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Story: Composers

Alfred Hill

Audio file

This oil painting, which shows Alfred Hill conducting, was painted by Thomas William Roberts in 1897. In the bottom left corner Hill signed it and inscribed the first three bars of his cantata Hinemoa. The work, which was based on a Māori love story, showed the influence of Māori musical themes. It enjoyed widespread success and launched Hill's career as a composer. Listen to the first movement, performed by the choir of Auckland Teachers' Training College and the Auckland Radio Orchestra under the baton of Hill. The recording was made in 1952.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: G-534

by Thomas William Roberts

Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. Reference: 33735

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

William Dart, Composers – Establishing a new tradition, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/music/44637/alfred-hill (accessed 8 June 2026).

Story by William Dart, published 20 March 2014.