Guide to the Records of the Canberra Choral Society
MS 1519
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 1998
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Canberra Choral Society
- Title
- Records of the Canberra Choral Society
- Date Range
- 1960-1964
- Collection Number
- MS 1519
- Extent
- 0.18 metres (1 archives box)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The collection comprises letters, draft correspondence, working papers, concert programs and financial records - such as bank statements and cheque and receipt books - as well as official records of General and Committee meetings. It forms an important source of detailed information on the workings of an amateur musical organisation during a period of increasing activity in the development of Canberra. The collection details the administration of the society, the organisation of its concert activities, and the various efforts and strategies employed in publicising those activities.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2989637) for the access conditions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Records of the Canberra Choral Society, National Library of Australia, MS 1519, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The early records and papers of the Canberra Choral Society were received from two separate sources during the 1960s. The original items in MS 1519 (Series 1-4) were deposited officially by the Society in September 1965 and refer to the period 1960 to 1964. Additional records, correspondence and official minutes for 1962-1965 (Series 5-6) were received from the Honorary Secretary in February 1968 and were originally deposited at a separate location (MS 2040). As they are from the same organisation, and cover the same period as the earlier deposit, it is unclear why they were not included with the donation received in 1965. Close examination suggests, however, that the earlier deposit was of the papers held by the President and the later of those held by the Secretary.
During work on developing a detailed guide to the papers of the Canberra Choral Society in June 1998, and in preparation for further deposits of records of the Society for the period 1965 on, these two closely related collections were consolidated at MS 1519. As there is no significant duplication of correspondence, it was felt that the two collections should be brought together to form a single, complete record of the activities of the Society during that period
Related Materials
A number of other manuscript collections held in the National Library contain information relating to the Canberra Choral Society or to Canberra's musical life, both before the establishment of the CCS, and contemporary with it. The more important of these are MS 8375, Canberra Opera Society; MS 7217 Canberra Philharmonic Society; MS 4881 Canberra Society of Singers; MS 8197 Canberra Society of Singers; MS 7489 Claude Burns Papers; MS 1946 Charles Daley Papers; MS 8200 Robert Parker Papers; MS 5799 Arthur Shakespeare Papers.
Acronyms
ABC - Australian Broadcasting Commission (later Corporation)
ACTCOSS - Australian Capital Territory Council of Cultural Societies
AGM - Annual General Meeting
CCEGGS - Canberra Church of England Girls Grammar School
CCG - Canberra Choral Group (1952-1960)
CCS - Canberra Choral Society (1960- )
CCD - Committee on Cultural Development in the ACT (Dept of the Interior)
CCWC - Cultural Clubs Working Committee
COS - Canberra Orchestral Society (later Canberra Symphony Orchestra)
NLA - National Library of Australia
RMC - Royal Military College, Duntroon
Administrative History
The Canberra Choral Society began its activities in 1952 when a small group of interested persons gathered together to sing serious music and called themselves the Canberra Choral Group. Responsible for the musical direction of the infant organisation was Ron Penny, a lecturer at the Canberra University College. (As conductor of the Melbourne University Choral Society, he has been involved in organising the first Intervarsity Choral Festival in 1950.) After the demise of other choral organisations in Canberra during the war years, the Choral group was a serious attempt at creating high-quality, unaccompanied music in the otherwise austere surrounds of the dormant capital city. When Penny left for Adelaide in 1954 his position was taken by Jane Malone, a cipher clerk at the US Embassy. The group sang at church services, gave small-scale concerts and organised annual carols by candlelight performances at the Institute of Anatomy during the 1950s.
In 1960, the group changed its name to the Canberra Choral Society and began performing larger-scale works. With the appointment of Wilfrid Holland as the first official musical director in 1962, the Society began performing works with the Canberra Orchestral Society which had also been founded in the early 1950s (and which was also directed by Holland). The Choral Society was incorporated on 4 April 1962 under the ACT Associations Incorporation Ordinance of 1953 and has continued to provide professional-standard large choral and orchestral works to the Canberra community since that date. The position of Musical Director has since been held by Ayis Ioannides (1972-1976), Donald Hollier (1976-1985), Hans Günter Mommer (1985-1989), Christopher Lyndon Gee (1989-1993) and Robyn Holmes (1994- ).
