MSV-Malvern

Hi!  The following has been 'cut & pasted' from another source and I'll need to get back into it to make it pretty again!  So sorry there are no paragraphs, spacing, etc.      

 

Eda Schurmann OAM EDA SCHURMANN OAM

Her daughter, Margaret and her children, Stephan and Anna.Mum loved a party and while it is possibly not correct to call this gathering a party, it is indeed a celebration of a wonderful life. Mum loved New Year’s Eve and the parties she gave in the family home at Ashburton for over 40 years are legendary. Mum, your exit stage left on New Year’s Eve 2011, was a well timed and truly fitting finale. Eda Schurmann, was a much loved and inspirational lady. Mum’s nearly 98 years have been well lived and she has been a great influence for good in our lives.As a child, Mum grew up under the shadow of the Great War of 1914-18 and the Great Depression of the early 1920s. Her family’s mode of transport in those early days was a horse and jinka and of course, she rode a pony to school. A well known family story of their horse and jinka trips is about their very stubborn and eccentric horse called Tommy; Tommy hated going down steep hills and would solve this by going down on his backside; this meant that at every hill, the passengers had to dismount while my grandfather guided Tommy to the bottom. It certainly conjures up an interesting picture!Mum commenced piano studies in 1920 and studied with Jessie Frith and Sheila McFie who were the leading piano teachers in Melbourne, at that time. Her first public appearance was in 1924, at the age of 10, as an accompanist at an Assembly Hall concert. Mum was an extremely gifted pianist and in 1926 attained the level of Associate of the London College of Music, followed by the Licentiate of the London College of Music in 1927. As well as being a gifted pianist, Mum was very athletic and was actively involved in Callisthenics; she was a member of the Clifton Callisthenics Club, which was the leading troupe in Melbourne at the time and from 1933 to 1938 Mum performed and taught callisthenics at Clifton. Her large number of competition medals in our possession is a testament to the level of her expertise.Mum began teaching piano in 1932, but in 1933, she was struck down with Osteomyelitis of the right hand which seriously impacted on her two handed piano playing. Over the next two years, during her recovery, Mum continued to play the piano and it is fair to say that by the end of this period Mum knew most of the piano works that had been composed for the left hand only. Her right hand slowly recovered and by 1935 Mum was able to gradually return to performing. From the late 1930’s to 1945, Mum broadcast regularly as a solo pianist for the ABC (these performances were all live to air and I remember Dad telling us that he had heard Mum on the ABC when he was based in Darwin in 1943, during the Second World War); Mum also formed a Piano Duo with another wonderful pianist, Lola Graham, and the “Cremona” Piano Trio with violinist Gladys Nye and cellist Greta Vincent. Together with her gifted musical friends, Mum gave regular public performances in Melbourne and throughout Regional Victoria. I can remember Mum telling me once that their fee for these performances was One Guinea each!!1939 was an important year for Mum, she was awarded the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music London, but more importantly she married my father Frank. This inadvertently impacted on Mum’s teaching activities; my father was a banker and for a short time there was a temporary hiatus in Mum’s teaching career as banker’s wives were not expected to work. And of course, the War Years of the early 1940s brought their own worries and stress to a young wife with a new baby boy and a husband in the Air Force, based in Darwin. Towards the end of the 1940s Mum began to teach again, initially with me and my sister, Margaret, and soon a