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  Douglas Lilburn (aged 21, 1936) Episode 3, Nature

Douglas Lilburn drew great strength and inspiration from the natural world around him. In the third episode, Nature, Douglas's family and friends discuss his sensitivity to nature and geography, and his integration of the natural world into his creative work.

Douglas himself talks about growing up on a sheep station, and of his sense of aloneness stemming form childhood experiences and schooling at Waitaki Boys' High School.

Gwyneth Brown talks about Douglas's choice to live alone, and his solitary nature; Jeannie Lilburn talks about his beloved jungle and his vegetable garden; and John Hopkins talks about Symphony No. 3 as the self-portrait of a very private man.

Finally, Douglas's closest friends and family reflect on the subject of his sexuality, and the role it may have played in his deep sense of isolation.


People who feature in Episode 3: Peter Vere-Jones, John Murray, John Hopkins, Ashley Heenan, Jeannie Lilburn, Jack Body, Douglas Lilburn, Gwyneth Brown, Martin Lodge, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, Chris Bourke, David Farquhar, Joyce Hamilton, Dorothy Freed, Margaret Nielsen, and Dorothy McKegg.

Broadcasts:     2pm, Sunday 20th June 2004 nationwide on Concert FM.

Duration: 49'18

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: No. 11 from Seventeen Pieces for Guitar (1969-70), performed by Edrick Banks (guitar), recorded in 1983 [Radio New Zealand Tape 2960].
00:18 Peter Vere-Jones: "I have trailed after my brother Euan" - reading from Douglas's unpublished Memories of Early Years - a selection of autobiographical sketches [ATL A-2001-172-004].
00:47 John Murray: Entering into Ascot Terrace.
Underscored by Occasional Pieces for Piano (1942-73), performed by Margaret Nielsen (piano), recorded in 1981 [SA/NTK 14358].
01:57 Peter Vere-Jones: "The river" - reading from Douglas's unpublished Memories of Early Years - a selection of autobiographical sketches
[ATL A-2001-172-004].
02:25 John Hopkins: He never revealed his whole self.
Underscored by String Trio (1945), performed by Donald Armstrong (violin), Vyvyan Yendoll (viola) and Farquhar Wilkinson (cello), recorded in 1989 [SA/NTK 14424].
03:46 Ashley Heenan: He was affected by what others said about him.
05:01 Jeannie Lilburn: Waitaki Boys' High School, submitting a Sonata instead of an essay.
08:04 Jack Body and Douglas: Communicating through music rather than speech. Archival interview recorded in 1975 [SA/NTK 14560].
09:00 Music: Summer Afternoon (1947), poem by Basil Dowling, performed by Rosemary Gordon (soprano) and Gwyneth Brown (piano), recorded in 1965 [SA/NTK 14559].
10:50 Gwyneth Brown: He chose to live alone, enjoyed solitary walks.
Underscored by Chaconne (1946), performed by Patrick O'Byrne, recorded in 1987 [SA/NTK 14454].
13:14 Peter Vere-Jones: "The water hole" - reading from Douglas's unpublished Memories of Early Years - a selection of autobiographical sketches
[ATL A-2001-172-004].
Underscored by Soundscape with Lake and River (electronic, 1979) [SA/NTK 14535].
14:03 Martin Lodge: Integrating the natural world into his creative work.
Underscored by Poem in Time of War (electronic with voice of Vietnamese student, 1967) [SA/NTK 14453].
16:45 Music: String Trio (1945), performed by the Reger Trio, recorded in 1984 [SA/NTK 14259].
17:13 Alistair Te Ariki Campbell: First met Douglas at the Victoria literary club.
Underscored by A Time of Birds (electronic), part of the 1970 Osaka Expo production [SA/NTK 14563].
18:20 Jack Body: Using the natural sounds around you. Archival interview extracted from programme five of The Lilburn Connection recorded in 1980 [SA/NTK TX-1139].
Underscored by Summer Voices (electronic, 1969) [SA/NTK 14555].
19:10 Chris Bourke and Douglas: Growing up by myself, music at home. Archival interview recorded in 1985 for the Listener. A complete transcript of this interview is available.
22:05 Peter Vere-Jones: "Musical awareness" - reading from Douglas's unpublished Memories of Early Years - a selection of autobiographical sketches
[ATL A-2001-172-004].
22:39 Music: Sonata (1949), performed by Margaret Nielsen (piano), recorded in 1972 [SA/NTK 14432].
23:20 Ashley Heenan: He had an hypnotic personality.
24:13 David Farquhar: Describing the rooming house on The Terrace...he was like a caged lion.
25:49 Music: String Trio (1945), performed by the Reger Trio, recorded in 1984 [SA/NTK 14259].
26:32 Joyce Hamilton: Moving to Wellington.
27:32 Gwyneth Brown: Sending personal notes on the backs of photographs.
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].
30:10 Jeannie Lilburn: The vegetable garden, synod/drinking story.
32:56 Music: Duo for Violin and Viola (1942), performed by Ruth Pearl (violin) and Jean McCartney (viola), recorded in 1966 [SA/NTK 14558].
33:15 Dorothy Freed and Owen Jensen: Style comes from your life experiences. Archival interview extracted from programme three of The Lilburn Connection recorded in 1980 [SA/NTK TX-1137].
34:30 Jack Body and Douglas: Is the piece of music a part of you? Archival interview recorded in 1975 [SA/NTK 14560].
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].
35:20 John Hopkins: Symphony No. 3 as a self portrait.
37:40 Jeannie Lilburn: He was an extraordinary person in an ordinary, decent family. Underscored by String Trio (1945), performed by the Reger Trio, recorded in 1984 [SA/NTK 14259].
39:20 John Hopkins: He was not a public composer. Archival talk recorded in 1965 [SA/NTK 14547].
39:56 Jack Body: To fully understand Douglas and his music we need to acknowledge his homosexuality.
42:10 Margaret Nielsen: The Independent obituary.
43:25 Jack Body: Gaining family acceptance.
45:05 Jeannie Lilburn: Well I never...
46:34 Music: St. Joan (1955), performed by members of the National Orchestra conducted by James Robertson, recorded in 1955 and remastered in 1988 [SA/NTK 14435].
48:20 Dorothy McKegg: Production Credits.