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Thomas Bulch

December 18, 2023

"Bulch" redirects here. For an English footballer, see Robert Bulch.

Thomas Edward Bulch (30 December 1862 – 13 November 1930) was an English-born Australian musician and composer.[1]

Thomas Edward Bulch
Born30 December 1862
New Shildon, Durham, England
Died13 November 1930
Mascot, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityAustralian
OccupationComposer
Known forAustralian Brass Band Music Composition

Biography edit

 
Brewster's Millions Waltz 1908 by Thomas Bulch
MIDI version[2][3]
Happy Thoughts Schottishe 1875
Midi Version[4][5][6]
Problems playing these files? See media help.

Bulch was born in New Shildon, Durham, one of thirteen children, living at 48 Adelaide Street, New Shildon. His father was a timekeeper at the Shildon Locomotive Works. On leaving school Thomas became apprenticed as a fitter at the same works. Both his father and uncles were bandsmen in local bands and it was not long before Thomas started to learn music. He started playing the piano, largely teaching himself, then with the help of his father moved on to brass instruments.

He showed a great aptitude for music in his early years and it was at the age of 12 that he joined a junior band formed by his uncle Mr. Dinsdale. The Dinsdale family, his mother's relatives, lived close to the Bulch Family in New Shildon. During this period with the junior band, Thomas started to compose music and at the age of 17 composed his first contest march, "The Typhoon". At the age of 19 he took over from his uncle, as bandmaster.

At the age of 21, Thomas migrated to Australia on the ship "Gulf of Venice". Friends had suggested he go there, as he would have good prospects in the music field. Thomas also had friends in Australia who finally influenced him to join them. It was further said that he came to Australia for health reasons.

Shortly after his arrival in Creswick, Thomas was asked to take control of the 3rd Battalion Band. It was with this band that he entered his first competition in 1886. This was at the "Creswick Miners Sports" where the band took first place. In about 1886 he was also bandmaster of the Ballarat Temperance Brass Band. Following a dispute with the Commanding Officer in 1886/7 Thomas resigned as bandmaster of the 3rd Battalion band. He then formed "Bulch's Model Band", a private band. Some of the bandsmen also resigned from the 3rd battalion band and joined him as members of the "Model Band".[7]

His two sons both enlisted in the Australian armed forces during the First World War. Youngest son, Corporal John (Jack) Bulch served in France in the 22nd Battalion but returned to Australia in 1919 aboard the Chemnitz transport ship. Elder son Sergeant Thomas Edward Bulch Junior (Service number 1149) served in Alexandria, Gallipoli and was then killed in France in 1916.[8]

Thomas died on 13 November 1930 at his home in the Sydney suburb of Mascot.

Music edit

Thomas wrote music as a living. Apart from his need for income to support his family he had a great love for composing and spent much of his time at the piano working on his music. He wrote under many pseudonyms and it is difficult now to identify all his work. Some of the better – known names he used are Godfrey Parker, Henri Laski,[9] Pat Cooney and Eugene Lecosta. These are but a few of the names used. He also created arrangements for brass and military bands of the works of other composers; some from opera and the classics such as Meyerbeer, Weber and Rossini; others from the works of popular contemporary composers of his day such as Carl Volti (a pseudonym for Glaswegian violinist Archibald Milligan) and Charles le Thiere (a pseudonym for London-based composer and conductor Thomas Wilby Tomkins) occasionally leading to the names of such to be occasionally mistakenly conflated with that of Bulch himself.

He wrote and dedicated compositions to all the female members of his family. These were: For his wife he dedicated the music and song “My Darling Wife” and a waltz “My Polly”

His eldest daughter Adeline had the compositions titled “Little Dark Eyes” and “Adelina” written for her.

His daughter, Myrtle May had a waltz “Les Fleurs D’Australie” (Flowers of Australia) dedicated to her.

The names of Myrtle and Adeline were combined to name a waltz “Myrine”.

His youngest daughter Alice had her name combined with that of her husband Norman (Johnson) to title a waltz “Noralla” and a mazurka using her name as the title, “Alice Bertha”.

The composition “Craigielee” composed by Thomas using the name Godfrey Parker is said to have a connection with the music of “Waltzing Matilda”. It has been written that a Christina MacPherson heard it being played at the Warrnambool Races in 1894. She later played it from memory in Queensland and Banjo Paterson put words to it.

