Guide to the Papers of Ernest Llewellyn

Series 1. General correspondence, 1942-82

The correspondence is with friends, colleagues, fellow musicians, members of the public expressing appreciation or asking for advice on an instrument, and Chinese students. There are many letters from Vera and Isaac Stern, the last one written on 29 May 1982, expressing great pleasure that Llewellyn might be in New York later that year.

There are no letters from the time Llewellyn spent with the Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras.

Correspondents include Vera and Isaac Stern, Eugene Goosens, Bernard Heinze, Sydney May, George English, Lyndell Hendricksen, David Worrall, Ruth Alexander, Terry Colhoun, Lou Engledow, John Hopkins, Harold Hort, Dean Dixon, Richard Kingsland, Mirrie Hill, Joseph Post, Allen McCristal, Colin Brumby, Frank Horner, Ronald Smart, John Painter, John Antill, Zelman Cowen and Maie Casey.

Series 2. Personal documents, 1934-74

The collection of personal documents includes some notes and lists compiled as a student, but not dated. A 'program of practice', notes on how to play a scale, music lists by composer and form, a notebook with 'What I have studied this year' are early documents. Included are financial papers including taxation returns, bank statements and passports, a large number of invitations from Ambassadors, Premiers, Ministers, and Governors-General Casey, Cowen, Kerr and Hasluck, curriculum vitae and biographical details. Also included are awards. Llewellyn was honoured twice for his services to music – an MBE in 1968 and a CBE in 1970. Among those who sent congratulatory telegrams and letters were the Caseys, John McEwen, John Gorton, H. C. Coombs, Sir John Overall, John Hopkins, Alan Westerman, Richard Kingsland, C. L. Hewitt, Kenneth Tribe, Alan Westerman, Lew Engledow, Tom Drake Brockman, Dame Annabell Rankin, Sir Bernard Heinze and Patrick Thomas.

Series 3. Appointment diaries, 1957-81

Series 4. Queensland State String Quartet, 1944-48

The Queensland State String Quartet was formed in August 1944 as the result of a Queensland Government decision to subsidise music for the people by public recitals as part of the Adult Education program, and to cultivate musical appreciation amongst Queensland school children. The Quartet, comprising Ernest Llewellyn, Harold Taberner, David Powell and Don Howley, played to 22,000 school children and 7,500 adults in the first year.

The Quartet toured New Zealand in 1948 at the invitation of the Wellington Chamber Music Society. Reviews of the tour, which led to the establishment of the New Zealand Federation of Chamber Music Clubs, are included in this series.

The correspondence includes a letter from the Director General of Education, L. D. Edwards (15 February 1944), proposing the establishment of the Quartet, an acceptance letter from Llewellyn (1 March 1944), and correspondence from February-July 1944 concerning his hard-fought release from the war-time RAAF. A copy of Llewellyn's resignation as leader and member of the Quartet and the Director-General's reply are also included. Other papers relate to itineraries, recordings made with Columbia Gramaphone, the Quartet's tour of New Zealand (May-June 1948), and outside engagements.

Series 5. Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1949-80

Llewellyn was involved with the ABC for much of his working life, leading the ABC String Quartet (1949-52), appearing as soloist or concertmaster in many ABC concerts and broadcasts, conducting the ABC School Orchestral concerts, as an adjudicator for the ABC Concerto and Vocal competitions and as a member of the Canberra Advisory Committee of the ABC.

Correspondence in this series relates to his work for the ABC. Correspondents include Harold Hort, John Hopkins, Allen McCristal, Joseph Post and Werner Baer. Other papers include engagement forms, concert schedules, manuscript interval talks at the 'Thursday Night Concert' series and correspondence and minutes of the Canberra Advisory Committee.

