Gemma New shares NZ photos & Lilburn insights on Instagram

Oct 6, 2016

Ahead of this weekend’s NJSO concerts featuring New Zealand composer Douglas Lilburn’s Aotearoa Overture, Kiwi-born guest conductor Gemma New shared photos of the country on the NJSO’s Instagram, offering insights on both the composer and his work. “Aotearoa” is the Maori word for New Zealand’s islands (its literal translation is “the land of the long white cloud.”)

In an interview with The Times of Trenton, New explained the Lilburn work’s significance for New Zealand:

"It's a piece that we study at school as a music student, when you're 15 years-old," she says. "Every youth orchestra performs it. Every professional orchestra plays it regularly. It really is like our 'Finlandia.' Lilburn wanted to create a classical style of New Zealand music, specifically, so that the New Zealand people could listen to it and relate to it and play it. It's a national piece, describing our country."

Check out photos from New’s Instagram takeover:

This weekend's concert features the "Aoetearoa" Overture by #NewZealand composer Douglas Lilburn. Conductor Gemma New–also a New Zealand native–is taking over our Instagram this afternoon to share with us a few of her personal photos that have inspired her while conducting this piece. Stay tuned! #NJSO

A photo posted by New Jersey Symphony (@njsymphony) on Oct 5, 2016 at 1:05pm PDT

Conductor Gemma New says, "The beginning of the 'Aotearoa' Overture depicts the floating, suspended cloud (specifically the Nor'west Arch) above the plains and mountains of Canterbury, where Lilburn studied at the (now named) University of Canterbury. This photo is of suspended cloud on the Routeburn Track in the South Island."

A photo posted by New Jersey Symphony (@njsymphony) on Oct 5, 2016 at 1:38pm PDT

"The family farm where Douglas Lilburn grew up was located in the Central North Island, near the volcano Mt. Ruapehu. Here it is in both winter and summer. Clouds are a major part of NZ's landscape. 'Aotearoa' is the Maori name for #NewZealand; it's literal translation is 'the Long White Cloud.'"

A photo posted by New Jersey Symphony (@njsymphony) on Oct 5, 2016 at 2:40pm PDT

"Douglas Lilburn spent his childhood on the family farm, and lived in his sister's farm for part of his adult life. He knew how to muster sheep and milk cows, and enjoyed the country lifestyle." #NewZealand #cows #cowsofinstagram

A photo posted by New Jersey Symphony (@njsymphony) on Oct 5, 2016 at 3:30pm PDT

"Kapiti Island is clear of rodents so that #NewZealand's many native birds can roam freely. In 'Aotearoa' Overture, the woodwind players have motifs that sound similar to bird song. You can also hear the smooth plane of the waves, and vivid blue colors of this photo."

A photo posted by New Jersey Symphony (@njsymphony) on Oct 5, 2016 at 4:37pm PDT

Conductor Gemma New's final photo for us: "You are always close to the water in New Zealand, whether it be lakes, rivers or the sea, and the rhythm of the waves can be heard in Lilburn's Aotearoa Overture. The mountains often meet the sea in a striking way, allowing for some beautiful and isolated beaches."

A photo posted by New Jersey Symphony (@njsymphony) on Oct 5, 2016 at 7:03pm PDT

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