A Song of Islands explained

A Song of Islands
Composer:Douglas Lilburn
Form:Tone poem
Composed:Christchurch, 1946
Scoring:Orchestra

A Song of Islands is a tone poem (described by the composer as a song)[1] written for orchestra by New Zealand composer Douglas Lilburn in 1946. The work is the last in a trilogy of pieces exploring the theme of New Zealand identity; it was preceded by the overture Aotearoa (1940) and Landfall in Unknown Seas (1942) for narrator and string orchestra.[2]

History and music

Lilburn described the piece as featuring "a chorale-like theme" that develops into an "arch-like form".

The piece has been recorded by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra under Sir William Southgate.[3] [4] A Naxos recording by James Judd with the NZSO was issued in August 2006; it also includes Lilburn's Aotearoa Overture, Forest, A Birthday Offering, Drysdale Overture, Festival Overture and Processional Fanfare.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LILBURN: A Song Of Islands . Radio New Zealand . 17 November 2020 . 30 July 2020.
  2. Web site: Landfall in unknown seas . Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand . 16 November 2020.
  3. Web site: A Song of Islands . SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music Trust . 17 November 2020.
  4. Web site: A Song of Islands . Amazon . 17 November 2020.
  5. Web site: LILBURN: Orchestral Works - 8.557697 . Naxos Records . 17 November 2020.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "A Song of Islands".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.