Meg Matthews research papers, music scores and sound recordings relating to Australian women composers, 1888-2003, mainly compiled 1980-1985

MLMSS 8291
MLOH 655
MLOH 814-815

fonds

1888-2003

Textual Records, Musical Sound Recordings, Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Manuscript Notated Music, Notated Music, Clippings, Ephemera

942599

Digitised : Applies to MLOH 14-15

0.52 metres of textual material and 16 sound cassettes (3 boxes)

Meg Matthews graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Honours in Music from the University of Sydney in 1965. In the early 1980s, she began studies at the University of New England as an external studies student. This collection was the basis of a proposed Master's thesis she undertook through the Music Department at the UNE. Meg was curious to explore the dearth of women composers generally and in Australia in particular, and believed she would find only a handful. To her surprise the total reached around 200 women composers, beginning with Emmeline Woolley (1843-1908) and leading up to Ann Carr-Boyd (b.1938), Anne Boyd (b. 1946) and Elena Kats-Chernin (b. 1957). This ultimately meant the scope of the thesis was far greater than she could manage and reluctantly, she abandoned the project.

Meg Matthews’ life has always been music-centred, and after retiring from teaching high school music and conducting various choirs, she has continued to be a free-lance lecturer in music through various adult education groups such as WEA, Sydney and Macquarie Universities, Sydney Opera House, Northside Opera and at home.

Reference:
Supplied by Meg Matthews, 2012

BOX 1
Letters, interview notes, questionnaire responses, ephemera and general information collected on Australian women composers, 1888-2003 (arranged alphabetically by composer).
Correspondents include: Olive Anderson, Betty Beath, Rosalie Bonighton, Ann Carr-Boyd, Judy Clingan, Moneta Eagles, Ann Ghandar, Helen Gifford, Dulcie Holland, Miriam Hyde, Elena Kats-Chernin, Mary Mageau and June Nixon.

BOX 2
Printed material collected featuring Australian women composers, 1969-2003, including 2MBS-FM Programme Guides, ABC Radio Guides and ABC FM 24 Hours magazines.

Music scores collected, 1907-1982 and undated (arranged alphabetically by composer):

Olive ANDERSON: Elegy for a daughter. 1 ms. orchestral score in ink, undated
Betty BEATH: Indonesian triptych. Words by Goenawan Mohamad. 1 printed score for voice and piano, undated
Betty BEATH: Piccolo victory. 1 printed score and parts for piccolo, flute, harpsichord, cello, rhythm sticks and side drum, 1982
Betty BEATH: Songs from 'The Beasts’ Choir'. Words by Carmen Bernos de Gasztold. 1 printed score for voice and piano, undated
Betty BEATH: Walking in sunshine. 1 published score for 2 voices and piano. Red Hill: ASMUSE, 1981
Anne BOYD: As far as crawls the toad. Photocopy of random published pages to illustrate devices of style, performance and notation. London: Faber Music, 1977
Anne BOYD: As I crossed a bridge of dreams. Photocopy of random published pages to illustrate devices of style and notation, 1977
May BRAHE: Down here. Words by P.J. O’Reilly. 1 published score for voice and piano. London: Enoch, 1915
May BRAHE: Life’s balcony. Words by Helen Taylor. 1 published score for voice and piano. London: Boosey, 1934
May BRAHE: Oh, pray for peace. Words by Helen Taylor. 1 published score for voice and piano. London: Boosey, 1939
May BRAHE: Real Australian children songs [incomplete album]. Words by Madge Dickson. 1 published score for voice and piano. Melbourne: Allans, 1911
May BRAHE: To a miniature. Words by Helen Taylor. 1 published score for voice and piano. London: Enoch, 1917
Molly CAREW: Advice. Words by Royden Barrie. 1 published score for voice and piano. London: Chappell, 1925
Moneta EAGLES: First Spring morning. Words by Robert Bridges. 1 published score for soprano and alto voices. Melbourne: Allan, 1962
Ernest A. ERWIN and A. Dorothy ERWIN: Love’s Springtime. Words by A. Dorothy A. Erwin. 1 published score for voice and piano. Self-published, 1938
Dorothy FORSTER: Rose in the bud. Words by Percy J. Barrow. 1 published score for voice and piano. Sydney: Chappell, 1907
Ann GHANDAR: Eshelgharam. Photocopy of ms. score for piano, 1978
Ann GHANDAR: Haloes. Photocopy of ms. score for violin, viola, cello and piano, 1975
Ann GHANDAR: The prisoners. Photocopy of ms. score for voice, flute, cello and piano, 1975
Ann GHANDAR: Recollections of a Latvian song. Photocopy of ms. score for flute, oboe, clarinet and piano, 1973
Edith HARRHY: Dusk. Words by Sir William Watson. 1 published score for 2 voices and piano. Melbourne: Allans, 1935
Marjorie HESSE: The dolls’ minuet; Snow falling; The hobby horse. Photocopy of published score for piano. Sydney: Paling, 1936
Miriam HYDE: Study in blue, white and gold. Photocopy of published score for piano. Melbourne: Allans, 1974
Miriam HYDE: Sunrise by the sea. 1 published score for voice and piano. Sydney: Nicholson’s, 1955
Mrs Joseph F. KNAPP: Open the gates of the temple. Words by Fanny Crosby. 1 published score for voice and piano. Melbourne: Allans, 1934
Sr Marie Therese LEVEY: Piano book for beginners. Photocopy of ms. score for piano, undated
Mary MAGEAU: The line always there.1 published score for SA choir, flute, piano duet and percussion. Red Hill: ASMUSE, 1981
Mona McBURNEY: A Persian song of Spring. Words by Hafiz. 1 published score for voice and piano. Melbourne: Allans, 1925
Varney MONK: Australia. Words by Varney Monk. Photocopy of published score for SATB. Sydney: Chappell, 1951
Mrs C. H. MORRIS: The stranger of Galilee. Arranged by Mable Miller Sturgis. Words by C. H. Morris. 1 published score for voice and piano. Sydney: Paling, 1926
June NIXON: St Paul’s service. Photocopy of ms. score for SATB choir and organ, undated
June NIXON: Were you there? Photocopy of ms. score for SATB choir, undated
Madame Eleanor Vespucci STARR: Love’s melodies. Words by the composer. 1 published score for voice and piano, and 1 violin part. Self-published, undated
Norma TYER: Fragments from the 15th century Coventry Corpus Christi Pageants. 1 published score for SSATB choir and piano (for rehearsal only). London: Chappell, 1962

BOX 3
Cassette recordings:
Series 01: Meg Matthews oral history interviews and music recordings relating to Australian women composers, 1980-1990 (Call No.: MLOH 814, MLOH 815)
Series 02: Meg Matthews oral history interviews and music recordings relating to Australian women composers, 1956-1981 (Call No.: MLOH 655)

In copyright: Applies to MLOH 814
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder

The description of this material has been supplied from the Oral History Digitisation Program, undertaken 2014 to 2017 of the Library's oral history collections (Applies to MLOH 14-15).