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William G. James

January 01, 1970

William Garnet James OBE (28 August 1892 – 10 March 1977) was an Australian pianist and composer and a pioneer of music broadcasting in Australia.

William Garnet James

OBE
Born(1892-08-28)28 August 1892
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Died10 March 1977(1977-03-10) (aged 84)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation(s)Pianist, composer, broadcaster

Early years edit

James was born in Ballarat in 1892. He studied piano at the Melbourne University Conservatorium, graduating in 1912. On the recommendation of the visiting pianist Teresa Carreño, he headed overseas to study in London and Brussels with Arthur De Greef, a former pupil of Franz Liszt and Camille Saint-Saëns.[1][2] It is around this period that James composed his Six Australian Bush Songs, which were dedicated to Dame Nellie Melba.[1]

After being rejected for military service, James worked for the British Red Cross during the World War I. In 1915, he made his public debut as a pianist with the Queen's Hall Orchestra. By this time he had begun to publish his compositions, and in 1916 his ballet music By Candlelight was performed in concert at the Savoy Theatre, London.

ABC career edit

In 1923 James returned to Australia, in company with Stella Power,[3] eventually taking up a teaching position at the Melbourne University Conservatorium. In the late 1920s, he joined the newly formed Australian Broadcasting Company, the forerunner of the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). He became the latter's first Director of Music in 1931, a position he would hold until his retirement in 1957.[4] It was during his tenure that the ABC established its state orchestras.

From 1935, James made regular overseas trips to persuade international artists to perform in Australia with the newly formed ABC orchestras. During World War II, when such exchanges became impractical, the ABC instead organised local talent competitions, which James adjudicated. James's selection of repertoire for concert performances was conservative, possibly because he felt contemporary composers might not have a broad enough appeal for radio audiences.

Compositions edit

James wrote many pieces for voice, choir and piano, but most enduring are his 15 Australian Christmas Carols in three sets, in which traditional Christmas themes were given outback settings, such as "The Three Drovers". ABC staff writer John Wheeler wrote the lyrics for these carols. The Australian Christmas Carols can still be found in music catalogues today. A fourth set of Australian Christmas Carols was written in the 1970s and given to the Wayside Chapel, Kings Cross. They have since disappeared.[5]

Outback themes were common in his secular songs as well, in compositions such as "Bush Song at Dawn", familiar to many Australian children of the 1950s and 1960s through the school songbooks of the period. Other compositions by James have rustic English themes ("A Warwickshire Wooing") or claim Māori inspiration (Six Maori Dances).

Honours and recognition edit

James was awarded the Coronation Medal in 1937.[6] He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1960 Birthday Honours for "service to Australian culture".[7]

Personal life edit

James was married twice. His first marriage, in 1921, was to the Russian opera singer Saffo Buchanan, née Drageva, by whom he had a son and a daughter. Known professionally as Saffo Arnav, she had been briefly married to Jack Buchanan. She died in 1955, and in 1960 James married again, to widow Caroline Mary Dally-Watkins, née Skewes. They divorced in 1967.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Music Australia website.[better source needed]
  2. ^ Radic, Thérèse (November 2008). "Review: William James and the Beginnings of Modern Musical Australia by David Tunley". Centre for Studies in Australian Music Review. 23: 5–6.
  3. ^ "Miss Stella Power". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 10 April 1923. p. 12. Retrieved 26 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "IN BRIEF: Children arrested over bomb threats". The Canberra Times. Vol. 51, no. 14, 632. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 12 March 1977. p. 3. Retrieved 19 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ Philip O'Brien, "An Aussie Christmas carol", The Canberra Times, 18 December 1999, Panorama, p. 20
  6. ^ "The Federal List". The Age. No. 25, 606. Victoria, Australia. 12 May 1937. p. 13. Retrieved 19 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Mr William Garnet James". It's an Honour. 11 June 1960. Retrieved 18 February 2023.

