But the piece was given voice again at the Hocken Library yesterday when the original score was given to the University of Otago by Baxter's good friend Ruth Wylie.
Mrs Wylie (85) recalled the moment in 1945 when the idea to write the anthem was hatched.
She and Baxter (then 19) were sitting on the banks of the Leith near the university's registry building, musing about why the inherently Scottish institution used the Welsh anthem Men of Harlech for official ceremonies.
Baxter set about writing rhyming words for a different and more Scottish anthem, which was later set to new music by Christchurch composer Douglas Lilburn.
Mrs Wylie said the result of the collaboration was "really something" and she used her influence with the Capping Show controller and the concert director to have it included in the 1945 show.
"I got a good singer, Bryan Drake, to sing it - he later became a leading opera singer overseas - and he did it beautifully."
However, it failed to find favour among university officials and when Men of Harlech was mothballed, it was replaced with the Latin song Gaudeamus, which is still used at graduation ceremonies.
Baxter and Lilburn's piece was not performed publicly again, until yesterday when Mrs Wylie gave the original score to the Hocken.
She was surprised on her arrival at the library to find performance student Julien van Mellaerts (baritone) and composition lecturer Anthony Ritchie performing the piece.
The work was described by Mrs Wylie as a "new national treasure" created by two of New Zealand's most famous cultural sons.
University deputy vice-chancellor, academic, Prof Gareth Jones agreed and said he hoped it would not be the last time the piece was heard at the university.
