A Song of Islands | |
---|---|
by Douglas Lilburn | |
Form | Tone poem |
Composed | Christchurch, 1946 |
Scoring | Orchestra |
A Song of Islands is a tone poem (described by the composer as a song)[1] written for orchestra by New Zealand composer Douglas Lilburn in 1946. The work is the last in a trilogy of pieces exploring the theme of New Zealand identity; it was preceded by the overture Aotearoa (1940) and Landfall in Unknown Seas (1942) for narrator and string orchestra.[2]
Lilburn described the piece as featuring "a chorale-like theme" that develops into an "arch-like form".[1]
The piece has been recorded by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra under Sir William Southgate.[3][4] A Naxos recording by James Judd with the NZSO was issued in August 2006; it also includes Lilburn's Aotearoa Overture, Forest, A Birthday Offering, Drysdale Overture, Festival Overture and Processional Fanfare.[5]