Papers of Patrick Thomas, 1917-2014 [manuscript]
- Bib ID:
- 2701712
- Format:
- Manuscript
- Author:
- Thomas, Patrick, 1932-2017
- Related Online Resources:
- Finding aid at National Library of Australia
- Access Conditions:
- Part available for research; part not available for research. Not for loan.
- Description:
-
- [1917-2014]
- approximately 7.85 m. (38 boxes) + 3 fol. boxes + 4 packets + 1 rolled items box + 1 folder.
- Summary:
-
MS 8341 comprises personal and professional correspondence, original music scores and published musical works, contracts, itineraries, concert programs and posters, newspaper cuttings, reviews, publicity material, an autograph book, newsletters, biographical material and photographs. The collection also includes the typescript of an unpublished biographical work titled "Behind the scenes: what the audience never knew: a conductor's reminiscences", another unpublished autobiography, "Maestro down under: fifty years of music", an unpublished article by Thomas titled "Orchestras in the 21st century", and a copy of his book, A conductor's musings (some thoughts in verse).
As well as the Australian Broadcasting Commission and numerous theatrical companies, correspondents in MS 8341 include Aaron Copeland, Colin Brumby, Lyle Cresswell, John Curro, Don Banks, Sir Bernard Heinze, Henry Krips, Charles Lisner, William Lovelock, Ezra Rachlin, John Reid, David Stanhope, Peter Tahourdin and Larry Sitsky (24 boxes, 2 fol. boxes, 1 rolled items box).
The Acc02.148 instalment includes five vocal scores plus the libretto of Madeline-Lee, an opera by John Haddock, an unpublished article on Sir John Barbirolli and two unpublished letters to The Sydney morning herald, correspondence including with the Australian Music Centre, Queensland Flute Guild and Sydney Conservatorium, and letters relating to Letho Kostoglou, a conducting post-graduate with the Australian International Conservatorium of Music whom Thomas tutored, the original draft of "Orchestras in the 21st century", and various 2MBS FM Fine music magazines containing details of radio programs and articles presented or written by Thomas on Donald Smith, Hermann Scherchen and Sir John Barbirolli, and the "Premier pianists" series on 2MBS. Also included is the electronic version of the script for a radio broadcast "White tie and tales" (1 box).
The Acc03.034 instalment comprises correspondence, articles, reviews, press cuttings, magazines and brochures, and the latest version of "Maestro down under" on CD-ROM (1 box).
The Acc03.109 instalment chiefly comprises full orchestral (conductor's) or piano scores of works given first Australian performance or world premiere by Thomas, bearing Thomas' "marking up" or annotations. A few are autographed by composers or associates. The instalment also includes Thomas' arrangement of Albioni's "Adagio in G Minor", three draft speeches and an article prepared for Fine music magazine (1 box, 1 fol. box).
The Acc05.086 instalment consists of correspondence, e-mails, a speech, lecture and programs and publications (1 packet).
The Acc05.126 instalment relates principally to various overseas activities during the period 1978-2000. It is arranged in broad chronological order under the following categories: Additional general career correspondence; England/Scotland (UK); Ireland; Germany; Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic; Russia/U.S.S.R.; Poland; Bulgaria; South Africa; New Zealand; Japan (2 boxes).
The Acc06.043 instalment includes a typescript supplement, 2005, and addendum, 2006, to Thomas' autobiography "Maestro down under", draft scripts of the ABC's "Adelaide singers", 2005, correspondence, 2005-2006, copies of poems, 2006, copies of broadcasts on Miriam Hyde and Vaughan Williams, 2005 (1 box).
The Acc06.181 instalment comprises correspondence, personal references, drafts of biographical writings, reminiscences and articles by Thomas including "A music lover's anthology" (bound typescript), "Behind the scenes" (bound typescript) and "Maestro down under" (copy on CD), and newspaper and magazine cuttings, and a floppy disk (1 box).
The Acc07.196 instalment includes anthologies, Visions, vistas and viewpoints, and A music lover's anthology, correspondence, a speech given at the 60th anniversary of the ABC's Queensland Symphony Orchestra, biographical press cuttings and publications (1 box).
The Acc08.034 instalment comprises programs and booklets, conductor's rehearsal/study notes for various works, scores inscribed to Patrick Thomas, correspondence, handbooks, CD of papers presented by Thomas as deputy chair of Fine Music Station 2MBS FM Sydney, and a floppy disk of various final versions of works (1 packet).
