Work

Programme Note

Curnow requested this work from Lilburn in 1952 for a poetry reading at Auckland University College. The event took place on the evening of 9 August that year, and involved a substantial amount of poetry (twenty-two poems in total) read by the poets involved. (Actually the works of eight poets were represented: Baxter read “Canto at Twenty-seven” by Louis Johnson).

Lilburn’s music was premiered by Antonia Braidwood (violin) and Donald Bowick (piano). One movement was supposed to precede each reading, providing the audience with the composer’s musical impressions of the work and personality of each poet. In the event, however, the order was reversed, which led to some confusion for the audience and some displeasure for the composer. Typical of New Zealand composition of the time, there was no fee to be had for the work. Lilburn even had to pay his way to Auckland for the rehearsals. On his return to Wellington, Lilburn shelved and forgot about the work. It was not until a chance meeting at his doctor’s surgery in 1988/89 that he was reminded of its existence by Lady Dorothea Turner, who had reviewed the first performance. At that point Lilburn contacted the violinist Dean Major to ask if he would be interested in performing it. After some negotiation the composer also determined that he would write a narration to go along with the music in lieu of the twenty-two poems, and (most surprisingly) volunteered to read this himself.

Salutes to Seven Poets was recorded by Concert FM on 5 September 1989, by Major (violin), with Rae de Lisle (piano). As if to make up for thirty-eight years of neglect of the work, this recording received a Mobil Award in 1990.

(Note by Nancy November).

Text Note:

Narrative written by Douglas Lilburn

Commissioned:

Requested by Allen Curnow for a reading of NZ poetry at Auckland University College, 1952

Difficulty:

Advanced

Influences:

• Art and literature - NZ

Related Works

Performance History

	09 Aug 1952	Premiered by Antonia Braidwood (violin) and Donald Bowick (piano) in Auckland
	05 Sep 1989	Performed by Dean Major (violin), Rae de Lisle (piano), Douglas Lilburn (narrator); Recorded by Concert FM on 5 September 1989, by Major (violin), with Rae de Lisle (piano). This recording received a Mobil Award in 1990.
		Dean Major    Rae de Lisle
	20 Oct 2010	Performed by Elizabeth Holowell and Dean Sky-Lucas at the Music Theatre, University of Auckland, in Auckland