Thomas was in contact with his wife's grandmother Elizabeth Paterson during her lifetime. She had emigrated to Australia and lived at Inglewood in Victoria. Her maiden name was Craigie and he composed and dedicated the march “Craigielee” to her as a tribute using the name Godfrey Parker as the composer. Thomas had made a practice of writing and dedicating music to all the female members of the family. In discussion with Adeline Bulch several years after her father's death she mentioned the soldiers returning from France whistling a popular song that she said was set to her father's music. This she identified as “Waltzing Matilda”. She also said that a woman had written to her father requesting permission to use the music, as she wanted to put words to it. Thomas had replied that he no longer had copyright of the music. It is widely thought that Thomas based Craigielee on James Barr's setting of Robert Tannahill's poem “Thou Bonnie Wood o' Craigielee” (now commonly spelled as “Craigielea”). The tune of “Waltzing Matilda” is similar to Barr's melody and to Bulch's composition.

Critical reception edit

On the domestic scene, Thomas Bulch works were frequently played as far afield as Kalgoorlie[10] His notoriety was used as a yardstick to compare other composers of his time[11] His works were published in the United States and Britain[12] His fame is reflected in eulogy.[13] and beyond.

Thomas Bulch was considered a paragon for brass players[14]

Other works edit

  • Austral: overture
  • Baby Elephant (1906) (score lost?)[15]
  • Bathurst: contest march[16]
  • Belgian Guards, The: Quick March (1895)[17]
  • Bendigo – march (1908)[18][19]
  • Bombardment of Port Arthur: fantasia: grand naval divertimento[20]
  • Chiselhurst – quadrille[21]
  • Ernani – fantasia[22]
  • Gems of America: selection
  • General Joffre – see General Joffre on YouTube[23]
  • Gigantique: grand overture
  • Jamie Stewart's birthday: Scotch patrol
  • Jubilee march, The – march (1887)[24]
  • Kilties, The – quadrille
  • Kitcheners Army: March Past (1914)[25]
  • Land of the shamrock: quadrille (Irish)[26]
  • Meltonville: lancers / T.E. Bulch[27]
  • Memories of England – see Memories of England on YouTube
  • Memories of Erin: selection / Thos. E. Bulch[28]
  • Miranda: intermezzo[29]
  • Nada: valse (as Henri Laski)[30]
  • Noralla: valse – For Piano[31]
  • On the war path: quick march
  • Phonograph – quadrille[32]
  • Postman's Parade – march (1900)[33]
  • The Pro: solo polka[34]
  • Roberto – quadrille
  • Sacred gems: sacred fantasia[35]
  • Sandhurst[36] – see Sandhurst on YouTube
  • Second to none: contest march
  • Sydney by Night[37]
  • The tripod: solo tongueing polka see Tripod on YouTube
  • Torchlight Parade – March[38]
  • Young Recruit, The: descriptive fantasia[39]

References edit

A family history titled: “Thomas Edward Bulch. Musician, A Family History”, by Eric S. Tomkins, has been published and copies are lodged with the NSW State Library and the National Library in Canberra, which gives a fuller account of his life and history.

