Short bio Douglas Lilburn
Full biography Douglas Lilburn
Douglas Gordon Lilburn (1915-2001) was a highly influential New Zealand composer. He was born in Wanganui, New Zealand and studied music in London before returning to New Zealand to pursue his career in music composition. Lilburn is considered to be the preeminent composer of New Zealand and has made significant contributions to New Zealand's cultural landscape.
He wrote music for various media including film, theatre, and radio. Lilburn's music is known for its use of unique harmonies and melodies that are inspired by the New Zealand landscape. He is also known for his pioneering work in electronic music and was one of the first composers in New Zealand to work with tape-recorded sounds.
Some of his notable works include "Aotearoa Overture," "Drysdale Overture," and "NZBC Symphony." Lilburn was also a respected teacher who helped to establish the Department of Music at the University of Canterbury. He mentored many young composers and his legacy continues to influence generations of musicians to this day.
In recognition of his contributions to New Zealand culture, Lilburn was awarded numerous honors including the Order of New Zealand (the highest honor a New Zealander can receive) and was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. The Lilburn Research Fellowship is named in his honor and is awarded to writers, musicians, and broadcasters who are working on projects related to New Zealand music.
Overall, Douglas Lilburn is regarded as a visionary composer who has left a lasting impact on the music of New Zealand. His legacy continues to inspire and influence musicians both in New Zealand and around the world.
Compositions featuring Douglas Lilburn
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serenade for small orchestra | 5:12 min | Orchestral | 1967 |
| 2 | Pieces (17), for guitar | 24:13 min | Chamber Music | 1963 |
| 3 | Symphony No. 3 | 14:52 min | Symphony | 1961 |
| 4 | Processional Fanfare, for orchestra | 3:58 min | Orchestral | 1961 |
| 5 | Duos for 2 violins | 19:25 min | Chamber Music | 1956 |
| 6 | A Birthday Offering, for orchestra | 11:57 min | Orchestral | 1956 |
| 7 | Symphony No. 2 in C | 12:31 min | Symphony | 1951 |
| 8 | Sonata for violin & piano | 13:30 min | Chamber Music | 1950 |
| 9 | Symphony No. 1 | 29:46 min | Symphony | 1949 |
| 10 | Chaconne, for piano | 25:02 min | Keyboard | 1947 |
| 11 | Diversions, for string orchestra | 12:31 min | Orchestral | 1947 |
| 12 | String Quartet in E minor | 18:30 min | Chamber Music | 1946 |
| 13 | String Trio | 16:13 min | Chamber Music | 1945 |
| 14 | Canzonetta for violin & viola No. 2 | 1:20 min | Chamber Music | 1943 |
| 15 | Sonatina for clarinet & piano | 8:59 min | Chamber Music | 1943 |
| 16 | Canzonetta for violin & viola No. 1 | 5:55 min | Chamber Music | 1942 |
| 17 | Aotearoa, overture for orchestra | 8:14 min | Orchestral | 1940 |
| 18 | Phantasy for string quartet | 10:42 min | Chamber Music | 1939 |
| 19 | Drysdale Overture, for orchestra | 10:03 min | Orchestral | 1937 |
| 20 | Forest, tone poem for orchestra | 15:57 min | Orchestral | 1936 |
| 21 | Salutes to Seven Poets, for viola & piano | 24:58 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 22 | Pieces (2), for guitar (unpublished) | 3:13 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 23 | Landfall in Unknown Seas | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - | |
| 24 | Festival Overture, for orchestra | 8:23 min | Orchestral | - |
| 25 | Suite for orchestra | 16:00 min | Orchestral | - |
| 26 | Canzonas (4), for guitar | 8:18 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 27 | Allegro for strings | Chamber Music | - | |
| 28 | A Song of Islands, tone poem for orchestra | 16:25 min | Orchestral | - |
Albums featuring Douglas Lilburn
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Douglas Lilburn - The New Zealand String Quartet – String Quartet In E Minor / Phantasy Quartet / Canzonettas / Duos For Two Violins / String Trio(CD, Album) | 2015 | Naxos |
| 2 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, Justine Cormack, Michael Houstoun – Duos For Violin And Piano(CD, Stereo) | 2013 | Atoll |
| 3 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, Martin Riseley – Master Works For Strings(CD, Album) | 2012 | Atoll |
| 4 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, Elizabeth Holowell, Dean Sky-Lucas – Violin And Piano Works(CD, Stereo) | 2012 | Atoll |
| 5 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, Dan Poynton – Complete Piano Music Volume 4(2×CD, ) | 2012 | Trust Records (10) |