flourishing private piano studio developed and continued uninterrupted until 2009.In 1954, Mum joined the Caulfield Branch of the Musical Society of Victoria and in 1961 she became its Honorary Secretary. Rita will shortly tell us more about Mum’s involvement in the Caulfield Branch.Mum was a member of the Burwood State College Music Department and the Melbourne State College Music Department and in 1988 she established the Eastern Region Group of the Victorian Music Teachers Association, which was a small group of teachers that would meet regularly to discuss teaching issues, hold concerts for students and organise lectures and demonstrations.In 2005, after a lifetime of dedication to piano teaching and to the Musical Society of Victoria, Mum was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to music.As a teacher, Mum was a perfectionist and this can best be summed up in the words of one of her wonderful students, Catherine Ngan; Catherine has given me permission to read these words:“It is this goal of perfection that makes Mrs Schurmann such a wonderful piano teacher. Learning piano with Mrs Schurmann is never a stagnant hobby – it is a musical journey. Whether you are sitting your first grade exam or your Licentiate, Mrs Schurmann always works towards perfection. As a result, not only are her students high achievers at external competitions, but they also have a love and understanding of music that continues beyond exams and grades....One of Mrs Schurmann’s greatest strengths is her ability to make the impossible look easy.......I know that Mrs Schurmann not only imparted to me her musical wisdom, but also a level of confidence and determination that I carry into other aspects of my life.” Mum was completely devoted to her 2 children, 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren and we are eternally thankful to have had her advice and love for as long as we have. Mum’s family lived near and far – Bev and I and our two daughters (Ingrid and Catherine), son-in-law (Clifton) and our two grandsons (Flynn and Archer) have been fortunate to have had constant contact with Mum 4and benefit from her love, advice and assistance. My sister Margaret and her two children (Stephan and Anna), daughter-in-law (Karen) and three grandsons (Daniel, Luke and Flynn) live a little further away in England and Germany. However, ever since Margaret’s professional musical life began in Germany in 1968, my mother and father travelled overseas to visit her and her children each year, until my Father’s death in 1989; since then Mum continued to visit Margaret and her grandchildren and eventually her great grandchildren in England and Germany on a regular basis (but not every year); Bev and I travelled with Mum on several of her overseas trips as did Ingrid and Catherine. I remember one memorable trip in 1999 with Mum (aged 85) and our German relatives to the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands – we actually got Mum in swimming on that trip! Mum’s last trip was in 2007 (hard to believe that she was 93), when Bev and I and Catherine travelled with Mum to England to attend the wedding of her granddaughter Anna. Mum loved travelling and as you would expect, she took it in her stride. I would now like to say some things on behalf of my mother, as I know she would like them to be said. Ken, on behalf of Eda, I thank you for your Pastoral visits to Mum in our home during 2010 and to Mum in Kew Gardens during 2011. Your visits were a great support and comfort to Mum. To the staff at Kew Gardens, I thank you for the wonderful care you took of Eda over the year she was with you. She was so much looking forward to returning to Kew Gardens, but this was not to be. To everyone here today and on behalf of present and absent family members, I thank you for your friendship and love for Mum over the years; we all have our own special memories of Eda and they will be with us forever.