Series 6. William Kapell Memorial Scholarship, 1955-56

When Isaac Stern gave a concert in Sydney in July 1954 for the William Kapell Memorial Fund, he wanted part of the total proceeds of the concert to be used for an overseas scholarship for musicians who would make an outstanding contribution to the teaching and performance of music in Australia. Llewellyn, as Australia's leading string player, was chosen as the first recipient of the William Kapell Memorial Scholarship. At the same time he was awarded a Fulbright grant to study teaching methods at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. The year spent overseas in 1955, with professorial status, was important for Llewellyn. He based his conception of the Canberra School of Music as a centre of excellence on the Juillard School.

While overseas he visited many of the music schools in the United States. His papers include notes on his tour and list 'musical personages' he met who would supply material for seminars and lectures. Included in the correspondence are letters to Ruth's parents and the family, information from the US Information Service, Juillard School of Music, Princeton University, and from various American schools of music and higher education institutions.

Series 7. Chamber Music activities, 1951-75

In October-November 1951, Llewellyn toured New Zealand with the Llewellyn-Kennedy trio. The other members of the trio were John Kennedy, cello, and Scylla Kennedy, piano. Reviews of the concerts are included.

Llewellyn inaugurated and directed music camps and festivals for the National Music Camp Association and for Musica Viva at Mittagong. He also directed workshops through Musica Viva and the Musica Viva Younger Group. In this series is correspondence, 1958-64, relating to Musica Viva camps; details of Musica Viva Summer Camps for 1958 and 1960; National Music Camp correspondence, 1955-64, with Ruth Alexander the honorary secretary, and notices for musicales for the Musica Viva Younger Set, 1959-61.

Series 8. Canberra School of Music, 1964-80

After fifteen years as Concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Llewellyn resigned in 1964 to devote his time to full-time teaching. He intended to teach privately in Wollongong, Goulburn, Mittagong and Canberra, and to establish regional orchestras. A year later in September 1965, at the invitation of the Department of the Interior, he became founding director of the Canberra School of Music, which was located in converted buildings at Manuka. He immediately set about achieving a 'centre of excellence' in a permanent building that would be the most suitable environment for study and performance. In September 1976 the new and permanent building was opened. Llewellyn remained director for 15 years.

School of Music papers include correspondence, conditions of employment, appointments, diploma and degree requirements and course programs, papers on the establishment and opening of the new building, Advisory Council minutes, applications for the position of the new director, and Llewellyn's retirement.

Series 9. Canberra Symphony Orchestra, 1965-80

During Llewellyn's time as Director of the Canberra School of Music he continued to perform, taking part in many of the School's faculty concerts, leading the Canberra String Quartet, and in 1966 becoming musical director of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. When the Minister of the Interior, Doug Anthony, opened the School of Music in 1965 he said the development of a Canberra Symphony Orchestra was a logical step. Through the Canberra Orchestral Society, an amateur body, and the Canberra School of Music, a semi-professional full symphony orchestra was established. Llewellyn retained the position of musical director and conductor for 15 years.

The papers include the undated report of a committee investigating the need to establish a permanent professional orchestral unit in the ACT, correspondence, manuscript notes on concert suggestions and proposed programs, and works played, 1965-71. Correspondents include Frank Horner and Peter Carrodus.

Series 10. Committees and Board of Frensham School for Girls, 1956-81

Llewellyn was on the committee of several Arts bodies. He was Chairman of the Orchestral Review Committee, a member of the Advisory Board , Commonwealth Assistance to Australian Composers, a member of the Committee on Cultural Development in the ACT, and a member of the Training Committee of the Australian Council for the Arts.

Correspondence, agenda, minutes of meetings, and applications for assistance associated with these committees are included in this series.

Llewellyn was a member of the Board of Governors, Frensham School for Girls, Mittagong, New South Wales. There are letters, notices of meetings of the Board, brochures on the schools, an Order-of Service of Thanksgiving for Winifred West, copies of the Frensham Chronicle, and a copy of The Frensham book: 100 pictures by Cazneaux of an Australian School.