  1. ^ "Bulch, T. E. (Thomas Edward), 1862-1930 – Full record view – Libraries Australia Search".
  2. ^ Bulch, T. E. (Thomas Edward), 1862-1930 (1908), Brewster's millions [music] : waltz / composed by T.E. Bulch (in no linguistic content), Allan & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Advertising". The Age. No. 16, 550. Victoria, Australia. 28 March 1908. p. 16. Retrieved 14 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Bulch, T. E. (Thomas Edward), 1862-1930 (1875), Happy thoughts [music] : schottische / composed by T.E. Bulch (in no linguistic content), James S. Kerr{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "General News". Mount Magnet Miner And Lennonville Leader. Vol. 7, no. 44. Western Australia. 28 March 1903. p. 2. Retrieved 19 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Music in the Park". National Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 14 January 1903. p. 2. Retrieved 19 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "TO ADJUDICATE AT DEVONPORT". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 24 January 1933. p. 2. Retrieved 13 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Thomas Edward Bulch".
  9. ^ Geelong Advertiser, 21 Nov 1914, Page 3 under headline GEELONG COMPOSER
  10. ^ "BOULDER CITY BAND". Kalgoorlie Miner. Vol. 10, no. 3282. Western Australia. 31 March 1906. p. 6. Retrieved 13 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "PERSONAL". The Mercury. Vol. CVIII, no. 15, 115. Tasmania, Australia. 5 April 1918. p. 8. Retrieved 13 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Bulch, T. E. (Thomas Edward) (1862-1930)", Trove, 2009, retrieved 12 August 2019
  13. ^ "PERSONAL". The Herald. No. 16, 694. Victoria, Australia. 17 November 1930. p. 7. Retrieved 13 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "TO ADJUDICATE AT DEVONPORT". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 24 January 1933. p. 2. Retrieved 13 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "BOULDER CITY BAND". Kalgoorlie Miner. Vol. 10, no. 3282. Western Australia. 31 March 1906. p. 6. Retrieved 13 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ Bulch, T. E. (c. 1900), Bathurst contest march, Allan & Co, retrieved 13 August 2019
  17. ^ "Trove".
  18. ^ "AMUSEMENTS". The Sun. No. 527. Western Australia. 20 December 1908. p. 24. Retrieved 13 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ A copy of this music is held by the Evergreen Brass Band in Bendigo. https://evergreenband.org.au/
  20. ^ Bulch, T. E. (1904), Bombardment of Port Arthur fantasia : grand naval divertimento, Suttons, retrieved 13 August 2019
  21. ^ "Sheet Music, Chiselhurst". Victorian Collections. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Sheet Music, Ernani". Victorian Collections. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  23. ^ "General Joffre (Bulch, Thomas Edward) – IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download". imslp.org. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  24. ^ "Trove".
  25. ^ "Trove".
  26. ^ Bulch, T. E. (c. 1900), Land of the shamrock quadrille (Irish), Suttons, retrieved 13 August 2019
  27. ^ Bulch, T. E. (c. 1900), Meltonville lancers, Suttons, retrieved 13 August 2019
  28. ^ "Trove".
  29. ^ Bulch, T. E. (c. 1900), Miranda intermezzo, Suttons, retrieved 13 August 2019
  30. ^ "Trove".
  31. ^ "Noralla (Bulch, Thomas Edward) – IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download". imslp.org. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  32. ^ "Sheet Music, Phonograph". Victorian Collections. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  33. ^ "Trove".
  34. ^ Bulch, T. E. (c. 1900), The pro solo polka, Ed. Lyons, retrieved 13 August 2019
  35. ^ Bulch, T. E. (c. 1930), Sacred gems sacred fantasia, Suttons, retrieved 13 August 2019
  36. ^ "TO-DAY'S BROADCASTING". The Sun. No. 5395. New South Wales, Australia. 22 February 1928. p. 14 (SPECIAL EDITION). Retrieved 13 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ "Sheet Music, Sydney". Victorian Collections. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  38. ^ "Sheet Music, Torchlight Parade". Victorian Collections. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  39. ^ Bulch, T. E. (c. 1900), The young recruit descriptive fantasia, Ed. Lyons, retrieved 12 August 2019

