Austral String Quartet performance score and parts for "String Quartet (1975)" by Don Banks

MLMSS 10424/Folder 1X

fonds

1975

9622829

0.01 metres of textual material (1 outsize folder) - photocopied manuscript with manuscript annotations

The Austral String Quartet, led by Donald Hazelwood, was established in Sydney in the late 1950s, and continued performing the work of Australian composers into the 1960s and 1970s. The Quartet undertook two major international tours for Musica Viva, in 1972 (with Donald Hazelwood, Ronald Ryder, Ronald Cragg, Gregory Elmaloglou) and in 1975 (with Donald Hazelwood, Peter Ashley - replacing Ronald Ryder who died in 1974, Ronald Cragg, Gregory Elmaloglou). The 1975 tour, for which Don Bank's String Quartet was commissioned, went to Hong Kong, Japan, Moscow, Budapest, Yugoslavia, Athens, Israel, United States of America and Canada.

Reference:
Bunday, Helen. From Farmer to Fiddler : The Story of Donald Hazelwood, Concertmaster Emeritus. Eminent Musicians of Australia ; v. 4. Terry Hills, N.S.W.: Bowerbird Press, 2007.

Don Banks (1923-1980) was born in Melbourne. Following service in World War II he undertook a diploma course at the Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music, graduating with first class honours. In 1950 he travelled to England where he undertook further music studies. In 1952 he won the Edwin Evans memorial prize for composition and a year later was awarded an Italian government scholarship to study in Florence. His compositions began to win recognition and he received many commissions. He also undertook commercial work, notably as a composer of scores for Hammer horror films. Beginning in the mid-1960s, he composed a number of works mixing jazz and concert-music idioms, and began a series of works using electronic music materials. He returned to Australia in 1972, as Head of Composition and Electronic Music Studies at the Canberra School of Music. In 1978 he was appointed Head of Composition Studies at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music.

Reference:
Sitsky, Larry, 'Banks, Donald Oscar (Don) (1923–1980)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/banks-donald-oscar-don-9418/text16555 (accessed 21 July 2020).

Manuscript score and parts used by the Austral String Quartet on its international tour, October-December 1975. "Commissioned by Musica Viva Australia with assistance from the Music Board, Australia Council, for the Austral String Quartet". Completed by the composer, 31 August 1975 ("31/8/75" written after final double barline).

1 holograph score (photocopy), pp. 1-17, with pencil and red ink annotations, and additional inserted photocopy of pp. 15-17, in cardboard cover, bound with tape.
1 holograph score (photocopy) used by Violin I, pp. 1-17, with pencil annotations by performer. Bound with tape.
1 manuscript part by unidentified copyist (photocopy) for Violin II, pp. 1-9, with pencil and ink annotations by performer, stapled together inside cardboard cover.
1 manuscript part by unidentified copyist (photocopy) for Viola, pp. 1-8, with annotations in pink ink by performer, stapled together.
1 manuscript part by unidentified copyist (photocopy) for Cello, pp. 1-8, with annotations in pink ink by performer, stapled together.

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