The beginnings and development of a New Zealand music: The life ...

generated interest in his compositions.
95
People wanted to hear works he
had written. Consider the following two 1etters-to-the-editor printed
in The Press in April of 1945:
"Sir - Would it be possible occasionally to
hear more of Mr Lilburn's music at the 1unchhour
or evening recitals at Canterbury College?
It is well known that some new chamber mUS1C
is available. 50
Silvia Fox"
" there are many who share this desire, and
would be grateful for an opportunity to hear
not only the chamber music but the works for
solo piano, some of which have only been heard
so far in a broadcast performance from
Wellington.
- Con Moto,,51
Both these letters were referred to Dr Vernon Griffiths, the then
Professor of Music at Canterbury University College.
On both occasions,
the Editor of The Press noted that Dr Griffiths had no comment to make.
of his music.
If Lilburn had his followers, he also had critics and opponents
None were as outspoken and vehement as one L.D. Austin,
a composer himself, but in a Romantic, nineteenth-century mould.
Austin's feud with Lilburn's music lasted many years, with time neither
mellowing Austin's views, nor diminishing the strength of his written
attacks. Consider two such diatribes:
"It was my misfortune the other evening to be
obliged to listen to a sonata for violin and
piano, written by a New· Zealand composer. I
have not space· to enumerate the .work's defects
Wild horses could never drag me to another
example of such decomposition. When is this
country, so rich in executive talent, going to 52
produce a native composer worthy of encouragement?"
Wild horses aside, something nevertheless did manage to drag Austin to
the radio to listen to the premiere broadcast of Sonata for piano (1949),
played by Frederick Page:
"Sir- ••• I- should like to congratulate the
composer for having gone one better than the
man who composed "Kitten on the Keys" inasmuch
as Lilburn's work Sonata for Piano 1950 [sicJ
sounded very much like two cats upon the
keyboard, one at each end; and if they both
gave birth to kittens during the broadcast I
should not be surprised.
50
51
52
The Press 5 April 1945.
The Press 27 April 1945.
L.D. Austin, Thoughts about music.
1945.
The Evening Star (Dunedin) 12 May