LOSS TO AUCKLAND

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 52, 21 June 1940, Page 38

LOSS TO AUCKLAND

Death Of Musicians USIC in Auckland suffered a \ | double loss on June 8, That morning, Frank William Egerton, secretary to the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Musicians’ Union, died after a long illness. His death was announced ky. Andersen Tyrer at a rehearsal of the Centennial Festival Symphony Orchestra the same morning, and members of the orchestra stood as a mark of respect. Half-an-hour later, one of their number, L. R. Brakenrig, of Auckland. collapsed on the stage and died. When the rehearsal was resumed after Mr. Tyrer announced Mr. Egerton’s death, Mr. Brakenrig gave a particularly fine solo interpretation on the cor anglais of a passage from Cesar Franck’s "Symphony in D Minor," and was complimented by Mr. Tyrer. A few minutes later he collapsed and died before medical assistance could be summoned. Pioneer of Musicians’ Union Mr. Egerton, who was born in Manchester 59 years ago, was at one time the orchestral conductor at Blackpool Pier and also conducted at Liverpool theatres, He came to New Zealand in 1912, settling in Auckland where he became pianist of the orchestra at the old Princess Theatre in Queen Street. After some time there he rose to the position of conductor and held that position until the advent of sound films. Shortly before that time he became secretary to the Auckland Musicians’ Union, and in that sphere he greatly furthered the interests of musicians in Auckland and throughout New Zealand. He assisted in the inauguration of the national union and played an important part in securing Government assistance during the depression period for the subsidising of orchestras in different centres. Until his last illness he worked ceaselessly for his fellow musicians. and one of his aims was the creation of a permanent orchestra in Auckland. Of late years he gave all his attention to the business of his union and did not take any direct part in musical activities as such ’ Authority on Hymnology Mr. Brakenrig, who was an Aucklander, was one of New Zealand’s foremost authorities on church music and hymnology. A member of the Methodist Church, he was highly esteemed by the authorities of Auckland’s Trinity Methodist Theological College, where he was organist, and where he frequently gave lectures to the students on church music. All church music, however, whatever the denomination, was his province and he was an indefatigable research student, particularly into Methodism and the work of the early missionaries in New Zealand.