Monday 24 December 2012
Friday 14 December 2012
Strike the harp- Australian Christmas Music
Well, it's definitely that time of year again. I don't know about you, but I'm really enjoying the Christmas season this year! Though for those of you out-of-towners I do have to tell you about our crazy Melbourne weather with 17C one day and then up to 41C a few days later. That's been a little hard to live with, and particularly hard for the harps to live with! (Broken strings, anyone?)
I've been tucking into a healthy smattering of traditional Christmas music, and am busy getting my fingers around the Waltz of the Flowers cadenza for a concert next week. I have an enormous folder of Christmas music, which includes some fantastic Australian carols.
The most enduring Australian Christmas carols were written by William James. A boy from Ballarat (north of Melbourne), James studied in London around the time of the First World War. He returned to Australia after the war and became involved in the beginnings of radio (being the first music director for the fledgling Australian Broadcasting Company) and in the establishment of the state orchestras, regularly travelling OS to convince artists to make the long trip down under.
He wrote his 6 Australian Christmas Carols in collaboration with John Wheeler and published them in the early 1960s. The ABC Shop has CD's of the songs available.
Otherwise check out these YouTube vids for a preview. 'The Silver Stars are in the Sky' is one of my all time favourites- so beautiful!
While 'Christmas Day' opens with the north wind tossing the leaves- just right for our hot Australian Christmas where the north wind comes from the desert centre of the continent.
And have yourselves a merry little Christmas!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
