Walter Malcolm Neil McEachern (1 April 1883 – 17 January 1945) was a noted Australianbasssinger who enjoyed a successful career in the United Kingdom, both as a concert soloist and as one half of the comic musical duo Flotsam and Jetsam.
McEachern was born in Albury, New South Wales, the sixth of 13 children of Archibald Hector McEachern and his wife, Rebecca Mary. On 2 February 1916, McEachern married pianist Hazel Hogarth Doyle,[1] who later became his accompanist and provided the musical direction for his career. Hazel came from a musical family: her mother Florence was a pianist and the violinist Bessie Doyle was a sister.[2]
He was a Freemason, and a member of the Savage Club Lodge in London.[3]
In 1921 McEachern went to England with his wife, where he was hailed as one of the world's best bass vocalists. He was especially acclaimed as an oratorio singer although his voice was equally well suited to the demands of opera; but unlike his finest contemporary rival among English-language basses, Norman Allin, he elected not to pursue a career in that particular art form. McEachern did appear, however, in an array of staged Gilbert and Sullivan Savoy operettas under the batons of the famous conductors Sir Henry Wood and Sir John Barbirolli.
In early 1926, McEachern forged a light-entertainment collaboration with Bentley Collingwood Hilliam, a pianist from Yorkshire. Their act proved to be a great success with British audiences and they became famous as Mr. Flotsam and Mr. Jetsam.[4]
McEachern was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus and died after an operation in London on 17 January 1945. His name is commemorated in Australia by McEachern Crescent in the Canberra suburb of Melba.
RecordingsEdit
McEachern made a total of 187 studio recordings, including pieces of music from opera, operetta and oratorio as well as a number of popular songs of the day. These records display the impressive depth, power and tonal richness of his voice and the excellence of his technique.
One of his English-language 78-rpm discs, made with his countryman Harold Williams, of "The Gendarmes' Duet" from Jacques Offenbach's Geneviève de Brabant, is considered to be a classic recording. Produced in 1933, it has been re-issued many times since and is available on CD.
In 1983 EMI Records Australia together with The National Library of Australia released 49 of McEachern's recordings as a 3 LP record compilation transferred from 78 rpm pressings manufactured in Australia.[5]
BibliographiesEdit
B. and F. Mackenzie, Singers of Australia (Melb, 1967); 'Death of Mr. McEachern', Times (London), 18 Jan 1945, p 6; Sydney Morning Herald, 18 Jan 1945; 'Obituary', Times (London), 19 Jan 1945, p 8.
Print Publication Details: Peter Burgis, 'McEachern, Walter Malcolm Neil (1883 - 1945)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, Melbourne University Press, 1986, pp 264–265.
ReferencesEdit
^"Weddings". The Sunday Times (Sydney). No. 1570. New South Wales, Australia. 20 February 1916. p. 22. Retrieved 19 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Mrs S. A. Doyle". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 30, 159. New South Wales, Australia. 31 August 1934. p. 8. Retrieved 18 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^See "distinguished members" on the Savage Club Lodge website.
^"Malcolm McEachern Basso Supreme", Malcolm McEachern, 3 LP box set with 8 page set of notes released by EMI Records Australia and The National Library of Australia, Sydney, 1983, Music Publisher Numbers OXLP7677-9 http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/21748560?selectedversion=NBD2984435
External linksEdit
(Link broken.)
Recording session outline with photos of the two
National Library of Australia digital recording listing for "The Changing of the Guard"
Sound recording of Flotsam & Jetsam presenting "Is 'e an Aussie, Lizzie, is 'e?"
