Marjorie Hesse papers, music manuscripts and printed music scores

fonds

1907-1982

Textual Records, Manuscript Notated Music, Notated Music, Ephemera

9666019

0.90 metres of textual material (3 outsize boxes)

Marjorie Anne Hesse (1911-1986) was an Australian concert pianist, lecturer, examiner, and composer. Born in Brisbane, Hesse studied piano with Sydney May before moving to Sydney with her family at the age of fifteen. From 1928 to 1931, she was a student at the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music, studying piano with Frank Hutchens and composition with Alfred and Mirrie Hill. Among her classmates were Dulcie Holland and Josephine Bell.

In 1936, Hesse toured the Commonwealth with singer Alice Prowse and violinist Phyllis MacDonald. She travelled to London, Germany and Paris shortly before World War II. In late 1939 Hesse returned to London to study composition at the Royal College of Music under Gordon Jacob. Due to the war, she and her mother then travelled to New York where Hesse studied at the Julliard School, before returning to Australia in October 1940.

Hesse made a significant contribution to music education in Australia as a lecturer and member of the piano faculty at the NSW State Conservatorium of Music from 1936 to 1981, as an examiner for the Australian Music Examinations Board from 1946, and as a composer of pieces designed for younger performers. She was awarded the MBE in 1975, and was made an Honorary Life Member of the Music Teachers' Association in 1983.

References:
Hesse, Marjorie. Piano solos ; edited by Jeanell Carrigan. Wollongong: Wirripang, 2019.
Australian Music Centre. "Marjorie Hesse (1911-1986) : Represented artist." Accessed 9 August 2023. https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/hesse-marjorie

SERIES 1
Marjorie Hesse papers

SERIES 2
Marjorie Hesse music manuscripts

SERIES 3
Marjorie Hesse printed music scores

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder

Also presented by Elizabeth Colman with this collection and catalogued separately:
Piano solos / Marjorie Hesse ; edited and recorded by Jeanell Carrigan (Wollongong: Wirripang, 2019), located in the Mitchell Library at HQ 2023/1053 and MAV/DISC10/566.