Programme Note Neachora was written in December, 1977, on commission from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The title, Neachora, is Greek for "New Land" and the work represents an impression of the island of Newfoundland, her people and especially her spirit. Since my first major contact with the island in 1975, my loife has been irrevocably changed. As an adjudicator to the Kiwanis Festival that year, I met certain young and very talented musicians whose influence on me is still very strong. This work is in part dedicated to them. Since moving to Newfoundland in 1976, I have gotten to know, as best I can in such a short time, the moods and feelings of this land that is like no other. She can make you adore her one moment and despise her the next; and yet I, for one, can think of no other place I would rather live. I have long been wanting to express, in music, my feelings for this island. However, I was unable to find a suitable text to set to music, until I read the verses of Newfoundland poet Al Pittman, currently Assistant Professor of English at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook. To me, Al's poems perfectly embody the spirit and beauty and humour of Newfoundland. Framing the four poems by Al Pittman are a Prologue and Epilogue I wrote myself. Neachora makes extensive use of quotation, including two Newfoundland folksongs and several Beothuck Indian words in the Prologue, a folksong by my friend Sy Potma from Toronto in the third poem, and various other quotes in the first poem. The work was written specifically for my friends and colleagues who premiered the work, members of the Music Department at Memorial, and of the St. John's community; and especially for Soprano Lynn Channing. The work is dedicated to my good friends, Karen and Kerry Malone.