Aotearoa (overture)
Encyclopedia
Aotearoa is an overture
written for orchestra
by New Zealand
composer Douglas Lilburn
in 1940. The overture is one of three early works by Lilburn which center on the theme of national identity; the other two are 1944's Landfall in Unknown Seas
, for narrator and orchestra, and the tone poem A Song of Islands
of 1946. The title of the overture (Aotearoa
) is taken from the Māori
name for the islands.
Lilburn wrote the overture while he was still a student at London
's Royal College of Music
, and it was premiered in Great Britain
, at His Majesty's Theatre
in London. It was not performed in New Zealand until 1959, but it has since entered the standard orchestral repertory there.
Typical of Lilburn's early work, the overture features idiomatic writing for winds, especially flutes, and vigorous dynamic contrasts.
At least two recordings of Aotearoa have been made.
Overture
Overture in music is the term originally applied to the instrumental introduction to an opera...
written for orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
by New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
composer Douglas Lilburn
Douglas Lilburn
Douglas Gordon Lilburn ONZ FRCM was a New Zealand composer.-Early life:Lilburn was born in Wanganui. He attended Waitaki Boys' High School from 1930 to 1933, before moving to Christchurch to study journalism and music at Canterbury University College...
in 1940. The overture is one of three early works by Lilburn which center on the theme of national identity; the other two are 1944's Landfall in Unknown Seas
Landfall in Unknown Seas
Landfall in Unknown Seas is a work for narrator and string orchestra written by New Zealand composer Douglas Lilburn in 1944. It was the second in Lilburn's early trilogy of works dealing with the theme of New Zealand identity, following the overture Aotearoa and preceding A Song of Islands...
, for narrator and orchestra, and the tone poem A Song of Islands
A Song of Islands
A Song of Islands is a tone poem written for orchestra by New Zealand composer Douglas Lilburn in 1946...
of 1946. The title of the overture (Aotearoa
Aotearoa
Aotearoa is the most widely known and accepted Māori name for New Zealand. It is used by both Māori and non-Māori, and is becoming increasingly widespread in the bilingual names of national organisations, such as the National Library of New Zealand / Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.-Translation:The...
) is taken from the Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
name for the islands.
Lilburn wrote the overture while he was still a student at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, and it was premiered in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, at His Majesty's Theatre
His Majesty's Theatre
His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen is the largest theatre in north-east Scotland, seating more than 1400. The theatre is sited on Rosemount Viaduct, opposite the city's Union Terrace Gardens. It was designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1906...
in London. It was not performed in New Zealand until 1959, but it has since entered the standard orchestral repertory there.
Typical of Lilburn's early work, the overture features idiomatic writing for winds, especially flutes, and vigorous dynamic contrasts.
At least two recordings of Aotearoa have been made.