Alexander Burnett Hector designs and drawings related to his "colour music" invention, ca 1910-1920s / by Alexander Burnett Hector

PXX 69

fonds

ca 1910-1920s

Graphic Materials, Drawings

9591523

13 drawings (1 folder) - colour pencil and ink on paper - 110 x 67 cm. or smaller

Alexander Burnett Hector (1865 – 1958) was born in Scotland, and was a chemical engineer who worked as general manager of the pharmaceutical firm Burroughs Wellcome in Sydney. He lived in Greenwich, Sydney for most of his life. He was interested in the correlations between sight and sound (and therefore colour and music), and was convinced there were underlying scientific principles of harmony and vibration between them, based on those found in nature.

Hector was influenced by scientists including Newton, Mendeleev, Tyndall and Newlands.

To illustrate his theories Hector invented a ‘colour music organ’ around 1908, and it was first demonstrated publicly in 1912. As each key on an organ or piano was struck, an electrical connection was made with a corresponding coloured light. Banks of coloured lights were designed as a classical grotto, over which waves of colour washed along with the music. The public and media were evidently entranced by Hector’s invention, as public demonstrations and private recitals in his home were well-attended and well-reviewed.

Hector first registered an international patent for ‘Producing color music and other spectacular luminous effects’ in 1912, and further patent applications show that he continued experimenting through the 1920s.

Other scientists, musicians and artists were experimenting with similar ideas around this time, including Alexander Rimington (whose book Colour-Music was published in 1912), composers Scriabin and Schoenberg, and Sydney artist Roy de Maistre. The detailed website Colour Music by Niels Hutchison includes a section on colour music in Australia which discusses Roy de Maistre and mentions Hector. Hector was mentioned most recently in a 2014 Sydney Morning Herald article on eccentric Sydneysiders and the Vivid festival.

Reference: Library file.

Unknown.

13 coloured drawings on paper, 5 of which are double-sided. Several of the drawings relate to Hector's invention for "colour music", some are religious and others scientific.

1. Magnetism.
2. The periodic law, Mendelief [Mendeleev].
3. Civi-Culture. [Verso of no. 2]
4. The principal of relativity.
5. [Musical score in colour].
6. [Six pointed star]
7. Love is the greatest thing in the world. [Verso of no. 6].
8. [The Lord's Prayer in a rainbow].
9. [The Lord's Prayer in a rainbow]. [Verso of no. 8].
10. [Lines of colour].
11. [A pencil sketch]. [Verso of no. 10].
12. [Coloured swirls].
13. [Coloured swirls]. [Verso of no. 12].

Copyright status:: In copyright - Life of artist plus 70 years
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Titled by cataloguer.

Transferred from PXD 1475, 13 November 2023

Most unsigned.
Drawing no. 4 has 'A.B.H.' bottom right corner.
Drawing no. 5 has 'Alexander Burnett Hector' written on verso.
Several drawings have annotations.

No date. Date based on Hector's time spent on his career of inventions.

Paper is in very poor condition with some tears, stains and foxing.