External links edit

December 18, 2023
thomas, bulch, bulch, redirects, here, english, footballer, robert, bulch, thomas, edward, bulch, december, 1862, november, 1930, english, born, australian, musician, composer, thomas, edward, bulchborn30, december, 1862new, shildon, durham, englanddied13, nov. Bulch redirects here For an English footballer see Robert Bulch Thomas Edward Bulch 30 December 1862 13 November 1930 was an English born Australian musician and composer 1 Thomas Edward BulchBorn30 December 1862New Shildon Durham EnglandDied13 November 1930Mascot Sydney New South Wales AustraliaNationalityAustralianOccupationComposerKnown forAustralian Brass Band Music Composition Contents 1 Biography 2 Music 3 Critical reception 4 Other works 5 References 6 External linksBiography edit nbsp Brewster s Millions Waltz 1908 by Thomas Bulch source source source MIDI version 2 3 Happy Thoughts Schottishe 1875 source source source Midi Version 4 5 6 Problems playing these files See media help Bulch was born in New Shildon Durham one of thirteen children living at 48 Adelaide Street New Shildon His father was a timekeeper at the Shildon Locomotive Works On leaving school Thomas became apprenticed as a fitter at the same works Both his father and uncles were bandsmen in local bands and it was not long before Thomas started to learn music He started playing the piano largely teaching himself then with the help of his father moved on to brass instruments He showed a great aptitude for music in his early years and it was at the age of 12 that he joined a junior band formed by his uncle Mr Dinsdale The Dinsdale family his mother s relatives lived close to the Bulch Family in New Shildon During this period with the junior band Thomas started to compose music and at the age of 17 composed his first contest march The Typhoon At the age of 19 he took over from his uncle as bandmaster At the age of 21 Thomas migrated to Australia on the ship Gulf of Venice Friends had suggested he go there as he would have good prospects in the music field Thomas also had friends in Australia who finally influenced him to join them It was further said that he came to Australia for health reasons Shortly after his arrival in Creswick Thomas was asked to take control of the 3rd Battalion Band It was with this band that he entered his first competition in 1886 This was at the Creswick Miners Sports where the band took first place In about 1886 he was also bandmaster of the Ballarat Temperance Brass Band Following a dispute with the Commanding Officer in 1886 7 Thomas resigned as bandmaster of the 3rd Battalion band He then formed Bulch s Model Band a private band Some of the bandsmen also resigned from the 3rd battalion band and joined him as members of the Model Band 7 His two sons both enlisted in the Australian armed forces during the First World War Youngest son Corporal John Jack Bulch served in France in the 22nd Battalion but returned to Australia in 1919 aboard the Chemnitz transport ship Elder son Sergeant Thomas Edward Bulch Junior Service number 1149 served in Alexandria Gallipoli and was then killed in France in 1916 8 Thomas died on 13 November 1930 at his home in the Sydney suburb of Mascot Music editThomas wrote music as a living Apart from his need for income to support his family he had a great love for composing and spent much of his time at the piano working on his music He wrote under many pseudonyms and it is difficult now to identify all his work Some of the better known names he used are Godfrey Parker Henri Laski 9 Pat Cooney and Eugene Lecosta These are but a few of the names used He also created arrangements for brass and military bands of the works of other composers some from opera and the classics such as Meyerbeer Weber and Rossini others from the works of popular contemporary composers of his day such as Carl Volti a pseudonym for Glaswegian violinist Archibald Milligan and Charles le Thiere a pseudonym for London based composer and conductor Thomas Wilby Tomkins occasionally leading to the names of such to be occasionally mistakenly conflated with that of Bulch himself He wrote and dedicated compositions to all the female members of his family These were For his wife he dedicated the music and song My Darling Wife and a waltz My Polly His eldest daughter Adeline had the compositions titled Little Dark Eyes and Adelina written for her His daughter Myrtle May had a waltz Les Fleurs D Australie Flowers of Australia dedicated to her The names of Myrtle and Adeline were combined to name a waltz Myrine His youngest daughter Alice had her name combined with that of her husband Norman Johnson to title a waltz Noralla and a mazurka using her name as the title Alice Bertha The composition Craigielee composed by Thomas using the name Godfrey Parker is said to have a connection with the music of Waltzing Matilda It has been written that a Christina MacPherson heard it being played at the Warrnambool Races in 1894 She later played it from memory in Queensland and Banjo Paterson put words to it Thomas was in contact with his wife s grandmother Elizabeth Paterson during her lifetime She had emigrated to Australia and lived at Inglewood in Victoria Her maiden name was Craigie and he composed and dedicated the march Craigielee to her as a tribute using the name Godfrey Parker as the composer Thomas had made a practice of writing and dedicating music to all the female members of the family In discussion with Adeline Bulch several years after her father s death she mentioned the soldiers returning from France whistling a popular song that she said was set to her father s music This she identified as Waltzing Matilda She also said that a woman had written to her father requesting permission to use the music as she wanted to put words to it Thomas had replied that he no longer had copyright of the music It is widely thought that Thomas