Sources edit

Further reading edit

External links edit

  • "Carol of the Birds", melody: William G. James, words: John Wheeler; ingeb.org
  • "The Three Drovers", James/Wheeler (1948); Tom Wills tww.id.au

January 01, 1970
william, james, william, garnet, james, august, 1892, march, 1977, australian, pianist, composer, pioneer, music, broadcasting, australia, william, garnet, jamesobeborn, 1892, august, 1892ballarat, victoria, australiadied10, march, 1977, 1977, aged, sydney, so. William Garnet James OBE 28 August 1892 10 March 1977 was an Australian pianist and composer and a pioneer of music broadcasting in Australia William Garnet JamesOBEBorn 1892 08 28 28 August 1892Ballarat Victoria AustraliaDied10 March 1977 1977 03 10 aged 84 Sydney New South Wales AustraliaOccupation s Pianist composer broadcaster Contents 1 Early years 2 ABC career 3 Compositions 4 Honours and recognition 5 Personal life 6 References 7 Sources 8 Further reading 9 External linksEarly years editJames was born in Ballarat in 1892 He studied piano at the Melbourne University Conservatorium graduating in 1912 On the recommendation of the visiting pianist Teresa Carreno he headed overseas to study in London and Brussels with Arthur De Greef a former pupil of Franz Liszt and Camille Saint Saens 1 2 It is around this period that James composed his Six Australian Bush Songs which were dedicated to Dame Nellie Melba 1 After being rejected for military service James worked for the British Red Cross during the World War I In 1915 he made his public debut as a pianist with the Queen s Hall Orchestra By this time he had begun to publish his compositions and in 1916 his ballet music By Candlelight was performed in concert at the Savoy Theatre London ABC career editIn 1923 James returned to Australia in company with Stella Power 3 eventually taking up a teaching position at the Melbourne University Conservatorium In the late 1920s he joined the newly formed Australian Broadcasting Company the forerunner of the Australian Broadcasting Commission ABC He became the latter s first Director of Music in 1931 a position he would hold until his retirement in 1957 4 It was during his tenure that the ABC established its state orchestras From 1935 James made regular overseas trips to persuade international artists to perform in Australia with the newly formed ABC orchestras During World War II when such exchanges became impractical the ABC instead organised local talent competitions which James adjudicated James s selection of repertoire for concert performances was conservative possibly because he felt contemporary composers might not have a broad enough appeal for radio audiences Compositions editJames wrote many pieces for voice choir and piano but most enduring are his 15 Australian Christmas Carols in three sets in which traditional Christmas themes were given outback settings such as The Three Drovers ABC staff writer John Wheeler wrote the lyrics for these carols The Australian Christmas Carols can still be found in music catalogues today A fourth set of Australian Christmas Carols was written in the 1970s and given to the Wayside Chapel Kings Cross They have since disappeared 5 Outback themes were common in his secular songs as well in compositions such as Bush Song at Dawn familiar to many Australian children of the 1950s and 1960s through the school songbooks of the period Other compositions by James have rustic English themes A Warwickshire Wooing or claim Maori inspiration Six Maori Dances Honours and recognition editJames was awarded the Coronation Medal in 1937 6 He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1960 Birthday Honours for service to Australian culture 7 Personal life editJames was married twice His first marriage in 1921 was to the Russian opera singer Saffo Buchanan nee Drageva by whom he had a son and a daughter Known professionally as Saffo Arnav she had been briefly married to Jack Buchanan She died in 1955 and in 1960 James married again to widow Caroline Mary Dally Watkins nee Skewes They divorced in 1967 References edit a b Music Australia website better source needed Radic Therese November 2008 Review William James and the Beginnings of Modern Musical Australia by David Tunley Centre for Studies in Australian Music Review 23 5 6 Miss Stella Power The Advertiser Adelaide South Australia 10 April 1923 p 12 Retrieved 26 December 2023 via National Library of Australia IN BRIEF Children arrested over bomb threats The Canberra Times Vol 51 no 14 632 Australian Capital Territory Australia 12 March 1977 p 3 Retrieved 19 February 2023 via National Library of Australia Philip O Brien An Aussie Christmas carol The Canberra Times 18 December 1999 Panorama p 20 The Federal List The Age No 25 606 Victoria Australia 12 May 1937 p 13 Retrieved 19 February 2023 via National Library of Australia Mr William Garnet James It s an Honour 11 June 1960 Retrieved 18 February 2023 Sources edit William G James 1892 1977 Australian Music Centre William G James Music Australia website dead link Harold Hort 1996 James William Garnet Billy 1892 1977 Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol 14 National Centre of Biography Australian National University ISSN 1833 7538 Further reading editTunley David 2007 William James and the Beginnings of Modern Musical Australia Australian Music Centre ISBN 9780909168629 External links edit Carol of the Birds melody William G James words John Wheeler ingeb org The Three Drovers James Wheeler 1948 Tom Wills tww id au Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Classical music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William G James amp oldid 1191803605, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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