Abstract
Alfred Hill (1870-1960) was a central figure of the Australasian art music world during his lifetime. He was New Zealand’s first professional composer, and had a close connection with its indigenous people, the Māori. However, to date his music has been studied very little. This research focuses on a single composition, String Quartet No. 2 in G Minor (1907-1911). It aims to analyse the work in depth, and make observations about Hill’s style. While the quartet is in a late Romantic style, which resulted from his musical training in Germany, there are innovative elements. One important characteristic of Hill’s compositions is the incorporation of Māori elements into his music, which include poetry, legend and music. This quartet, which is based on a Māori legend, was created during Hill’s last stay in the country, when he produced most of his Māori-inspired works. This thesis investigates the background to its creation, analyses the music in depth, and aims to explore how the composer tried to integrate elements of Māori culture into his music.