| 6 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, Dan Poynton – Complete Piano Music Volume 3(CD, ) | 2011 | Trust Records (10) |
| 7 |  |
The Waiteata Collection Of New Zealand Music Volume IX - Douglas Lilburn: Salutes To Poets(CD, Compilation) | 2006 | Waiteata Music Press |
| 8 |  |
Douglas Lilburn - New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd – A Song Of Islands / Aotearoa Overture / Forest(CD, Album) | 2006 | Naxos |
| 9 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd – Orchestral Works(CD, ) | 2006 | Naxos |
| 10 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, Dan Poynton – Complete Piano Music Volume 2(CD, ) | 2004 | Morrison Music Trust |
| 11 |  |
Complete Electro-Acoustic Works(3×CD, Remastered, DVD, PAL) | 2004 | Atoll |
| 12 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, Dan Poynton – Complete Piano Music Volume 1(CD, ) | 2004 | Morrison Music Trust |
| 13 |  |
Douglas Lilburn / New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / James Judd – The Three Symphonies | 2002 | Naxos |
| 14 |  |
Paul Whelan (2), David Harper (8), Frank Bridge, Douglas Lilburn, John Ireland, Gerald Finzi, C. W. Orr – Elegy Songs By Bridge, Lilburn, Ireland, Orr, Finzi(CD, ) | 1999 | Morrison & Co Trust |
| 15 |  |
Douglas Lilburn – New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / John Hopkins (11), Grant Cooper, Ithaca College Festival Orchestra – Orchestral And String Music(CD, ) | 1997 | Kiwi/Pacific Records Ltd. |
| 16 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, William Southgate – Douglas Lilburn - Orchestral Music(CD, Album) | 1996 | Continuum |
| 17 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, Margaret Nielsen – Piano Music Played By Margaret Nielsen(CD, Stereo) | 1995 | Manu (2) |
| 18 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, Sir Edmund Hillary – Landfall In Unknown Seas/Diversions For String Orchestra(CD, Album) | 1995 | Koch International Classics |
| 19 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, John Hopkins (11), Sir Charles Groves – A Song of Islands(CD, ) | 1995 | Kiwi/Pacific Records Ltd. |
| 20 |  |
Douglas Lilburn – New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / John Hopkins (11) – The Three Symphonies(CD, ) | 1994 | Continuum |
| 21 |  |
Douglas Lilburn – New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / John Hopkins (11), Ashley Heenan – The Three Symphonies(CD, ) | 1993 | Kiwi/Pacific Records Ltd. |
| 22 |  |
Lilburn, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, David Griffiths (7), Orpheus Choir Of Wellington, Sir Charles Groves, John Hopkins (11) – Drysdale Overture / A Birthday Offering / Prodigal Country(LP) | 1987 | Kiwi |
| 23 |  |
A Song Of Islands(LP) | 1986 | Kiwi |
| 24 |  |
Lilburn, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Conducted By John Hopkins (11) – Symphony No. 1 / Festival Overture / Suite For Orchestra | 1986 | Kiwi |
| 25 |  |
New Zealand Brass Quintet, Douglas Lilburn, John Ritchie (2), Kenneth Young (4) – New Zealand Brass Quintet(LP) | 1983 | Kiwi |
| 26 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, Schola Musica Directed By Ashley Heenan, Patricia Lawley And Anthea Moller , Narrated By Peter Vere-Jones – Canzona - Music For Strings And Voices(LP) | 1981 | Kiwi |
| 27 |  |
Instrumental Music 1945-1957(2×LP) | 1981 | Kiwi |
| 28 |  |
Soundscape (Electronic Works By Douglas Lilburn)(LP) | 1980 | Kiwi |
| 29 |  |
Robert Oliver (2), Milton Parker, Lilburn – Sings Harry | 1977 | Kiwi |
| 30 |  |
Lilburn / Farquhar / Watson / Rimmer - New Zealand Symphony Orchestra – Symphony No. 2 / Evocation / Prelude And Allegro For Strings / At The Appointed Time | 1976 | Kiwi |
| 31 |  |
Symphony No. 2 / Aotearoa Overture / Diversions For String Orchestra | 1976 | Jerusalem Records |
| 32 |  |
Lilburn / Farquhar, NZBC Symphony Orchestra – Aotearoa Overture / Third Symphony / Symphony | 1969 | Kiwi |
| 33 |  |
Douglas Lilburn, Alistair Campbell – The Return And The Elegy (Poems By Alistair Campbell, Sound Image And Music By Douglas Lilburn) | 1967 | Kiwi |
| 34 |  |
The Alex Lindsay String Orchestra , Poem By Allen Curnow Music By Douglas Lilburn / Ashley Heenan / Larry Pruden / John Ritchie (2) – Landfall In Unknown Seas / Cindy / Dances Of Brittany / Turkey In The Straw | 1966 | Kiwi |
| 35 |  |
"Sings Harry" - A Song Cycle | 1953 | Kiwi |
| 36 |  |
The Alex Lindsay String Orchestra , Poem By Allen Curnow Music By Douglas Lilburn / Ashley Heenan / Larry Pruden / John Ritchie (2) – Landfall In Unknown Seas / Cindy / Dances Of Brittany / Turkey In The Straw(LP, Stereo) | - | Kiwi |
| 37 |  |
The Landscape Of A New Zealand Composer(10×CD, ) | - | Sounz |
Videos featuring Douglas Lilburn
Douglas Lilburn - Winterset
...!!!
