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

47
mighty and well worth while." 39
Forest was given its premiere performance1n the Wellington Town
Hall on 25 May 1937, by the Wellington Symphony Orchestra conducted by
Leon de Mauny. The concert was broadcast live on 2YA. The Dominion
carried the following comments in its review the following day:
"Mr Lilburn I s work, which made an unmistakable
impression, is reminiscent of none other to an
extent that one may call imitation. He has given
the world something quite fresh and new in his
interpretation of the moods of the forest •••
embodying as it does the murmurings of the neverstatic
life of the forest, its cool depths, and
the grandeur of it all.
The solemnity of the forest is given out in the
opening bars by the lower strings, which gives
place to some delightful interchanges between
the woodwinds and strings, with notable work for
the 'cello and flute, developing into a woodwind
chorus with a string accompaniment played
pizzicato - a joyous noonday acclaim. There
follows an extremely beautiful string quartet,
daring in its quietude and richly harmonic,
after which there are surging climaxes which
see the entry of the brass in full force. But
their blazing passages are brief, and once more
the music cools to a delightful passage for the
lower strings which leads to a particularly
lovely finale in which all is peace, harmony and
sweet restfulness. Mr Lilburn employs the full
orchestra and his instincts are sure. He should
go far in the world of composition.,,40
Lilburn's winning of this Percy Grainger competition, then, was
a turning point for him.
From this point on he decided to devote his
energies completely to music, with a concentration on composition.
Appreciating, however, his own seriously limited background in music, and
aware of the paucity of opportunity to further his musical knowledge and
experience within New Zealand, his thoughts turned to overseas study.
Like most of his generation overseas study meant London, and in particular
for Lilburn, it meant Vaughan Williams.
"When I was a student at Canterbury College
I had a great ambition to get to London to
39 ibid.
40 Symphony orchestra, New Zealand tone poem played. The Dominion
26 May 1937.