Series 11. International Tchaikovsky Competition, 1974, 1978 and proposed Ottawa visit, 1982

In 1974 Llewellyn was invited to attend the fifth International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow as an 'honoured guest'. He returned four years later to the sixth competition as a member of the jury for the violin section, the first Australian to be invited to join the international judging panel for this important event.

The correspondence concerning the 1974 invitation is with the Department of the Interior and E. A. Furtzeva, Minister of Culture of the USSR, and there is a letter to Sir James Plimsoll, the Australian Ambassador in Moscow. There are several letters of thanks to those involved in the success of his visit. Also included are travel arrangements, a timetable for the visit, and Russian journals.

The only papers for the 1978 visit are copies of brief messages about travel arrangements and time of arrival.

At the time of Llewellyn's death, plans were well in hand for an exchange visit to Ottawa later that year to conduct the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and to advise on the establishment of a Conservatorium there. Correspondents include the Cultural Exchange Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and the Australian High Commission in Ottawa.

Series 12. China visits, 1979-82

Llewellyn made two trips to China in May-June 1979 and in December 1980-January 1981. A third visit was planned. The 1979 visit was at the invitation of the String Department of the Shanghai Conservatory to advise on teaching methods and give master classes in Peking and Shanghai. The second visit was arranged under the Cultural Relations program.

The papers include a large number of letters and cards from students in China, background information on the visit, student assessments, diaries and reports on the visits.

Series 13. Wollongong Conservatorium of Music, 1981-82

After his retirement from the Canberra School of Music, Llewellyn went to teach, as Artist-in-Residence, at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music in 1981. Plans had been made for Chinese students to study with him there, as well as at his own home, 'Eastwood' near Mittagong.

In 1978 the Wollongong City Council bought the property 'Gleniffer Brae' and allocated the northern wing of the manor house to the Conservatorium. The minutes of meetings of the 'Gleniffer Brae' Developments Committee (1981) are included in the papers, together with a letter outlining plans for a Wollongong School of Music (1982). Also included is Llewellyn's manuscript timetable for 1982, and a 1982 Conservatorium handbook.

Series 14. E. V. Llewellyn Memorial Fund, 1984-86

Llewellyn died on 12 July 1982 at the age of 67. Later that month Sir Zelman Cowen announced that the proceeds of his farewell concert would be devoted to the Ernest Llewellyn Memorial Scholarship, to help young musicians and the advancement of string playing in Australia. Members of the Executive Committee for the Fund included David Smith, Sir Richard Kingsland, John Painter, W. Hoffmanm and A. L. Moore.

There is a copy of a handwritten letter from Richard Kingsland to Sir Zelman Cowen, August 1985, bringing him up to date on fundraising for the scholarship, correspondence on the concert Isaac Stern gave in 1985 for the fund, and a copy of a transcript of letters of thanks that went out after the concert, together with newspaper clippings on the Stern concert and the Fund. A program for a memorial concert at the Canberra School of Music, 7 June 1986, includes staff reminiscences.

Correspondents include Ruth Llewellyn, Isaac Stern, Kenneth Tribe and Sir Richard Kingsland.

Series 15. A. E. Smith, 1938-80

Arthur Edward Smith, Australia's best known luthier, was Llewellyn's father-in-law. The correspondence in this series concerns the valuing and sale of a violin and the housing and the display of Smith's quartet of instruments. Correspondents include Isaac Stern, William Dolphin and Rembert Wurlitzer. There are articles and newspaper clippings on Smith, including the sale of a Smith violin to David Oistrakh in 1958, and Ruggiero Ricci playing a Smith copy of a Guarneri at a concert in 1957.

Series 16. Concert reviews, 1933-86

The earliest review is for the 'grand farewell violin recital' the seventeen-year-old Llewellyn gave at the West Maitland Town Hall in 1933. It was later decided that the money raised by the concert and by public appeal should be given to those suffering in the Great Depression.