Complete Electro-Acoustic Works
Symphony No. 1: Allegro non troppo
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Symphony No. 1: Allegro non troppo · New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Lilburn: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 3
℗ 2002 Naxos
Released on: 2002-05-15
Conductor: James Judd
Orchestra: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Compose
Sings Harry
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The Return
The Return · Douglas Lilburn
Lilburn: Electro-acoustic Works
℗ 2004 Atoll
Released on: 2004-01-01
Artist: Douglas Lilburn
Composer: Douglas Lilburn
Producer: Wayne Laird
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Symphony No. 1: Andante con moto
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Symphony No. 1: Andante con moto · New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Lilburn: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 3
℗ 2002 Naxos
Released on: 2002-05-15
Conductor: James Judd
Orchestra: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Composer:
Soundscape with Lake and River
Soundscape with Lake and River · Douglas Lilburn
Lilburn: Electro-acoustic Works
℗ 2004 Atoll
Released on: 2004-01-01
Artist: Douglas Lilburn
Composer: Douglas Lilburn
Producer: Wayne Laird
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Cicadas, Oscillators and Treefrogs
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Cicadas, Oscillators and Treefrogs · Douglas Lilburn · Douglas Lilburn
Complete Electro-Acoustic Works
℗ 2004 Atoll Ltd
℗ 2012 Launch Music International Ltd
Released on: 2013-01-29
Auto-generated
Poem in Time of War
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Poem in Time of War · Douglas Lilburn · Douglas Lilburn
Complete Electro-Acoustic Works
℗ 2004 Atoll Ltd
℗ 2012 Launch Music International Ltd
Released on: 2013-01-29
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Symphony No. 1: Allegro
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Symphony No. 1: Allegro · New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Lilburn: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 3
℗ 2002 Naxos
Released on: 2002-05-15
Conductor: James Judd
Orchestra: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Composer: Douglas
Symphony No. 2: Prelude: Moderato
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Symphony No. 2: Prelude: Moderato · New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Lilburn: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 3
℗ 2002 Naxos
Released on: 2002-05-15
Conductor: James Judd
Orchestra: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Composer
Soundscape with Lake and River
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Soundscape with Lake and River · Douglas Lilburn · Douglas Lilburn
Complete Electro-Acoustic Works
℗ 2004 Atoll Ltd
℗ 2012 Launch Music International Ltd
Released on: 2013-01-29
Auto-generated by Y
Symphony No. 2: Scherzo: Allegro vivace
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Symphony No. 2: Scherzo: Allegro vivace · New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Lilburn: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 3
℗ 2002 Naxos
Released on: 2002-05-15
Conductor: James Judd
Orchestra: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Co
Three Inscapes: #1
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Three Inscapes: #1 · Douglas Lilburn · Douglas Lilburn
Complete Electro-Acoustic Works
℗ 2012 Launch Music International Ltd
Released on: 2013-01-29
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Summer Voices
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Summer Voices · Douglas Lilburn · Douglas Lilburn
Complete Electro-Acoustic Works
℗ 2004 Atoll Ltd
℗ 2012 Launch Music International Ltd
Released on: 2013-01-29
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Symphony No. 2: Introduction: Poco lento
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Symphony No. 2: Introduction: Poco lento · New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Lilburn: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 3
℗ 2002 Naxos
Released on: 2002-05-15
Conductor: James Judd
Orchestra: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
C
Symphony No. 2: Finale: Allegro
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Symphony No. 2: Finale: Allegro · New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Lilburn: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 3
℗ 2002 Naxos
Released on: 2002-05-15
Conductor: James Judd
Orchestra: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Composer:
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