Work
Song of the Gumfield
for male-voice choir and piano duet
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About
William Satchell (1860-1942) was one of a number of pioneers in New Zealand who farmed the land, but also wrote. When his farming venture failed, he moved on to become a storekeeper and stock broker. He is now better remembered as a novelist.
Song of the Gumfield is a descriptive poem about digging the kauri gum in the north of the North Island, describing the harsh conditions under which the men worked. This setting is only the first two verses of the original four in the poem.
Commissioned note
Written for Grammar Voices, Auckland Grammar School
Text note
Text by William Satchell