DOUGLAS LILBURN (1915-2001): Violin Sonatas in E Flat and in C, Allegro Concertante for Violin and Piano (all World Premiere Recordings), Violin Sonata.

Description: The two early sonatas are both from 1943 and were later revised in 1984 and 1986 while the Allegro was written in 1944. All of them are marked by Lilburn's penchant for spacious, soaring lyrical lines, sometimes reflecting his period of study in England with Vaughan Williams and sometimes not, sometimes seeming to attempt to evoke the majestic vistas of New Zealand's landscapes (you've seen Lord of the Rings, right?). Anyone interested in the music of this composer has just discovered a 64-minute treasure chest of first recordings. Justine Cormack (violin), Michael Houstoun (piano).