 1962 [SA/NTK 14263].
40:25 Margaret Nielsen: I first encountered his music... copying manuscripts.
Underscored by Four Preludes, performed by Georgina Zellan-Smith (piano), recorded in 1989 [SA/NTK 14483].
42:05 Douglas Lilburn: The start of Waiteata Press. Archival interview recorded in 1983 [SA/NTK 16870].
43:10 Music: "Sleep on..." from Elegy (1951), performed by Michael Leighton-Jones (baritone) and Margaret Nielsen (piano), recorded in 1975 [SA/NTK 14360].
45:00 Helen Young: His position on the Concert FM audition panel.
48:05 Martin Lodge: Detached support for other composers.
Underscored by Quartet for Brass Instruments (1957), performed by Concord Brass, recorded in 1989 [SA/NTK 14305].
51:03 Music: Quartet for Brass Instruments (1957), performed by Concord Brass, recorded in 1989 [SA/NTK 14305].
52:00 Dorothy McKegg: Production Credits.