Music by Alfred Hill (1869-1960) receives more attention in this broadcast. He composed over 500 works, including 17 string quartets, 13 symphonies, and 8 operas.
Alfred Francis Hill was born in Melbourne, Australia, but moved with his parents to New Zealand at the age of 3. He continued his studies in Leipzig, Germany, and played as second violinist in the Gewandhausorchester. Back in New Zealand, he worked for a New Zealand Conservatory and for the establishment of an institute for Māori studies. Before the turn of the century, he moved to Australia with Sydney as his base. He also made a significant contribution to the development of an own cultural identity in Australia. He composed over 500 works, including 17 string quartets, 13 symphonies, and 8 operas. Most of his symphonies are arrangements of his string quartets. Many of his works have a programmatic character.
Alfred Hill: String Quartet No. 1 for 2 violins, viola, and cello in B-flat major.
- ‘Maori’Moderato — Allegro
- Waiata (Songs accompanying the Dance). Haka Dance (Barbaric) — Trio. Poi Dance (Graceful) — Da capo
- Tangi (Lament). Lento — Con moto — Tempo I — Allegro
- Finale. Allegro moderato
Dominion Quartet
Alfred Hill: String Quartet No. 2 for 2 violins, viola, and cello in G minor. ‘A Maori legend in four scenes’
- The Forest. Allegro agitato The fight of the Crane and the Monster Rata enters the wood
- The Dream. Adagio
- The Karakia (Scherzo). The karakia (incantation) and the coming of the birds. Adagio — Presto
- The Dedication (Finale). The dedication and launching of the canoe. Poco adagio — Allegro
Dominion Quartet
Alfred Hill: Waiata poi
Alfred Hill, tenor and Mirrie Hill, piano
Alfred Hill: Quintet for 8 vocal parts, piano, 2 violins, viola, and cello. ‘Life quintet’ – Part I. Grave. Allegro. At the Back of Life is Mystery – Life is Vigorous
Dominion Quartet + Richard Mapp, piano