 

 

 

Eda Schurmann's Christmas Stories

CHRISTMAS AT CAULFIELD JUNIORS

A COLLECTION OFPLAYS & STORIES

BYEda Schurmann

Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………………Page 1

International Christmas Party……………………………………..Pages 2-8

Poem – “Santa Claus and Mouse”…………………………………Page 5

Mozart – The Wonder Boy…………………………………………Pages 9-10

Beethoven……………………………………………………………Pages 11-17

Music Through The Ages…………………………………………..Pages 18-22

 

Introduction

The following collection of stories were written by Eda Schurmann for presentation at various Christmas parties of the Caulfield Branch of the Musical Society of Victoria.

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

The play opens with Mr & Mrs Giles and their family decorating a Christmas Tree.------

 

Pamela (Raines): Wouldn’t it be exciting to hold a children’s Christmas Eve Party?

Mrs Giles: That is a lovely idea. Perhaps you would like an International ChristmasParty.

Andrew: What do you mean by “International”, Mother?

Mother: To invite children who have come from other lands. To start the list, there are the two little Dutch girls who live next door.

Pamela: In my form at school, there is a German boy named Karl and there isMonique, the French girl who lives in the next street.

Julie (Raines): I know Harumi who used to live in Japan.

Dione (Gunther): And there is Heidi from Austria and Maria from Italy at our school, too.

Father: Well, with our own family and seven other children, I think that should be sufficient for you all to have a very happy time.

Shaula: Let us make some invitations to send to them.

Julie: Yes, we could paint Christmas bells, Christmas trees and even FatherChristmas on the invitations.

(Mr & Mrs Giles sit back in their chairs. Mr Giles smokes his pipe and Mrs Gilesreads a book. The children sit at the table with paints etc.)

------It is now Christmas Eve and the children are waiting for their young guests to arrive.

Pamela: I do hope that our friends will arrive early and that they will wear their national costumes as we suggested on our invitations.

(The doorbell rings and Pamela answers the door)

2

Pamela: Good-evening Gretel and Honi. I am so pleased that you are early. I thinkyou know all the family.

(Bell rings again)

Andrew: I will go this time. It is Karl, Heidi and Harumi. Come in!Mother: There are only two more to come – Monique and Maria.

(The bell rings and Dione runs to the door)

Dione: Here they are – now we can start the fun.

Mother: Would you like to sing a Christmas Carol to start the party?

Debra: Yes! Let us sing “Jingle Bells”.

All the children: Oh, yes, yes. Elizabeth will you play the accompaniment?

(All sing “Jingle Bells”) (Elizabeth plays)

Pamela: Gretel, do the children in Holland have Christmas parties?

Gretel: Oh, yes! But they do not have Father Christmas. In Holland we have St.Nicholas Eve parties on 5th December in remembrance of the great Saint andat these parties the guests gather around a dining table and give one anothersurprise gifts, each accompanied by a verse commenting on the person whoreceives the gift. The presents are disguised to look like something else.A small present might be hidden in a cabbage or a cake. It was the Dutchwho introduced “Santa Claus” to the world, but we call him “Saint Nicholas”.

Monique: In France he is called “Pere Noel”.

Karl: In Austria and Germany we call him “Kriss Kringle” which comes fromChristkind and means “Christ Child” who provides toys for German children.

Monique: The French children have the best of both worlds – in early December, St.Nicholas brings gifts, Pere Noel officiates on Christmas Eve and near theSpanish border, the Three Kings arrive bearing gifts in January. Could we sing a French Carol?

Children: Oh, yes; but we will have to sing it in English.

(Carol 2 – “Angels we have heard on High”)

3

Monique: When a French family returns from Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve they eat “le reveillon” (or in English – “late supper”). Before going to bed, theFrench children hang up their stockings or leave their shoes in front of thefireplace for Pere Noel to fill with gifts. Although the Dutch gave us ourChristmas saint, it was the French and Belgians who gave us the custom ofhanging up our stockings in which jolly old Father Christmas puts our Christmas gifts.

Karl: The Germans first introduced the Christmas Tree. We have a Carol “O Tannenbaum” which literally means “Fir-tree”. Could we sing it?

(All sing Carol 3 – “O Tannenbaum”)

Karl: The German Christmas festivities begin with the first Sunday of Adventwhen a wreath bearing four red candles is placed in a window. On theSunday after 26th November the first candle is lit and the second and thirdcandles on successive Sundays. The last is lit on Heiliger Abend – Christmas Eve. Advent calendars are also used during this period, often with little hingedwindows for each day, behind which lie messages and rhymes – I have seensimilar ones here in Australia.Of course, in Germany, we love excuses to knock on doors and receive giftsof sweets and on the Thursday before Christmas is held Klopfelnacht orKnocking Night.

Honi: What do you do?

Karl: Clowns in masks go from house to house making noise with bells, tin cans,singing and knocking on doors and on Christmas Eve carol singers arefamiliar sights in the streets and churches.

Shaula: I know a recitation about Santa Claus. Would you like to hear it?

Pamela: I love recitations.