Item Descriptions
Series 1. Financial Records, 1959-1964
Treasurer's papers; receipt, cheque and deposit books, financial statements and reports. Arranged chronologically.
Receipts: "Canberra Choral Society Inc.: Vouchers", 1961-1962 (File 1-1)
Receipts for music purchases, hire of venues, in the names of early officials: Frank Horner, Ian Castles, Wilfrid Holland, Miss I.A. Oliver. Receipts for advertisement and lodgement of documents re incorporation of the society (April 1962), and for monies received from the Department of the Interior by way of "cultural grants" for £25 and £70.
Series 2. Correspondence, 1960-1963
General correspondence to the committee, 1962-1963 (one item from 1960, one from 1961), many with drafts of replies: the routine correspondence is contained in Series 6. Arranged chronologically.
Draft of letter in response to Canberra Times article and letter to the editor re change of name from Canberra Choral Group to Canberra Choral Society [clippings attached]: n.d. (File 3-1)
2 letters of thanks to Jane Malone [Director] from Ernest Burgmann, Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn, and Warden of St Mark's Collegiate Library re payments for rehearsals: 30 June 1960., 20 February 1961 (File 3-2-3)
Letter from Isobel Masters, CCEGGS, and draft reply re use of rehearsal room on Monday nights: 9 February [1962?] (File 3-4-5)
From Norma Cook to the Secretary re resignation from "thankless" post of librarian:., 26 March 1962 (File 3-9)
Letter from ACT Advisory Council (Dept. of Interior) re singing at Naturalization Ceremony in September., 7 June 1962 (File 3-15)
Further letter from David Barkla re borrowing music from SUMS Undergraduate Choir., 15 June 1962 (File 3-16)
Form letter from ACT Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects re invitations to lecture by Robin Boyd., 2 July 1962 (File 3-17)
Memorandum and receipt from Sydney Conservatorium of Music Library re return of Bach "Sing Ye" scores., 30 July 1962 (File 3-18)
Secretary's note re letters to Headmaster, Canberra High School and other letters of thanks after "Creation" concert: 13 August 1962 [error for ?], 13 December 1962 (File 3-19)
Draft of letter to Mr Packard, Warden, Bruce Hall re use of quadrangle for a concert: n.d. (File 3-20)
Letter of thanks from W.I. Byrne, Chairman, ACT Advisory Council, re singing at naturalization ceremony: n.d., September 1962 (File 3-23)
Draft of letter from Secretary to Gay [Wilson, SUMS librarian] re return of Bach "Sing Ye" scores and noting that it was not performed due to dwindling numbers during winter: n.d., October 1962 (File 3-24)
Letter from President to Major-General C.H. Finlay, RMC, re appearance of Band at carols concert, Bruce Hall, 12 December ., 8 November 1962 (File 3-31)
Form letter to non-playing members of the Canberra Orchestral Society re "Creation"., 14 November 1962 (File 3-32)
Letter from Arts Council of Australia, Goulburn Branch, re publicity for "Creation"., 19 November 1962 (File 3-33)
Draft letter to Committee for Cultural Development re invitation to "Creation"., 25 November 1962 (File 3-35)
Letter to Colin Plowman, ANU, re use of Childers Street Hall for a concert on 7 May., 5 April 1963 (File 3-41)
Notice of committee meeting on 22 April 1963 re letter granting £200 from Committee on Cultural Development in the ACT which "deplores" the use of professional musicians in amateur societies' concerts. Also suggestion to have an extended recess during winter due to previous poor attendance., 18 April 1963 (File 3-42)
Series 3. Working Papers, 1960-1964
Papers, drafts and copies relating to incorporation of the Society, its constitution, annual reports, funding applications, presentation of "St Matthew Passion" in April 1962, membership lists and library catalogue.
