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

74
learning the piano, Lilburn opted to write for the organ.
Lilburn's entry, Prelude and Fugue in G minor was placed first by
the examiners Dr V.E. Galway (Blair Professor of Music at Otago
University College) and Mr W.J. Morrell (Chancellor of Otago University
College), and he was publicly awarded the first prize of £25 on 25 June
1944. The runner up was H.G. Luscombe of Auckland.
Dr Galway commented that Lilburn's composition was " ••• of a high
order of merit •.• real and vital with a modern outlook ••• showing
. . I· f II 43 Th k . d b G I .
or~g~na ~ty 0 treatment. e wor was prem~ere y a w~y ~n a
recital of organ music given on 30 November 1944 in the Christchurch
Cathedral. 44
Following this success, Lilburn began work in August of 1944 on a
. . h h k d f d· f· . 45
str~ng tr~o. T e tree-movement wor un erwent a ser~es 0 mo ~ ~cat~ons
before it was finally completed in February of 1945.
String Trio was premiered at a concert given by the Laurian Club in
the first of its series of chamber music recitals in 1945.
It was
performed by Margaret Sicely on violin, Vera Robinson on viola, and Valmai
Moffett on cello. Claude Davies in his review for The Star-Sun devoted
most of his review space to this work:
" ••• the music shows a remarkable advance on his
previous work. His style has become more
crystallised and individualistic, the Elizabethan
influence less noticeable, and the·various idioms
and motifs of which Douglas Lilburn is so fond
are used in a more subtle manner and show
remarkable ingenuity. The melodic line and
interweaving patterns are more clearly defined,
giving his work a wealth of design and cohesion
that is truly musical.
The third movement on first hearing did not
have quite the same appeal as the other two
movements, but, taking the work as a whole, time
may prove that this performance was a most
important occasion.
Douglas Lilburn deserves official support
and encouragement. He savours of genius.
43 The Press 21 June 1944:2.
44 Programme to the concert. Copy at Alexander Turnbull Library.
45 The first movement was composed on 18 and 19 August but was considerably
reworked, leaving the march (of about 21 bars) only relatively
untouched. The first 32 bars were deleted and replaced by 64·· bars of
which the last 16 were later deleted. This second working is dated
25 January 1945. The second and third movements were then reworked
with the second dated 6 February 1945 and the third 29 January 1945.
(Manuscript scores and working sketches of String Trio held at
Alexander Turnbull Library.)