John Sangster papers and music manuscripts, 1958-1982

MLMSS 8680

fonds

1958-1982

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Manuscript Notated Music, Clippings, Ephemera, Photographs

65940

0.68 metres of textual material and 20 photographs (5 boxes)

John Sangster (1928-1995) was an Australian jazz performer and composer. He came to prominence as a trumpeter at the 1948 Australian Jazz Convention. He played drums on tour for Graeme Bell in the early 1950s. Settling in Brisbane in 1955, he taught himself vibraphone. He then worked again with Bell in Sydney in 1956-58, before joining the Ray Price Quartet as trumpeter in the early 1960s. During the 1960s, Sangster was very active performing with a range of jazz musicians including Don Burrows, Bob Gebert, Ron Carson, Dave MacRae, Graeme Lyall, George Thompson, Alan Turnbull, Col Nolan and Judy Bailey.

Throughout the 1970s, Sangster concentrated on composing for film and television. He also worked on his cycle of songs inspired by Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Beginning with 'The Hobbit Suite', recorded in 1973, the project produced a further 6 albums under the title 'Lord of the Rings', as well as other albums recorded as 'Landscapes of Middle Earth'.

Sangster continued to compose and record prolifically for the rest of his life. His autobiography 'Seeing the rafters' was published by Penguin in 1988. He died in Brisbane in 1995.

Reference:
The Oxford Companion to Australian Music / edited by Warren Bebbington. Melbourne : Oxford University Press, 1997.

Box 1
PERSONAL PAPERS, 1958-1982:
Diary, 1 June - 26 December 1958 (Folder 1).
Diary, 1974.
Photographs (11 black & white prints, 3 colour prints, and 6 colour transparencies) of Sangster, including a camping trip, and also including George Golla, Don Burrows, Ross Collins, Martin Benge, Len Barnard.
Bulletin article re. Sangster, 11 November 1967.
Letters, programme, advertisements and articles re. John Sangster Quintet Concert at Albert Hall, Canberra, 21 April 1968.
Newscuttings re. film Marinetta by Albie Thoms (music by Sangster); and stage production Hair (in which Sangster played drums), 1969.
Contracts and invoices re. ABC TV series Journey into India (music composed, arranged and conducted by Sangster), 1977.
Promotional material re. Sangster from Rain-Forest Records, 1982.

MANUSCRIPTS OF MUSIC COMPOSED BY SANGSTER:
20 original themes by Sangster for radio, film, TV commercials and recordings, registered with APRA, 1969-1971.
'Victor music manuscript book' containing film music notes, music sketches, ideas for different sequences.
Folder of instrumental parts, cue sheets and sketches for various commercials, undated.
Folder of 7 instrumental parts (possibly complete) for unidentified work, in the hand of professional copyist, Nancy Washington, 1980.

Box 2
MANUSCRIPTS OF MUSIC COMPOSED BY SANGSTER:
Folders of instrumental parts arranged in alphabetical order by title of work.

Box 3
MANUSCRIPTS OF MUSIC COMPOSED/ARRANGED BY SANGSTER:
Folder of untitled sketches.
Folder of isolated parts.
Folder of notes made by Sangster on music manuscript paper.

Box 4
MANUSCRIPTS OF MUSIC ARRANGED BY SANGSTER:
Folders of instrumental parts arranged in alphabetical order by title of work, with composers identified.
Folders of instrumental parts arranged in alphabetical order by title of work, with composers unidentified.

Box 5X
Percussion Society of Australia award to John Sangster of honorary life membership for services to percussion.

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Rights and Restrictions Information:: No reproduction without prior written approval of copyright holder.
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder

The State Library of NSW gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Dr Pierre-Emmanuel Seguin in identifying, arranging and describing the music manuscripts in this collection.