Tag Archives: australian history
Convict Culture Week on Norfolk Island
19 May 2023 – 27 May 2023 Celebrating Maconochie’s Frolic For one day in 1840 the convicts on Norfolk Island were encouraged to dance, sing and play. On 25 May they celebrated the birthday of the young Queen Victoria in … Continue reading
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Dancing in Fetters: the culture of convict dance is a museum exhibition presenting the lost heritage of convict dance and music. It re-traces the origins of this largely unknown aspect of life in the early penal colony based on the … Continue reading
The Much Admired Australian Quadrille
In 1835, the music for The Much Admired Australian Quadrilles arrived in Sydney. The colonial the music-seller, Mr. Ellard of Hunter Street, had arranged for his father in Dublin to print and ship the music, specifically for the Australian market. … Continue reading
Dancing in Fetters at the Redcliffe Museum
Dancing in fetters: the culture of convict dance Discover a completely different aspect of convict life. When we think of convicts, we don’t tend to think of music and dance, but dance was an integral part of everyday life and … Continue reading
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Tagged australian culture, australian history, Convict dance, convicts
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Grenada 1821
6 June 1821; serving Lime juice and sugar to the guard and convicts,… gave permission to dance. Surgeon-superintendent, Peter Cunningham was noted for encouraging the convicts in his charge to dance. His medical journal of the convict ship, Grenada, was … Continue reading
Speedy 1799
Dancing on convict ships Anna Josepha King, the wife of Governor Phillip Gidley King, kept a diary describing her voyage to the colony. Beginning on the day she embarked, Tuesday 19th November 1799, through to her arrival in Port Jackson … Continue reading
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Tagged australian history, convict culture, convict research, dance history, transportation
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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
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Tagged australian history, convict tunes, convicts, cultural identity, music
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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
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Tagged 250cook, australian culture, australian history, captain cook, captain james cook, Douglas Clan
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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
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Tagged australia, australian culture, australian history, convicts, dance, history, music, police report
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Convict music & song
How would you research convict music? Through police reports, of course! Robert Williams, a black, with a shining face, was charged by constable Orr, with being drunk, and playing the tamborine in Kent-street, at the hour twelve, to the tune … Continue reading
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Tagged australian culture, australian history, intangible cultural heritage
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