Info Image Audio
 
 

  Back

  Feedback

  SouthWest


  Print

  Help
  Douglas Lilburn (aged 21, 1936) Episode 6, Canvases

The sixth episode, Canvases, looks at the influence of landscape in Douglas Lilburn's life and music - from the early years in the idyllic setting of Drysdale Station, to the dramatic landscapes of the South Island and the primordial terrain of the central North Island.

John Hopkins describes the clear light and sense of landscape in Douglas's music; John Rimmer talks about elements of spaciousness and the imagery of water; and Philip Norman looks at the different periods in Douglas's compositional output.

Alistair Te Ariki Campbell and Douglas's niece, Joyce Hamilton, describe Douglas's Christchurch bedsit in the 1940s; Gwyneth Brown and Jeannie Lilburn talk about Douglas's home and "Jungle" at Ascot Terrace in Wellington; and Ron Burt describes Douglas's use of imagery to convey meaning to the performer.

Ross Harris demonstrates the Synthi AKS that Douglas used for some of his electronic music, and Douglas himself describes painting with electronic sound.


People who feature in Episode 6: Joyce Hamilton, Peter Vere-Jones, Philip Norman, John Hopkins, John Rimmer, Ron Burt, Allen Curnow, Douglas Lilburn, John Murray, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, Ropata Erwin, Gwyneth Brown, Jeannie Lilburn, Chris Bourke, Richard Campion, Ross Harris, Ashley Heenan and Dorothy McKegg.

Broadcasts:     2pm, Sunday 11th July 2004 nationwide on Concert FM.

Duration: 52'57

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 Joyce Hamilton: Growing up at Drysdale.
Underscored by Soundscape with Lake and River (electronic, 1979) [SA/NTK 14535].
01:08 Peter Vere-Jones: "Sunlight, and happiness again" - reading from Douglas's unpublished Memories of Early Years - a selection of autobiographical sketches [ATL A-2001-172-004].
01:33 Music: Leaving the Hermitage from the National Film Unit production of Journey For Three (1948), recorded in 1948 [SA/NTK TANZA CL2].
02:02 Philip Norman: First musical period.
Underscored by Aotearoa Overture (1940), performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michi Inoue, recorded in 1979 [SA/NTK 14261].
05:59 John Hopkins: Landscapes in Douglas's music, the clear light.
Underscored by Aotearoa Overture (1940), performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michi Inoue, recorded in 1979 [SA/NTK 14261].
07:05 John Rimmer: Spaciousness in his music, the sea.
Underscored by Three Inscapes (electronic, 1972) [SA/NTK 14417].
08:35 Ron Burt: Using imagery to convey meaning to the performer.
Underscored by Seventeen Pieces for Guitar (1969-70), performed by Milton Parker (guitar), recorded in 1977 [SA/NTK 14571].
11:30 Allen Curnow: Combination of poet and composer combining to form New Zealand identity. Archival talk extracted from Music Ho, Douglas Lilburn 50th Birthday Tribute, recorded in 1965 [SA/NTK CDR-195].
12:20 Jack Body and Douglas: Using external influences to construct a national identity. Archival interview recorded in 1975 [SA/NTK 14560].
14:30 Audio: Introduction from This Is New Zealand (1949), a BBC/New Zealand Broadcasting Service radio documentary.
15:05 Philip Norman: Writing incidental music for This is New Zealand.
15:55 Audio: Brief musical extract from This Is New Zealand (1949), a BBC/New Zealand Broadcasting Service radio documentary.
17:25 Music: Sounds and Distances (electronic, 1975) [SA/NTK 14525].
17:42 Peter Vere-Jones: "Pukeroa School" - reading from Douglas's unpublished Memories of Early Years - a selection of autobiographical sketches
[ATL A-2001-172-004].
18:33 John Murray: A paradise to roam in...living in his own home bush.
19:35 Alistair Te Ariki Campbell: Douglas's flat on the Avon River, Christchurch.
22:08 Joyce Hamilton: Describing Douglas's Christchurch bedsit.
Underscored by Quartet for Brass Instruments (1957), performed by Concord Brass, recorded in 1989 and Chaconne (1946), performed by Patrick O'Byrne (piano), recorded in 1987 [SA/NTK 14305 and 14454].
23:25 Ropata Erwin: First meeting Douglas, walks along the Paekakariki beach.
24:50 Audio: Recording of Douglas's alarm system at Ascot Terrace. Archival sound extracted from an interview recorded by Chris Bourke in 1985 for the Listener.
25:00 Gwyneth Brown: Describing Ascot Terrace. A selection of images of Ascot Terrace can be viewed.
26:55 Jeannie Lilburn: Describing the interior of Ascot Terrace.
Underscored by Diversions for String Orchestra (1947), performed by the Alex Lindsay String Orchestra, recorded in 1956 [SA/NTK 14297].
29:55 Chris Bourke: Meeting Douglas for the Listener interview in 1985.
32:42 Chris Bourke and Douglas: Reasons for moving into electronic music. Archival interview recorded in 1985 for the Listener. A complete transcript of this interview is available.
34:50 Douglas Lilburn: Painting with electronic sound. Archival interview recorded in 1975 [SA/NTK 14560].
35:20 Philip Norman: Third musical period.
Underscored by Soundscape with Lake and River (electronic, 1979) [SA/NTK 14535].
38:12 Music: The Return (1965), electronic sound image - poem by Alistair Campbell, read by Tim Elliot, voices by Mahi Potiki [SA/NTK 14384].
39:10 Richard Campion and Douglas: Electronic music cave. Archival interview recorded in 1989 [SA/NTK 14477].
41:40 Peter Vere-Jones: Reading from Douglas's published note on the electronic composition Summer Voices.
Underscored by Summer Voices (electronic, 1969) [SA/NTK 14555].
42:50 Ross Harris: Demonstration of the Synthi AKS ca. 1969.
47:40 Ashley Heenan: Giving advice on one of Douglas's early electronic compositions.
49:13 Music: Sonata (1950), performed by Ronald Woodcock (violin) and John Wells (piano), recorded in 1975 [SA/NTK 15814].
51:54 Dorothy McKegg: Production Credits.