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

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characteristic themes. These are string melodies that alternate little
bursts of rhythmic configurations with moments of sustained~ sound.
These themes make integral use of sudden and marked changes in dynamics.
~ Frequently also, they make use of sudden short rests which add emphasis
to the rhythmic direction of the line.
Where this thematic type is employed Ln a composition; it is
featured prominently, usually in the opening bars, and/or as the
principal theme. The opening bars of Allegro for strings (see Ex.l)
and the main theme of Aotearoa Overture (see Ex.2) are particularly good
examples of this. A comparison of these two themes reveals a number of
characteristics (as briefly outlined above) held in common.
Ex.l: Allegro for strings, violin I bars 1-7.
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Ex.2: Aotearoa Overture, violin I and II bars 25-34.
Firstly, there is the alternation of motion with repose.
Interestingly, in both cases, some of the moments of repose - where a
note is sustained - feature a use of tremolando. The use of tremolando
melodically here is no doubt for purposes of 'stimulating' the sound
of~the sustained note by varying the timbral colour. Certain
similarities between the moments of motion in both melodies can also