Thanh-Tam Le <[log in to unmask]> enthuses further to NZ composers:

>And there are at least 20 more symphonists from NZ to be discovered...
>Not to mention other musical forms, which should not be overlooked, as
>Eric Schissel rightly points out.

and Richard Pennycuick <[log in to unmask]> joins in with regard to
Lilburn at least, pointing to the Sibelian influence:

>If that thought interests you, you'll find much to excite you in Lilburn's
>music.

Lilburn is the only NZ composer who manages to get a mention, sometimes at
least, in the more comprehensive who's who type of book on classical music.
Sibelius is usually mentioned as an "obvious" influence on the first two
symphonies.  I note that Lebrecht likens his third to Stravinsky, before
going on to suggest that the composer "would have done better [to have
stuck with the] fascinating Pacific sounds" of his first and second
symphonies.  Actually to coin a stylistic label for a possible derivation
of a style one might perceive, if one wishes, in Lilburn's music, it is
"Walter Piston-ized, Sea-breezed, not-quite-prairie-landish, Copland-esque,
slightly sheep-tending Vaughan Williams-esque, and rather more Walton-ian,
Non-Late Helladic IIIB".  Sibelius is really just another minor influence.

Kenneth Young's Symphony was written in 1987-8.  It is quite different
to Lilburn.  Strangely enough, I find his choice of harmonic idioms often
remind me of the American composer Tobias Picker.  Young, himself cites an
affinity for French music and influences.  Like Picker, Young is a
"Post-Modernist".

Among the at least 20 names of New Zealand composers of worthwhile
symphonies and other works that I will "drop" nonchalantly in here are:
John Rimmer (2 Symphonies; At the Appointed Time); Edwin Carr (4
Symphonies); Larry Pruden (Taranaki Overture; Haast Highway; Harbour
Nocturne).  That will do, for a start.  All these composers are somewhat
more interesting to the present writer than Gareth Farr (another local
entity), though it certainly wouldn't bother me if others on becoming
acquainted with all this music thought differently.  After all, I didn't
write any of the music, so it's not going to be my ego that gets bruised.

Geoffrey S.W. Gaskell