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

Press Music Editions, with its first ten titles appearing in 1967. 7
The purpose of the Music Editions of the Wai-te-ata Press was,
according to McKenzie, not to pre-empt the possibility of any commercial
publishing firm taking an interest in New Zealand composition, but to
demonstrate that the publishing of New Zealand compositions could be
achieved inside New Zealand. 8
The scores were all hand-written, in most cases in autograph.
They were printed off-set at the University, in runs varying between one
hundred and two hundred copies. They were sorted and collated through.
the labours mainly of Lilburn, assisted by a "chain-gang tl of composers. 9
"The response, one feels compelled to record,
hardly matched the idealism that informed the
venture: institutional parsimony could not
have been the reason, for the scores
. (beneficiaries of all sorts of hidden subsidies)
were incredibly cheap."JO
The first wave of ten publications from the Wai-te-ata Press
Music Editions in 1967 was followed quickly by a further wave of five
publications in 1969. 11 A third wave was scheduled for publication in
1972, but because of problems in bind~ng the works were not released
12
until early 1973. The type for the title pages and covers of these
works were set at the Pegasus Press. in Christchurch by Denis Glover.
By this time, with the formation of Price Milburn Music Ltd,13 the need
138
7 These comprised: No.1, Jenny McLeod For Seven; No.2, Larry Pruden
Dances of Brittany; No.3, David Farquhar Ode for Piano: No.4,
John Ritchie Kyrie and Gloria; No.5, Ronald Tremain Three Inventions
for Piano; No.6, Douglas Lilburn Elegy; No.1, Jenny McLeod Piano
Piece 1965; No.8, David Farquhar Symphony; No.9, Douglas Lilburn
Sonata No.2; No.10, David Farquhar Anniversary DUets (first set).
8 Don McKenzie, Music from the Wai-te-ata Press. Douglas Lilburn
2nded.,Wellington, Composers Association of New Zealand, 1980:74.
9 Douglas Lilburn in conversation with author March 1983.
10 DonMcK~nzi~, op.cit.
11 These comprised: No.1, Ronald Tremain Four Medieval Lyrics; No.2,
Ronald Tremain Allegro for Strings; No.3, Gillian Whitehead Fantasia
on Three Notes; No.4, Jack Body Four Stabiles; No.5, David Farqunar
Six Son~s of Women.
12 These comprised: No.1, Jack Body Turtle Time; No.2, Robert Burch
Capriccio; No.3, David Farquhar Three Pieces for Violin and Piano;
No.4, Douglas Lilburn Three Songs for Baritone and Viola; No.5,
John Rimmer Composition 2 for wind quintet and electronic sounds.
13 For further details see Appendix A12.