Tag Archives: australian history
Convict Tune Book
A collection of 12 tunes known to be popular with Australian convicts between 1788 and 1840. Each tune includes sheet music and historical notes. Developed as part of the exhibition “Dancing in Fetters: The culture of convict dance” at the … Continue reading
Lord Morton’s hints
…they should not at first be alarmed with the report of Guns, Drums, or even a trumpet. – But if there are other Instruments of Music on board they should be first entertained near the Shore with a soft Air. … Continue reading
Tekeli
Tekeli – a convict tune Tekeli was an influential and highly successful melodrama, one of the first of its genre, full of suspense and intense emotions. The French play by Rene Charles Guilbert De Pixerécourt was produced in Paris in … Continue reading
Convict music & song
How would you research convict music? Through police reports, of course! Apart from the remarkable music manuscript of the Scottish convict fiddler, Alexander Laing, there are very few sources of information about the music or songs which convicts themselves played, … Continue reading
Off She Goes
From a Police Report in the Sydney Herald, 2nd of September 1833 EIizabeth Fisher, Matthew Fisher, and Hamilton Murray, belonging to the Waterloo, were charged with dancing a reel on the King’s Wharf, at the hour of eleven overnight, to … Continue reading
Auld Robin Grey
From a Police Report in the Sydney Gazette, 28th of January 1837 William Lee, with a vest of plush buttoned over his chest, which blushed at the position both of itself and master, was called upon to account for singing … Continue reading
The King of the Cannibal Islands
From a Police Report in the Sydney Herald, 10th of June 1832 Ann Roberts, a dab at culinary preparation, was charged by her master with continually annoying him, and quoting extracts from the times of Helfogabalus down to the King … Continue reading
Drops of Brandy
From a Police Report in the Sydney Herald, 3rd of January 1833 TUESDAY. – Ann Painter was placed at the bar on the following charge, brought against her by her lord and master:- Having retired to bed at an early … Continue reading
Michael Wiggins
This version transcribed from Fentum’s Annual Collection of Twenty-four Favorite Dances For the Year 1810, down an octave with flattened C in bar 4. From a police report in the Sydney Herald, 22nd of April, 1833 Paddy Cary was charged with … Continue reading
Statement of Significance
The History of Dance and Music in Australia 1788 -1840 provides an unique insight into the social and cultural life of people in the early European colony, at all levels of society. It comprises a collection of dance instructions … Continue reading
