Kōrero: Composers

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.