Alfred Nathan - Collection of manuscript and printed music by Isaac Nathan and others, with associated realia, ca.1816-ca.1870

fonds

ca.1816-ca.1870

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Manuscript Notated Music, Notated Music, Objects, Photographs

120008

3 folders - 4 volumes - 1 box - 0.3 Meters
Music - (manuscript and printed scores)
Objects
Photographs

Alfred Nathan was born in England in 1821, the second son of composer Isaac Nathan and Rosetta Worthington. He had one brother and four sisters. His mother died in 1824 and his father remarried two years later. Feeling unwelcome and unhappy in the home of his father and stepmother (Henrietta Buckley), Alfred ran away from home when he was eleven years old. He became apprenticed to a wine merchant in Bristol. When the Nathan family left England for Australia in 1840, Alfred was pursuaded by his older brother Charles to accompany them. In Australia, Alfred became a prosperous wine merchant. He was also a singer and probably performed from the music in this collection. His signature appears at the top of many of the songs.
Isaac Nathan (1792-1864) was born in Canterbury, England and educated at the Cambridge Academy. In 1814-1815, he collaborated with Lord Byron in the publication of "A selection of Hebrew melodies" with music arranged by Nathan and poetry by Byron. Nathan saw Byron for the last time in 1816, shortly before the poet left England, never to return. Nathan himself left England in 1840, arriving in Australia in 1841, and he quickly dominated the Australian musical scene as a composer, teacher, organist and conductor. His opera, "Merry freaks in troublous times", was composed in 1843 and published in 1851, but was not publicly performed.

Series 01
Alfred Nathan - music manuscript by Isaac Nathan, ca.1843

Series 02
Alfred Nathan - sheet music by Isaac Nathan published in Sydney, 1842-1864

Series 03
Alfred Nathan - sheet music by Isaac Nathan and others published in London, ca.1820-ca.1870

Series 04
Alfred Nathan - Indian dagger and photoprints of candlesticks presented to Isaac Nathan by Lord Byron, probably in 1816