Folder titled "Canberra Choral Society: Annual Reports" containing drafts and 7 duplicated copies of Notice of AGM, financial statement and First Annual Report. (File 4-1)
Folder titled "Canberra Choral Society: Constitution: Preparation of and copies" containing several drafts, 4 duplicated copies of final constitution, and copies of constitutions of Canberra Orchestral Society Inc., Canberra Statistical Society, and Canberra Recorded Music Society Inc., as well as COS Players' Agreement and forms required by ACT Associations Incorporation Ordinance, ., 1953 (File 4-2)
Folder titled "Canberra Choral Society: Application for Subsidy General Financial Statements (incl. copy of finances of "Messiah", December 1961)" containing drafts, letters and applications to Committee on Cultural Development during 1962. Also letter dated 6 October 1964 from the Committee re grant for 1965 and circulars dated October and November 1964 from ACT Council of Cultural Societies Inc. re development of a cultural centre [Griffin Centre] in Civic. (File 5-1)
Folder titled "Canberra Choral Society: Cultural Clubs Working Committee" containing notes of meetings and discussions, 1960-1963, and printed "Survey". [CCWC was forerunner to ACTCOSS.] (File 5-2)
Series 4. Programs, 1959-1963
Concert programs, music scores and other ephemera, including newspaper clippings and Eisteddfod certificates, relating to some of the Society's early performances.
Envelope containing approx. 25 copies of hymns to be sung as ANZAC Day dawn service (O Valiant Hearts; Not unto us, O Lord to, tell; O Lord of Life, whose power sustains; O God, our help in ages past) and one copy of "Pronunciation literal translation" sheet for Buxtehude's cantata "Alles was ihr tut". (File 7-1)
Folder titled "Canberra Choral Society: Programmes (and early miscellaneous)" containing (File 7-2)
a) program, Bach/Schutz, 7 May 1963, Childers Street Hall
b) program, "Carols By Candlelight" (as CCG), 16 December 1959, Institute of Anatomy
c) program, Bach "St Matthew Passion", 16/17 April 1962, Canberra High School Hall
d) 4 x flyer for Bach/Schutz [see a) above]
e) review, [Canberra Times], 6 December 1961, for "Messiah"
f) 2 x flyer for "Messiah
g) 2 x program, "Carols By Candlelight", 14 December 1961, Institute of Anatomy. Notation by hand reading "Cancelled", and new date of 12 December 1962, Bruce Hall
h) program, Haydn "Creation", 6/7 December 1962, Canberra High School Hall
i) [Canberra Orchestral Society] 3 x program, "Orchestral and Choral Concert, 19 August 1961, Lyneham High School Hall
j) 2 x program, "Carols By Candlelight", 20 December 1960, Australian War Memorial
k) 2 x program, "Choral Concert", 18 October 1960, St Andrew's
l) translation sheet for Fauré "Requiem", CCS concert, 10 April 1960, St Andrew's
m) program, "Carol Service" (as CCG), 13 December 1959, St Luke's (Deakin)
n) program, "Pleasant Sunday Afternoon", 15 November 1959, Canberra Congregational Church
o) certificate and 3 adjudicator's sheets, Australian National Eisteddfod Society, 2nd Prize, City of Canberra Open Choral Championship, 23 April 1960
Series 5. Minutes, 1962-1965
Arranged in reverse chronological order.
Diary titled "Canberra Choral Society: Minutes, 1962-1963". Including (File 8)
Inaugural Meeting,19 February 1962
1 committee meeting, 19 February 1962
Meeting of representatives of Canberra Orchestral and Choral Societies,16 February 1962 [loose]
Committee meetings, March to June 1962
First Annual Report
File folder titled "Canberra Choral Society: Minutes, 1963-1965". Including (File 9)
Register of Members (attached to inside front cover)
List of Supporting Members to 26 November 1964 (attached to inside front cover)
Minutes of committee meetings, June 1965-August 1964
Minutes of AGM, 3 August 1964
Minutes of Adjourned AGM, 8 August 1963
Minutes of AGM, 1 August 1963
Minutes of committee meetings, July 1964-August 1963
Series 6. Correspondence, 1962-1965
General correspondence to the Secretary: drafts of correspondence from the President are contained in Series 2. Arranged in reverse chronological order.