SONGS BY AUSTRALIANS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 364, 14 June 1946, Page 17

SONGS BY AUSTRALIANS

SONGS written and sung by Australians will be highlighted in a_ half-hour session which Station 2YC is to broadcast at 9.1 p.m. this Sunday evening, June 16. Seven ballads make up the

programme, three will be songs of the sea, and one the well-known "Stockrider’s Song." Taken from a set of six Australian bush songs dedicated to Nellie Melba, the "Stockrider’s Song" (by William G. James, whose photograph accompanies this note) will be sung by James Wilson, a young bass-baritone who cultivates the robust type of ballad. Another item, "Last Year," by Varney Monk, is taken

from the Australian stage play, Collitt’s Inn, and has been made popular by Gladys Moncrieff. Molly Grouse, who sings it in the 2YC programme, recently made her first appearance in opera in Sydney. The words of the song, "There’s Something at the Yardarm," were written by a Melbourne journalist, E. J. Brady, and set to music for baritone by Horace Gleeson, also of Melbourne. One of the younger school, Robert Payne, wellknown to Australian radio audiences, will sing it, with an orchestral accompaniment written by Kurt Herweg. Edith Harrhy, another Melbourne composer, is said to have had 500 songs published in England, America and Australia. Many of them have been recorded by Peter lawson and John Brownlee. Her "What the Red-haired Bosun Said," will be sung by David Storm, an Australian who served in the Horse Guards’ and who studied in London. Art Song "Over the Quiet Waters," by Herbert J. Brandon and Horace Keats, is regarded as one of the few true art songs written in Australia. Keats wrote the music for his son just before he was killed in action on H.M.A.S. Australia. Albert Miller, a tenor known both on the ABC and Australian commercial stations, will sing it. Leah Morris, a dramatic soprano, of Newcastle, will sing "Reminiscence"-words by Noel Cripps and music by Vera Buck, a Melbourne pianist and composer; and a song called "Fear," from a poem by Montaigne, with music by Keats, and with the flavour of lieder, will be presented by Robert Payne, to round off the session. The Albert Fisher Concert Orchestra will play the accompaniments.