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The earliest known soundtrack to
be transfered to videotape is the 1940 production of REWI'S LAST
STAND. The original score was composed by Alfred Hill; a
composer who is justifiably claimed by both Australia and New
Zealand. A copy can be viewed/heard at the New Zealand Film
Archive. The Hill family emigrated to New Zealand in 1872, when
Alfred was but age two. Finally settling in Wellington, his
family was quite active in arts, and especially music. Alfred
studied in Leipzig and returned to conduct the Wellington
Orchestral Society from 1892-1896. Most of the 20th century, Hill
resided in Australia, but made many trips to New Zealand to
conduct. Early Hill compositions, including the maori themed
cantata HINEMOA, the two 'Maori' string quartets, and the tone
poems on Maori themes, are examples of early New Zealand music. A
HINEMOA film was made in 1914, but no known copies exist today.
Perhaps someone will someday make a sound version utilizing
Hill's cantata. There are no known soundtrack CDs of this
title.