based Craigielee on James Barr s setting of Robert Tannahill s poem Thou Bonnie Wood o Craigielee now commonly spelled as Craigielea The tune of Waltzing Matilda is similar to Barr s melody and to Bulch s composition Critical reception editOn the domestic scene Thomas Bulch works were frequently played as far afield as Kalgoorlie 10 His notoriety was used as a yardstick to compare other composers of his time 11 His works were published in the United States and Britain 12 His fame is reflected in eulogy 13 and beyond Thomas Bulch was considered a paragon for brass players 14 Other works editAustral overture Baby Elephant 1906 score lost 15 Bathurst contest march 16 Belgian Guards The Quick March 1895 17 Bendigo march 1908 18 19 Bombardment of Port Arthur fantasia grand naval divertimento 20 Chiselhurst quadrille 21 Ernani fantasia 22 Gems of America selection General Joffre see General Joffre on YouTube 23 Gigantique grand overture Jamie Stewart s birthday Scotch patrol Jubilee march The march 1887 24 Kilties The quadrille Kitcheners Army March Past 1914 25 Land of the shamrock quadrille Irish 26 Meltonville lancers T E Bulch 27 Memories of England see Memories of England on YouTube Memories of Erin selection Thos E Bulch 28 Miranda intermezzo 29 Nada valse as Henri Laski 30 Noralla valse For Piano 31 On the war path quick march Phonograph quadrille 32 Postman s Parade march 1900 33 The Pro solo polka 34 Roberto quadrille Sacred gems sacred fantasia 35 Sandhurst 36 see Sandhurst on YouTube Second to none contest march Sydney by Night 37 The tripod solo tongueing polka see Tripod on YouTube Torchlight Parade March 38 Young Recruit The descriptive fantasia 39 References editA family history titled Thomas Edward Bulch Musician A Family History by Eric S Tomkins has been published and copies are lodged with the NSW State Library and the National Library in Canberra which gives a fuller account of his life and history Bulch T E Thomas Edward 1862 1930 Full record view Libraries Australia Search Bulch T E Thomas Edward 1862 1930 1908 Brewster s millions music waltz composed by T E Bulch in no linguistic content Allan amp Co a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Advertising The Age No 16 550 Victoria Australia 28 March 1908 p 16 Retrieved 14 July 2021 via National Library of Australia Bulch T E Thomas Edward 1862 1930 1875 Happy thoughts music schottische composed by T E Bulch in no linguistic content James S Kerr a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link General News Mount Magnet Miner And Lennonville Leader Vol 7 no 44 Western Australia 28 March 1903 p 2 Retrieved 19 July 2021 via National Library of Australia Music in the Park National Advocate New South Wales Australia 14 January 1903 p 2 Retrieved 19 July 2021 via National Library of Australia TO ADJUDICATE AT DEVONPORT The Advocate Australia Tasmania Australia 24 January 1933 p 2 Retrieved 13 August 2019 via National Library of Australia Thomas Edward Bulch Geelong Advertiser 21 Nov 1914 Page 3 under headline GEELONG COMPOSER BOULDER CITY BAND Kalgoorlie Miner Vol 10 no 3282 Western Australia 31 March 1906 p 6 Retrieved 13 August 2019 via National Library of Australia PERSONAL The Mercury Vol CVIII no 15 115 Tasmania Australia 5 April 1918 p 8 Retrieved 13 August 2019 via National Library of Australia Bulch T E Thomas Edward 1862 1930 Trove 2009 retrieved 12 August 2019 PERSONAL The Herald No 16 694 Victoria Australia 17 November 1930 p 7 Retrieved 13 August 2019 via National Library of Australia TO ADJUDICATE AT DEVONPORT The Advocate Australia Tasmania Australia 24 January 1933 p 2 Retrieved 13 August 2019 via National Library of Australia BOULDER CITY BAND Kalgoorlie Miner Vol 10 no 3282 Western Australia 31 March 1906 p 6 Retrieved 13 August 2019 via National Library of Australia Bulch T E c 1900 Bathurst contest march Allan amp Co retrieved 13 August 2019 Trove AMUSEMENTS The Sun No 527 Western Australia 20 December 1908 p 24 Retrieved 13 August 2019 via National Library of Australia A copy of this music is held by the Evergreen Brass Band in Bendigo https evergreenband org au Bulch T E 1904 Bombardment of Port Arthur fantasia grand naval divertimento Suttons retrieved 13 August 2019 Sheet Music Chiselhurst Victorian Collections Retrieved 25 September 2021 Sheet Music Ernani Victorian Collections Retrieved 25 September 2021 General Joffre Bulch Thomas Edward IMSLP Free Sheet Music PDF Download imslp org Retrieved 25 September 2021 Trove Trove Bulch T E c 1900 Land of the shamrock quadrille Irish Suttons retrieved 13 August 2019 Bulch T E c 1900 Meltonville lancers Suttons retrieved 13 August 2019 Trove Bulch T E c 1900 Miranda intermezzo Suttons retrieved 13 August 2019 Trove Noralla Bulch Thomas Edward IMSLP Free Sheet Music PDF Download imslp org Retrieved 25 September 2021 Sheet Music Phonograph Victorian Collections Retrieved 25 September 2021 Trove Bulch T E c 1900 The pro solo polka Ed Lyons retrieved 13 August 2019 Bulch T E c 1930 Sacred gems sacred fantasia Suttons retrieved 13 August 2019 TO DAY S BROADCASTING The Sun No 5395 New South Wales Australia 22 February 1928 p 14 SPECIAL EDITION Retrieved 13 August 2019 via National Library of Australia Sheet Music Sydney Victorian Collections Retrieved 25 September 2021 Sheet Music Torchlight Parade Victorian Collections Retrieved 25 September 2021 Bulch T E c 1900 The young recruit descriptive fantasia Ed Lyons retrieved 12 August 2019External links editFree scores by Thomas Bulch at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP Thomas Bulch Blog photograph of Thomas Bulch and band 1 Australian War Memorial video Torchlight Parade on YouTube https m youtube com watch v nG42HJxDeKY Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Bulch amp oldid 1168313489, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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