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

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7
INTERLUDE
Discussion in the preceding five chapters has been directed
towards a definition of style for Lilburn's first period of composition
orchestral works. Through an element-by-element analysis, it was found
that many compositional characteristics and stylistic mannerisms recur
throughout the orchestral and string orchestral works of this period.
The works discussed - Festival Overture, Aotearoa Overtu~~, Landfall in
Unknown Seas ,Allegro, Song of the Antipodes, Diversions, Sx:mphony No.1,
Symphony No.2 and Suite for Orchestra - compr.ise. .all Lilburn's orchestral
works written between 1939 and 1955, and the three- most significant, or
most widely known and performed, string orchestral works. As such, they
are an unquestionably representative sample and provide a valid basis
for both some general and some specific observations about the nature of
Lilburn's first period orchestral works.
These compositions, then, are built on a diatonic-modal base.
They are strongly melodic and are constructed on design principles that
owe allegiance to traditional forms. They are string dominated, and are
characterised by bright, lean textures.
Lilburn's melodies in these works are usually short, and
constructed as a compounding of various motifs. They are usually
restricted to a narrow pitch compass and often hover around one note.
They .are in the main scalic, predominately based on intervals of the tone
and semitone, and characterised by a high incidence of reiterated notes:
Rhythm is often the most important and interesting element in
these melodies. Some of these melodies show an integral use of dynamics
along with a marked use of rhythmic embellishments and/or a distinctive
use of what could be called an 'active' rest.
Because of similarities between a number of melodies, Lilburn's
melodies can be easily divided into categories of various melodic types.
These include the lyric-pastoral themes, the dance-like themes, the
chorale-like themes, the alternating-motion-with-repose themes, and the