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

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in 1969, and Three Songs for Baritone and Viola, Sonata for violin and
piano, and Sonatina No.2 for piano in 1972. Pye had released Chaconne
in 1969 performed by Peter Cooper. By midway through the 1970s,
eighteen of Lilburn's compositions were available on commercial discs,
and he had seventeen separate pUblications to his name. By this time,
his music was being regularly performed and broadcast.
In 1974, Lilburn took special leave from. the University to travel
overseas once again, this time specifically to investigate the possible
usage of computer control in the EMS/VUW.
His leave was from 28 April to
5 July 1974, and included visits to Toronto, Londo~Paris (once again
coincided to attend the UNESCO rostrum), Utrecht, Amsterdam, and Stockholm.
On his return he reported that:
"Findings were mainly admonitory, especially
in relation to computer programming of existing
analog equipment, and rather in favour of
expensive computer sound-synthesis audially
realized by analog conversion."25
Towards the end of 1974, Lilburn was commissioned by the New
Zealand Ballet Trust
to devise an electronic ballet score for choreography
by Deidre Tarrant. What resulted was the 26-minute ballet Welcome
Stranger that was premiered at the Christchurch Arts Festival on 21 March
1975. Lilburn explained the genesis of the work:
"Through 1974 I was planning a large work based
on a central character who might reflect many
facets, pleasant or unpleasant, of human personality.
I wanted some dramatic presentation of the all-toofamiliar
way in which strong affirmative human
emotions may suddenly become negative, and of the
ironic circumstances within which we endure this
paradox.
I was uncertain about what shape to give these
sounds until, in December, the New Zealand Ballet
Trust commissioned a full-scale work, and
choreographer-Deidre Tarrant suggested seven
dancers - three couples, and a solo dancer at
odds with them all. The piece was then realised
quickly •••"26
Lilburn went on to describe the structure:
"Opening passages of the music suggest quiet
25 ibid.p.8.
26 Douglas Lilburn, Programme notes to lunchtime concert organised by
the Victoria University of Wellington Department of Music held on
Thursday 12 July 1979, in the Memorial Theatre. Copy of programme
at Alexander Turnbull Library.