1931 filmed recording of McEachern singing "In Cellar Cool"
August 29, 2023
malcolm, mceachern, confused, with, malcolm, mceacharn, walter, malcolm, neil, mceachern, april, 1883, january, 1945, noted, australian, bass, singer, enjoyed, successful, career, united, kingdom, both, concert, soloist, half, comic, musical, flotsam, jetsam, . Not to be confused with Malcolm McEacharn Walter Malcolm Neil McEachern 1 April 1883 17 January 1945 was a noted Australian bass singer who enjoyed a successful career in the United Kingdom both as a concert soloist and as one half of the comic musical duo Flotsam and Jetsam Contents 1 Personal life 2 Career and death 3 Recordings 4 Bibliographies 5 References 6 External linksPersonal life EditMcEachern was born in Albury New South Wales the sixth of 13 children of Archibald Hector McEachern and his wife Rebecca Mary On 2 February 1916 McEachern married pianist Hazel Hogarth Doyle 1 who later became his accompanist and provided the musical direction for his career Hazel came from a musical family her mother Florence was a pianist and the violinist Bessie Doyle was a sister 2 He was a Freemason and a member of the Savage Club Lodge in London 3 Career and death EditDuring World War I McEachern went on a tour of Australia with the great Australian soprano Nellie Melba Also in the touring company were Ella Caspers Ada Crossley and Marie Narelle In 1921 McEachern went to England with his wife where he was hailed as one of the world s best bass vocalists He was especially acclaimed as an oratorio singer although his voice was equally well suited to the demands of opera but unlike his finest contemporary rival among English language basses Norman Allin he elected not to pursue a career in that particular art form McEachern did appear however in an array of staged Gilbert and Sullivan Savoy operettas under the batons of the famous conductors Sir Henry Wood and Sir John Barbirolli In early 1926 McEachern forged a light entertainment collaboration with Bentley Collingwood Hilliam a pianist from Yorkshire Their act proved to be a great success with British audiences and they became famous as Mr Flotsam and Mr Jetsam 4 McEachern was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus and died after an operation in London on 17 January 1945 His name is commemorated in Australia by McEachern Crescent in the Canberra suburb of Melba Recordings EditMcEachern made a total of 187 studio recordings including pieces of music from opera operetta and oratorio as well as a number of popular songs of the day These records display the impressive depth power and tonal richness of his voice and the excellence of his technique One of his English language 78 rpm discs made with his countryman Harold Williams of The Gendarmes Duet from Jacques Offenbach s Genevieve de Brabant is considered to be a classic recording Produced in 1933 it has been re issued many times since and is available on CD In 1983 EMI Records Australia together with The National Library of Australia released 49 of McEachern s recordings as a 3 LP record compilation transferred from 78 rpm pressings manufactured in Australia 5 Bibliographies EditB and F Mackenzie Singers of Australia Melb 1967 Death of Mr McEachern Times London 18 Jan 1945 p 6 Sydney Morning Herald 18 Jan 1945 Obituary Times London 19 Jan 1945 p 8 Print Publication Details Peter Burgis McEachern Walter Malcolm Neil 1883 1945 Australian Dictionary of Biography Volume 10 Melbourne University Press 1986 pp 264 265 References Edit Weddings The Sunday Times Sydney No 1570 New South Wales Australia 20 February 1916 p 22 Retrieved 19 September 2021 via National Library of Australia Mrs S A Doyle The Sydney Morning Herald No 30 159 New South Wales Australia 31 August 1934 p 8 Retrieved 18 September 2021 via National Library of Australia See distinguished members on the Savage Club Lodge website Burgis Peter 2006 McEachern Walter Malcolm Neil 1883 1945 Australian Dictionary of Biography Malcolm McEachern Basso Supreme Malcolm McEachern 3 LP box set with 8 page set of notes released by EMI Records Australia and The National Library of Australia Sydney 1983 Music Publisher Numbers OXLP7677 9 http trove nla gov au work 21748560 selectedversion NBD2984435External links EditMalcolm McEachern s video recording Link broken Recording session outline with photos of the two National Library of Australia digital recording listing for The Changing of the Guard Sound recording of Flotsam amp Jetsam presenting Is e an Aussie Lizzie is e 1931 filmed recording of McEachern singing In Cellar Cool Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Malcolm McEachern amp oldid 1125973703, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
