Australia's Unsung Symphonists

[Marcus]

Most of you would know of Australian composer Alfred Hill (1870-1960). He played in the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig under such conductors as Brahms,Bruch, Tchaikowsky & Grieg. His music is rooted in the late 19th century, and during his lifetime,  his music never strayed far from that era. Some of his symphonies have been recorded by Marco Polo/Naxos,and are reminiscent of Mendelssohn, Schumann & Brahms. He wrote a number of tone poems, The Moon's Gold Horn, Green Water & Linthorpe. This is beautiful music - Linthorpe was the name of his orchard/home  in the Blue Mountains 100km west of Sydney, and describes the surrounding bush and an afternoon thunderstorm. I am fortunate to have many of Hill's compositions on tape, recorded direct from ABC radio some 30-40 years ago.
Mirrie Hill was the wife of Alfred Hill, and a prolific composer in most genres. She wrote a Symphony in A - Arnhem Land, which has not been recorded on CD. It is a brilliant work, written in a  style very different from her husband's, but remaining tonal throughout. There are four movements, the first in the traditional sonata form, the remaining three movements contain Aboriginal melodies & thematic elements. The best movement in my opinion is the third,entitled Odnyamatana rhythm. Its pounding rhythms suggestive of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. I am amazed that some record company has not considered recording this work, which last 28 minutes. I am lucky to have it on tape.
The Australian Broadcasting Commission, (ABC), has a vast archive of Australian works recorded since the 1940's, and very few works ,( first performances by the various ABC State orchestras ), have been recorded. The current crop of composers have fared better :
Australian symphonies on CD composers):
George Marshall-Hall (1862-1915),Edgar Bainton, (1880-1956), Hubert Clifford, (1904-1959), Arthur Benjamin, (b. 1893), Carl Vine (b.1954),Ross Edwards (b.1943),Roger Smalley, (b.1943),Colin Brumby,(b.1933),Paul Paviour, (b.1931),Brenton Broadstock, (b.1952),Philip Bracanin,(b.1942),Don Kay, (b.1933), Peggy Glanville-Hicks, (b.1912) George Dreyfus,(b.1928 Germany).This list is not exhaustive, there may be others.
The list of Australian symphonists, whose symphonies  have not been recorded, is much larger :
Joshua Ives, (symphony australienne 1901), Vera Bedford, Fritz Hart, George English, Lindley Evans, Clive Douglas,Robert Hughes,Adolphe Beutler, David Meule-Evans, Hooper Brewster-Jones,Raymond Hanson, Dorian LeGallienne, John Antill, James Penberthy, Felix Gethen, Felix Werder, David Morgan, Horace Perkins, William Lovelock, Michael Easton, Don Banks, Anne Boyd, Eric Gross,Ian Cugley, Richard Meale, Margaret Sutherland, Malcolm Williamson, Larry Sitsky, Peter Tahourdin. That would be a fair sample, and add to that the other genre, concertos, chamber music, opera & vocal etc. -  a vast quantity of music .
Here is an opportunity for some enterprising CD label, but with the world classical music climate as it is, I won't hold my breath ! The ABC do release some music (apart from Australian music), on CD, and I can recommend the Eugene Goossen symphonies, tone poems & complete piano music.( released on the ABC label). Australian Eloquence label issues various works.

[Mark Thomas]

Marcus, I agree with you about the quality of Mirrie Hill's Symphony In Arnhem Land. It's actually available online here to hear as streaming audio in good quality. Her colouration is especially impressive.  That site has a lot of Australian music in streaming audio and it's well worth exploring. Another "Australian" composer who I discovered there and mentioned in your list is Fritz Hart, whose 1923 Symphonic Suite In the Bush is a rattling good piece.

[Marcus]

Yes Mark, I have that on tape. It is almost a symphony in itself lasting 40+ minutes. I suppose symphonic poem is more accurate . The ABC probably plays it about once every 18 months or so, but we never hear any of his other works. I believe his 1934 Symphony is an impressive work. I cannot understand the apathy of the ABC, who have so much recorded Australian music sitting in their archives. The situation is a little like the old BBC s attitude toward many British composers whose works were considered derivative, epigonal etc. Who cares ! If you could write a symphony in the style of Beethoven or Mahler, I would queue up in driving snow to hear it. (We do not get much snow in Australia, but I thought that would best express my point ! Actually we are expecting 42o tomorrrow and had 46o last February.)
Cheers !

[Syrelius]

Marcus, I agree with you about the quality of Mirrie Hill's Symphony In Arnhem Land. It's actually available online here to hear as streaming audio in good quality. Her colouration is especially impressive.  That site has a lot of Australian music in streaming audio and it's well worth exploring. Another "Australian" composer who I discovered there and mentioned in your list is Fritz Hart, whose 1923 Symphonic Suite In the Bush is a rattling good piece.

Thanks, Mark. Especially the Fritz Hart piece is really good. He should be an obvious choice for a Chandos CD, but unfortunately they don't seem to be doing that many CD's of unsung british composers anymore.