Albert Keats music manuscripts and other material

fonds

1897-1977

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

441743

2.89 metres of textual material (1 box and 8 outsize boxes), includes 3 photographs

Albert Keats (1892-1977), composer, conductor and arranger, was the older brother of composer and pianist Horace Keats (1895-1945). Albert Keats' second wife was Phyllis Wilson, a cellist.

Born and raised in London, Keats gave his first concert when he was six years old. He studied piano, violin, organ, conducting, composing and orchestration at the Trinity College of Music with Dr Charles Pearce, Granville Bantock and Arthur Barclay. At the age of 10, Keats was organist and deputy choir-master at the Oratory of St Mary Magdalene in Wandsworth, London. The next year, he was appointed organist at the Wandsworth Prison Church. When he was 16, he was appointed chorus master and subsequently conductor of the London Grand Opera Company, becoming the youngest conductor of professional grand opera in England.

Keats spent eight years in South Africa as chief conductor of the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra before coming to Australia in 1939. He composed numerous orchestral, choral and piano works, many of which were featured in ABC programs. He was also a professional music arranger used by the ABC. Keats directed the ABC Sydney Singers for a number of years, giving weekly broadcasts of choral programs as well as presenting musical comedies and revues. He conducted the Queensland Symphony Orchestra for five months and then became a regular guest conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. In 1953, Keats was appointed conductor of the Hurlstone Choral Society, the main performing choir in Sydney at the time (later becoming the Sydney Philharmonia Choir). During his decade of directing the choir, Keats conducted Messiah and other large choral works with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. In 1955, he was appointed Director of Music for the NSW Opera Guild. Keats founded the Willoughby Municipal Symphony Orchestra in Sydney in 1966 and was its chief conductor until his retirement in 1975.

Reference:
Compiled from the Library’s acquisition file

SERIES 1
Albert Keats music manuscripts of original compositions

SERIES 2
Albert Keats music manuscripts of arrangements

SERIES 3
Albert Keats printed music

SERIES 4
Albert Keats manuscript and printed music collected

SERIES 5
Albert Keats photographs

SERIES 6
Albert Keats music reference books collected

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