Musical master Douglas Lilburn dies at age 85

By GREGG WYCHERLEY

Douglas Lilburn, one of New Zealand's leading composers, died yesterday morning at his Wellington home. He was 85.

He had been out of hospital for only two days, after receiving treatment for a serious heart condition.

Lilburn was at various times a guest-conductor, music critic and teacher and will be remembered as the New Zealand composer who first made an impact on the world stage.

Over the course of his long career he won many music awards and was awarded the Order of New Zealand in 1988.

Born in 1915, he grew up on his parent's farm in the Turakina Valley near Hunterville, and later studied music at Canterbury University College.

As his musical talents developed foreign shores beckoned and in 1937 his father agreed to send him to London to study at the Royal College of Music.

Lilburn returned to New Zealand in 1940, wreathed in glory after sweeping the Centennial music competition, winning almost all of the prizes.

The fanfare soon died down but he kept working, and in 1942 completed his setting of Allen Curnow's poem, Landfall in Unknown Seas, which became one of his best-known works.

He composed three symphonies and numerous other works, and in the 1960s began to experiment with electronic music.

Professor of music Heath Lees remembered Lilburn as a prolific composer who tried to develop a distinctly New Zealand musical voice.

"Clearly, he put New Zealand on the musical map," he said.

Professor Lees said Lilburn's contribution to music was not limited to his own achievements, as he put a lot of effort into encouraging young composers.

"Nobody had more dedication about trying to create composers in New Zealand than he did, and he did quite a lot of it in a very self-effacing sort of way."

In the absence of any tradition of serious composition in this country, Lilburn encouraged young New Zealand composers to establish their own, using the beauties and sounds of nature.

"He tried to feel that he might be able to find a New Zealand voice ... a way of making it into a New Zealand tradition."

Allen Curnow was a friend since the 1930s. The poet described Lilburn as "a man of most remarkable musical genius who composed works of astonishing brilliance."

A reclusive man, Lilburn never married, and requested a private burial.