'Corroboree', ballet suite by John Antill, conducted by Eugene Goossens, performed by the ABC Sydney Symphony Orchestra, December 1950

GR 9

fonds

December 1950

9640770

2 audio discs - shellac, analogue, 78 rpm - 12 in.

The ballet of 'Corroboree' consists of seven movements, four of which comprise the recorded suite.

Part 1.

Welcome Ceremony (Men of the Witchetty Grub Totem assisted by the Emu Men).
Dance of the Evening Star (Men of the Phippa-Phippa Bird and Bell- Bird Totem) (Part 1).

Part 2.

Dance of the Evening Star (Conclusion).
Rain Dance (Men of the Frog and Fish Totems) (Part 1).

Part 3.

Rain Dance (Conclusion).
Procession of Totems and Fire Ceremony (Men of the Face Lizard, Cockatoo, Honey Ant, Wild Cat and Small Flies Totems (Part 1).

Part 4.

Processions of Totems and Fire Ceremony (Conclusion).

Disc 1 consists of Parts 1 and 4 on the two sides, disc 2 consists of Parts 2 and 3 on the two sides.

Corroboree by John Antill is the first ballet work by an Australian composer on an Australian subject to become internationally performed, recorded and released. It was also one of the first Australian recorded orchestral works to draw on Indigenous references. On 5 December 1950, in a recording ‘supervised’ by the composer, who would otherwise have been a member of the ABC’s recording team, the 77-member ABC Sydney Symphony Orchestra under Eugene Goossens recorded a ballet suite from 'Corroboree’ in the Ashfield Town Hall for His Master’s Voice. It was originally issued on two 12” HMV discs.

Reference: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.
Includes one double sided page describing the history of the ballet and details about individual movements.

HMV Issue ED 1193/1194

Some damage on edges of both discs.