The Acc08.190 instalment comprises correspondence, the final version of Vistas, visions and viewpoints, news clippings, Music Teachers' Association magazines, running sheets for radio programmes, concert programmes, manuscripts and printed songs of words of Kenneth Slessor and Patrick Thomas set by composer Lindsay Aked (1 box).
The Acc10.010 instalment comprises correspondence (mainly with or relating to Australian musicians), news clippings and ephemera relating to career and musical events, speeches, scripts for Thomas' 2MBS radio programmes, published musical scores of songs with words by Thomas including Centaur, Long live the blue and red! and "Marty" the masked owl (1 box).
The Acc11.004 instalment comprises papers pertaining to the life and career of Thomas including draft scripts, correspondence, articles by and about Thomas, obituaries of various former colleagues and original music scores (1 box).
The Acc11.166 instalment comprises the book of poetry written by Thomas and illustrated by Bunty Morrison titled, A conductor's musings (some thoughts in verse), published by Sydney radio station 2MBS FM 102.5 in 2003. Copy signed by the author and illustrator (1 folder).
The Acc12.005 instalment comprises papers pertaining to the life and career of Thomas including draft autobiography, music scores, papers pertaining to Thomas' career including applications, references, appointment and exit paperwork, correspondence, academic qualifications, magazine articles, a small number of personal photographs, poetry, obituaries and tributes of friends, colleagues and relatives, speeches and reviews. It also contains five publications pertaining to disease-bearing insects in the tropics (2 boxes).
The Acc12.059 instalment comprises correspondence, articles and papers pertaining to Thomas' work with and redundancy from the ABC, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and Thomas' career (1 packet).
The Acc13.040 instalment comprises Berrima District Historical & Family History Society Newsletter no. 442 (Aug. 2012) (1 packet).
The Acc14.036 instalment comprises copies of various music magazines, newspaper clippings and a small amount of correspondence including congratulatory messages following Patrick Thomas' appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
- Biography/History:
-
Flautist, orchestral conductor and writer. Alan Patrick Thomas (MBE) has had a distinguished career as a flautist, choirmaster and conductor. He made his first appearance as a soloist in 1946 with the ABC's Brisbane Symphony Orchestra and from 1951 until 1955 he was a flautist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. From 1959 to 1963 he was founder and conductor of the Patrick Thomas Singers in Brisbane. In 1964 Thomas was appointed resident conductor of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust Opera Company and the Australian Ballet. He went on to work with the South Australian Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Opera Company, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the Wellington City Opera in New Zealand. In 1998 he was the first Australian conductor to become an honorary life member of the Fellowship of Australian Composers. As a writer, Thomas has published poetry and an autobiography, Upbeats and downbeats: a conductor's life (2010).
- Notes:
- Manuscript reference no.: MS 8341, MS Acc02.148, MS Acc03.034, MS Acc03.109, MS Acc05.086, MS Acc05.126, MS Acc06.043, MS Acc06.181, MS Acc07.196, MS Acc08.034, MS Acc08.190, MS Acc10.010, MS Acc11.004, MS Acc11.166, MS Acc12.005, MS Acc12.059, MS Acc13.040, MS Acc14.036.
- Related Material:
- Patrick Thomas interviewed by Jennifer Gall in the Esso Performing Arts collection; Located at; National Library of Australia Oral History collection ORAL TRC 2586.
- Source of Acquisition:
- Donated through the Australian Government's Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme by Patrick Thomas (part of MS 8341).
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Finding aid available in the Special Collections Reading Room and online.
- Subject:
-
- Thomas, Patrick, 1932-2017 -- Archives
- Thomas family
- Australian Ballet
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- Queensland Symphony Orchestra
- South Australian Symphony Orchestra
- Flute players -- Australia -- Archives
- Conductors (Music) -- Australia -- Archives
- Poets, Australian -- 20th century -- Archives
- Music -- Australia -- 20th century
- Time Coverage:
- 1917-2014
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Thomas, Patrick, 1932-2017. Conductor's musings : some thoughts in verse
- Terms of Use:
- Copying of Patrick Thomas' copyright material permitted for research purposes.
- Copyright:
-
Copyright Undetermined
If you wish to copy or order copies, contact us. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- A Manuscript Collection may have a range of formats and dates.
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Literary, dramatic or musical work
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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