Douglas Lilburn

Timeline: 1950 - 1959

This timeline is based primarily on the research of Philip Norman and John Scott. Additional information has been sourced from the Collection of Douglas Lilburn Manuscripts in the Alexander Turnbull Library, edited by Jill Palmer, and from the Radio New Zealand archive.

  • 1950: Began association with New Zealand Broadcasting Service Drama Department (Cornet Rilke).
  • 1950: Sonata for violin and piano. First performed by Ruth Perl (violin) and Frederick Page (piano).
  • 1950: Prelude for piano from Three Sea Changes.
  • 1950: Cornet Rilke, incidental music for string quartet to a reading of Rilke's poem. Read by Maria Dronke, produced by the New Zealand Broadcasting Service.
  • 1950: Lines in Autumn, songs for voice and piano. Poem by Basil Dowling.
  • 1951: Elegy song cycle for baritone and piano. Text by Alastair Campbell. First performed by Gerald Christeller.
  • 1951: Prelude for piano.
  • 1951: Symphony No. 2. First performed by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Warwick Braithwaite in 1953. Revised in 1974.
  • 1951-52: Sonata for Piano. First performed and broadcast by Margaret Nielsen. Revised in 1956
  • 1952: Four Hand work, for piano four hands.
  • 1952: Hamlet, incidental music. Written for the Wellington Repertory Society production directed by Richard Campion.
  • 1952: Incidental music scored for violin and piano. For a reading of poetry in Auckland University College on the 9th August. Comprises introduction, interludes and coda. Poets indicated in the score: A.R.D. Fairburn, Keith Sinclair, Alan Curnow, Michael Joseph, James K. Baxter, Kendrick Smithyman and R.A.K. Mason.
  • 1953: Began association with New Zealand Players - Dandy Dick, incidental music. Written for the New Zealand Players' production directed by Richard Campion, 13 May.
  • 1953: String Trio published by Hinrichsen.
  • 1953: Sings Harry, song cycle for tenor and piano. Poetry by Denis Glover.
  • 1954: Sings Harry, arranged for baritone and piano. First performed by Donald Munro and Frederick Page in Wellington.
  • c.1954: Sings Harry, arranged for tenor and guitar.
  • 1954: Duos for two violins. First performed by Ruth Pearl and Jean McCartney.
  • 1954: Clear Sky and The Picnic, two songs for soprano and piano. Poems by Ruth Dallas.
  • 1954: Allegro non troppo, piano piece for four hands.
  • 1954-55: Suite for Solo Viola.Performance manuscript missing.
  • 1955: Promoted to Senior Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington.
  • 1955: Pieces in serial technique for various string combinations. Done at Tanglewood for Roger Sessions.
  • 1955: Pardon Goddess of the Night, for SATB (four part) chorus. Written for "Much ado about Nothing" Act V, Scene 3. Produced by Maria Dronke.
  • 1955: Suite for Orchestra. Commissioned by the Auckland Junior Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dr. Charles Nalden.
  • 1955: St Joan, incidental music. Written for the New Zealand Players production directed by Richard Campion.
  • 1955-56: Overseas travel from June 1955 to February 1956 (USA, England and Europe).
  • 1956: A Birthday Offering for orchestra. Commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra for its tenth birthday. Performed by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Robertson, and recorded at the premiere performance in Wellington - 24 October 1956 [SA/NTK 14295].
  • 1957: Wind Quintet.
  • 1957: Quartet for Brass Instruments.
  • 1957: Merchant of Venice, incidental music. Written for the New Zealand Players production directed by Richard Campion.
  • 1958: Two duos for violin and viola.
  • 1958: Three Songs for Baritone and Viola. (1) Warning of Winter by Ursula Bethel, (2) Song of Allegiance by R.A.K. Mason, (3) Bow, wind of Fruitfulness by James K. Baxter. First broadcast by Donald Munro (baritone) and Jean McCartney (viola).
  • 1958: Three Poems of the Sea, for string orchestra and narrator [ATL Phono Q 1251]. First performed by the Alex Lindsay Strings conducted by Alex Lindsay with Maria Droke. (1) Sir Patrick Spens, (2) Come unto these Yellow Sands, (3) The Changeling.
  • 1959: Recording of Festival Overture by HMV.
  • 1959: Suite for Brass Band in four movements. (Unperformed).