Call of the Huia: 100 early New Zealand Art Songs
William THOMAS: The Dying Lover
William Thomas (1867–1946) was born and educated In Oxford, England. He came to New Zealand in 1900 to take up the position as Professor of Music at Auckland University.
William Thomas Photo: Public Domain
He was a prolific composer, having several compositions published including a Mass. His compositions have been labelled as ‘dull’ by Owen Jensen, a student of Thomas’s and later the music critic for Wellington’s Evening Post – not so this charming little song.
He was rather shy and in later years took to not attending University meetings such that for his retirement party someone roguishly suggested he wear a name-tag so that people would know who he was.
The Auckland University Library holds manuscripts for several pieces including this undated song, thought to have been written before he arrived in New Zealand.
William Thomas wrote several madrigals, which shows his penchant for music of the 16th and 17th centuries, which is why he was probably attracted to the poem by John Dryden. The song is a very charming model of its type.
John Dryden was one of the foremost influential English poets of the 17th century. 'The Dying Lover' (‘Go tell Amynta, gentle swain’) comes from a collection of ‘Songs, Odes and Lyrical Pieces’ published in Miscellany Poems (1685). Thomas’s setting doesn’t always accurately represent Dryden’s original verse.
Recorded 12 February 2021, St Andrew's on The Terrace, Wellington by RNZ Concert
Producer: David McCaw for RNZ Concert
Engineer: Darryl Stack for RNZ Concert
Video: Chris Watson for SOUNZ
The Call of the Huia research project by music historian Michael Vinten is funded by the Lilburn Trust with support from the Alexander Turnbull Library, the Hocken Library, SOUNZ Centre for NZ Music, RNZ Concert and others. The scores with CDs for Call of the Huia can be purchased in hard copy or as digital download from SOUNZ.
