Composers In Print

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31520, 7 November 1967, Page 13

Composers In Print

In the last 25 years New Zealand composers have written a good deal of music that has gained recognition from performances here and overseas. A little of this music has become familiar through recordings. Almost none of it is in print because there have been few opportunities here for commercial publication. Recently there has been a growing demand from libraries, universities, overseas sources, local performers, teachers, students and interested listeners, to have this music available for study and performance—at least as available as New Zealand literature and painting have been for many years. Photographic printing methods now make this possible at reasonable costs. The Wai-te-ata Press exists, independently, on the campus of Victoria University, and has a record of fine printing and editions of New Zealand poets. It now offers a first series of music editions in facsimile reproduction of manuscripts by composers and hopes that this, and subsequent series, may meet an existing interest, stimulate performances and recordings, and provide a valuable archive of New Zealand music.

The Wai-te-ata Press, which is non-profit-making, will leave all essential copyrights vested in the composers and distribute any returns over costs directly to the composers concerned. Scores will cost from about 60c for a piano work to $1.20 for an instrumental score. Printing of the first editions will begin this month. They are as follows.—

Jenny McLeod's “For Seven," a chamber work using the new notation, was performed last year in Cologne and Paris, and conducted by Maderna at Darmstadt and at the Berlin International Festival of Music. Her Piano Piece 1965 is a work offering challenge to senior students of the instrument. Larry Pruden’s “Dances of Brittany” must be familiar through many concert performances and the Kiwi Records LP by the Alex Lindsay String Orchestra. David Farquhar’s Symphony, written ia 1959, is still almost uaknown to New Zealand audiences. This study score may stimulate interest in a neglected major work. His “Ode for Piano,” commissioned for the centenary of Cambridge in 1965, is a work of moderate difficulty for piano students. His “Anniversary Duets” for piano in this series are for beginners playing with their music teacher. These very practical pieces carry high recommendation from Wellington teachers, and should be of interest to the Music Teachers’ Association. Ronald Tremain’s music ts likely tn feature more prominently in subsequent series. He Is at present overseas, and original manuscripts are not readily available. The Otago University Press intends to publish his “Five Epigrams.” His “Three Inventions” for piane will be included in this series in a manuscript prepared by David Farquhar. John Ritchie’s “Kyrie and Gloria” for Choir and String Orchestra illustrates the choral tradition of Christchurch and is the first of a series of choral works that it is hoped to promote. Douglas Lilburn’s "Sonatina No. 2,” like the Tremain

"Three Inventions,” is a work of moderate difficulty for piano- students. His “Elegy” for baritone and piano on the cycle of poems by Alistair Campbell is printed to match a forthcoming LP by Kiwi Records. The score of the Elegy will include a printed text of the poems.