• Title
  Castell family papers, 1786 - 1993, including music manuscript composed by William Joseph Cavendish in Sydney, 1833
• Creator
  Castell family
• Call number
  MLMSS 7989
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  1786 - 1993
• Type of material
  Textual Records, Manuscript Notated Music, Clippings
• Reference code
  909647
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder)
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  William Joseph Castell was born in Kilkenny in 1789, son of Peter Castelli, a soldier and theatrical functionary, and his wife, Sophia, a singer and actress. He married Susannah Humble (nee Schliephaken) in 1810. He worked in London as a violinist, violist, double-bassist, pianist and organist. In 1826 he fled his creditors (which included the music publisher Louis Henry Lavenu) by faking his death in the Thames and escaping first to France then to Mauritius and finally in 1833 to Sydney, changing his name to Cavendish in the process. He lived in Sydney at the same time as the composer William Vincent Wallace. Cavendish and his de facto wife died on Australia Day in 1839 when their boat capsized off Bradley's Head during the celebratory regatta.
  
  References:
  The decline of the English musician, 1788-1888 : a family of English musicians in Ireland, England, Mauritius and Australia / A.V. Beedell. Oxford : Clarendon Press, c1992.
  Review by John Carmody, Sydney Morning Herald, 13 Mar. 1993, p.43.
• Scope and Content
  Letter from Isaiah Schliephaken in Leipzig to his parents in London, 27 August 1786.
  
  Letter from William Joseph Cavendish (previously Castell) in Parramatta to Mr Castell [but probably to his wife Susannah Castell] in London, 20 April 1833. Includes manuscript music of a set of 5 quadrilles and 2 waltzes for piano, which he instructs Mr Castell to publish. The third quadrille is called 'Kurry Jong' (Kurrajong) and the fourth quadrille is 'Woo-loo-moo-loo'.
  
  Annotated pedigree chart of the Meyer, Hermes and Castell families (which also includes members of Schliephaken family), ca.1739-1916 (earliest and latest recorded dates).
  
  Newscutting of book review by John Carmody, Sydney Morning Herald, 13 Mar. 1993, p.43 [reviewing 'The decline of the English musician, 1788-1888 : a family of English musicians in Ireland, England, Mauritius and Australia' / A.V. Beedell. Oxford : Clarendon Press, c1992].
• Copying Conditions
  Copyright status:: In copyright
  Research & study copies allowed: Authors Schliephaken and Castell have been deceased for more than 50 years
  Rights and Restrictions Information:: No publication without prior written approval of copyright holder
  Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
  Copyright holder:: Transferred to Library Council of New South Wales
• General note
  
  The music manuscript in this collection is, so far as is known, the very earliest example of a settler Australian musical composition to survive from colonial times.
  Digital order no:Album ID : 941919
• Creator/Author/Artist
  Castell, William Joseph, 1789-1839
  Schliephaken, Isaiah
  
• Subject
  Composers--Australia--19th century--Correspondence.
  Piano music.
  Quadrilles.
  Waltzes (Piano).
  
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE179259

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