Ann Carr-Boyd aggregated collection of papers, music manuscripts and other material

fonds

1849-2015

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Musical Sound Recordings, Manuscript Notated Music, Notated Music, Photographs, Drawings, Ephemera, Clippings, Posters, Objects

888327

Ann Carr-Boyd (nee Wentzel) is a composer, performer, broadcaster and teacher. She was born in Sydney in 1938, the daughter of Norbert and Nyora Wentzel. Both her father and her uncle, Charles Wentzel, were foundation members of what was to become the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Her Bohemian grandfather, Albert Wentzel, was a violinist who came to Australia in 1888 to appear with the Cowen Orchestra for the Centennial International Exhibition in Melbourne.

Ann Carr-Boyd was the first graduate in Music at the University of Sydney, attaining first class honours in a Bachelor of Music degree (1960) and a Master of Arts degree (1963). Her M.A. research thesis dealt with European music in Australia from 1788 to 1888. As the recipient of a Sydney Moss Scholarship from the University of Sydney, she went to London in 1963 to study composition with Peter Racine Fricker and later Alexander Goehr, as well as piano at the Royal College of Music, London. During this time in England, she married Peter Carr-Boyd and two of her three daughters were born. She returned to Australia in 1967.

Carr-Boyd's musical output is well established in the repertoire of Australian compositions and includes music for orchestra, mixed chamber ensembles, voice and solo keyboard instruments. The orchestral work 'Gold' was commissioned in 1975 as a result of winning the Albert H. Maggs Composition Award, bestowed by the University of Melbourne. 'The bells of Sydney Harbour' was commissioned for the opening of the Ronald Sharp organ at the Sydney Opera House. One of her compositions was performed at the opening ceremony of the New Parliament House, Canberra in 1988. An interest in the harpsichord has led Carr-Boyd to compose many works featuring that instrument, particularly in association with Australian harpsichordists Robert Goode, Nicholas Parle and Diana Weston. Her 'Suite Veronese' was selected for the finalists' concert of the Alienor International Harpsichord Composition Awards, and was performed by Nicholas Parle in Washington DC in June 1986. Carr-Boyd has also composed a number of works featuring mandolins, which have been performed by Adrian Hooper and the Sydney Mandolins, including 'Fandango' and 'Music for an imaginary Italian film'. A long association with Rev. Arthur Bridge and Ars Musica Australis has produced many works for orchestra, piano and chamber ensemble.

Most of her compositions have been published, performed and recorded. Carr-Boyd's main publishers are Carlisle Print and Wirripang. The pianist John Martin has recorded many of Carr-Boyd's solo piano works as well as chamber music. Memorable performances around Australia include 'Tyalgum Dawn' for the Tyalgum Festival of Classical Music in 2011 and 'Song of the Goldfields' for the Pure Poetry Festival in Ballarat in 2013. Carr-Boyd's works have also been performed internationally, including in the USA, England, Germany and New Zealand.

Carr-Boyd's energetic support of Australian composers has found expression in her work as secretary of the Fellowship of Australian Composers, in her presentation of radio programmes concerned with Australian composition on the ABC-FM and 2MBS-FM, and also in her presentation of papers at the Asian Composers' League Conference in Hong Kong (1981) and the International Congresses on Women in Music in Los Angeles (1982) and Mexico City (1984). She has also contributed to many publications including the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1980) and the Australian Dictionary of Biography. She has been a senior lecturer in Australian music and composition at the Australian International Conservatorium of Music, Sydney.

Reference:
Compiled from the collection

This aggregated collection comprises the personal papers and music manuscripts of Ann Carr-Boyd, including Wentzel family papers.

COLLECTION 1
Ann Carr-Boyd papers, music manuscripts and other material, 1849-1996
Purchased from Ann Carr-Boyd in 1997

COLLECTION 2
Ann Carr-Boyd further papers, music manuscripts and other material, 1885-2014
Purchased from Ann Carr-Boyd, August 2005 and presented by Ann Carr-Boyd, 2005-2014

COLLECTION 3
Ann Carr-Boyd further papers, music manuscripts and other material, 1889-2015
Presented by Ann Carr-Boyd in January 2017