This edition is the first of eight companion volumes to accompany the recorded series and draws on the expertise of Dr. Robert Hoskins of Massey University and Rod Biss, formerly of Schott London, Faber Music and Price Milburn Music, who was instrumental in first publishing Lilburn's piano music in the 1970's. Having worked with Lilburn directly on these early publications, Biss has now revisited original source materials in the preparation of this series. Together, the editors have carefully considered and clarified Lilburn's manuscripts and early publications in preparing these volumes as both scholarly and practical editions for performance.
This first volume comprises Lilburn's highly individual Sonata (1949) and a collection of some twenty sketches, studies and personal tributes first published as Occasional Pieces in 1975. "Rich pickings for any of the new breed of pianist prepared to reach for the less obvious. They will be rewarded and so will the listener." - Rob Barnett, Musicweb International
Douglas Liburn occupies a pre-eminent position in New Zealand music, with a legacy extending well beyond his compositional output. As a composer, a teacher, and later as a warm, generous and encouraging background presence, he presided in innumerable ways over the artistic growth of this country. His music, from the early works redolent of the influence of Sibelius and Vaughan Williams, to the electroacoustic pieces of his later years, makes up a corpus of works that has been instrumental in establishing a genuinely vernacular voice in New Zealand classical music.