Included are reviews of the Queensland State String Quartet, the Llewellyn-Hephzibah Menuhin Beethoven recitals, the Llewellyn-Kennedy tour of New Zealand, and the special chamber music concert to honour Llewellyn. There are no reviews of Melbourne concerts, and only a few special concerts by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra are included.

Series 17. Newspaper cuttings, 1938-82

The newspaper articles concern the Queensland State String Quartet and its tour of New Zealand, Hephzibah Menuhin recitals, Llewellyn's resignation from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, visiting artists, the School of Music and the opening of the permanent building.

Series 18. Programs, 1935-1982

The papers include a large collection of programs dating in the main back to the 1930s. Two earlier programs are for a memorial concert for Joseph Joachim (London 1907), and a concert of the London Symphony Orchestra (1908).

Series 19. Catalogues and brochures, 1946-79

Llewellyn received a large number of catalogues and brochures. There are catalogues of major musical compositions and of chamber music by contemporary composers, a Boosey and Hawke's catalogue of full scores and pocket scores, Royal Art Society catalogues for the 1950s, Musica Rara catalogues, a Broude Brothers catalogue of orchestra scores and parts and a Schirmer rental library catalogue. Most of the catalogues are not dated.

There are brochures on the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, on Australian composers, overseas festivals including the Berkshire Festival , the University of Queensland Summer School of Music, 1946-47, music schools and forthcoming concerts.

Series 20. Journals and publications, 1911-78

The journals date from 1952-73. There are short incomplete sets of a number of journals, and many titles with just several issues. Titles include Juillard review (1954-61), ACA bulletin (American Composers Alliance, 1952-60), Musical news (1956-59), Music and dance (1959-63), Musica Viva Society of Australia Bulletin (1959-64), and Music educators journal (1971 and 1973). Two issues of the Australian journal of music education (1971 and 1973) and a few copies of many other titles are included.

Included in a large number of miscellaneous publications is Heinrich Bauer's Practical history of the violin (1911), containing '778 genuine violin labels', and 1,200 violinmakers' names and biographies . Inserted in the book is a 1965 sketch of Gregory Ivanoff who signed Llewellyn's book in 1936. There is no location for the Practical history of the violin on the Australian Bibliographic Network (ABN).

Series 21. Miscellaneous

Unusual items in the miscellaneous section concern the Penrith Bridge a notebook on the bridge (1908), plans, newspaper articles on its history (nd), progress reports and a completion report (December 1908). Other items include undated articles on starting a repertoire book, 'A new stage in the development of the piano', and 'Trends in music education in the United States'.

Series 22. Music

Many of the scores have markings and annotations, and it was Terry Colhoun's suggestion that the music be kept with Llewellyn's papers. Some of it is very worn from a long period of use. Violin sonatas, short pieces and studies, concertos, orchestral works and chamber music form the major part of Llewellyn's collection. His interest in chamber music is reflected in the large volume of chamber works. He was the leader of a number of distinguished ensembles including the Melbourne University String Quartet, the ABC String Quartet, the Queensland State String Quartet and the Canberra String Quartet.

The scores are arranged alphabetically, within letter, by composer.

Series 23. Hephzibah Menuhin, 1943-98

Pianist Hephzibah Menuhin (1920-1981), sister of violinist Yehudi Menuhin, moved to Australia in 1938 when she married Lindsay Nicholas (also a pianist). She remained in Australia until 1957 and during this time toured frequently with Llewellyn. Following her death, the Hephzibah Menuhin Memorial Scholarship was established in 1982. The Scholarship is open to pianists 18-28 years of age and is awarded biannually.

Concert tours with Hephzibah Menuhin and Llewellyn, the Hephzibah Menuhin Memorial Scholarship, and Scholarship Fund recitals and are the primary subjects of correspondence, concert programs and program notes in file 1 of this series. Newsclippings also include obituaries of Lindsay Nicholas and Marutha Menuhin (mother of Hephzibah and Yehudi). File 2 contains photocopies of correspondence from Hephzibah Menuhin and Lindsay Nicholas to Ernest and Ruth Llewellyn.