(Shaula – “Santa Claus and the Mouse”. Words on page 5)

SANTA CLAUS AND THE MOUSE One Christmas Eve, when Santa Claus came to a certain house To fill the children’s stocking there, He found a little mouse.“A Merry Christmas, little friend,”said Santa, good and kind.“The same to you, sire”, said the mouse.“I thought you wouldn’t mind If I should stay awake tonight and watch you for a while.”“You’re very welcome, little mouse,”said Santa with a smile.And then he filled the stockings up before the mouse could wink. From toe to top, from top to toe, there wasn’t left a chink. “Now they won’t hold another thing,”said Santa with pride. A twinkle came in the mouse’s eyes, but humbly he replied,“It’s not polite to contradict –Your pardon I implore – But in the fullest stocking thereI could put one thing more.” “Oh, ho!” laughed Santa. “Silly mouse, Don’t I know how to pack? By filling stockings all these years, I should have learned the knack.”And then he took the stocking down from where it hung so high, And said, “Now put in one thing more; I give you leave to try.” The mouse chuckled to himself,and then he softly stole Right to the stockings crowded toe and gnawed a little hole! “Now if you please, good Santa Claus,I’ve put in one thing more; For you will own that little hole was not in there before. How Santa Claus did laugh and laugh and then he gaily spoke,“Well, you shall have a Christmas cheese for that nice little joke.”

 

Father: Harumi, does Japan celebrate Christmas and have a Santa Claus?

Harumi: Yes, but we call him “ Hoteiosho” who was an old Japanese god, although Japan’s real holiday is “Oshogatsu” which is New Year’s Day. Houses arethoroughly cleaned and decorated with straw, bamboo and pine to representfamily ties and long life. Children fly kites and adults visit friends and payrespects to their ancestors. Western carols are sung in Japanese, Christmastrees are laden with lights; turkeys are fattened and mistletoe and holly areused for decorations.

Pamela: I read somewhere that the popularity of mistletoe is highest in America and England and the tradition of kissing beneath it is attributed to a symbol of peace or sacrifice, which is echoed only in Austria.

Father: In Australia, mistletoe is considered a dangerous forest weed, so perhapsthat is why we do not use it widely here.

Mother: Do all your own countries have Christmas cards?

All: Oh, yes!Harumi: It is said that Christmas cards can probably be traced back to Japan. TheJapanese learned block-printing and in 770 A.D. the Empress Shayautoku ordered a great number of printed texts from Buddhist Scriptures. Later, theJapanese coloured silk prints became a popular way of sending greetings andmessages and when, many years after, the first European Christmas cards were printed, Japanese designs and influences were apparent in them.

Andrew: Gretel and Honi – what Dutch carol do you know that we might know too?

Honi: Do you know “Lullaby of Mary and the Angels?”

All: Yes. Do let us sing it now.(All sing Carol 4 – Dutch Carol)

Dione: Maria, what Italian carol do you know?

Maria: Oh! I love “O Thou Joyful Day” – we call it “O Sanctissima”.

(All sing Carol 5 – Italian Carol)

Maria: Would you like to hear about Christmas in Italy?

All: Please Maria.

Maria: The Italians have to wait till January for their gift-giving which is done bythe witch “Befana”. Legend has it that,at the birth of Jesus, Befana was toldby the Shepherds of what was taking place and shown the star of Bethlehem to guide her to the birthplace of Jesus. But she did not set out immediatelyand lost sight of the star, so she was destined for eternity to search for Jesus,leaving presents at every house in case He might be there. At Christmas timethe Italian people specialize in nut filled Nougats.

Karl: The Germans bake Stollen and Lebkuchen – really gingerbread in the shape of Saint Nicholas – and make different shaped biscuits decorated with icing to hang on the Christmas tree.

Monique: The French bake a form of Yule Log and doll-shaped cakes called “naulets” (noh-lay). What do the Australians do?

Julie: We bake Christmas puddings, Christmas cakes and mince pies.

Andrew: And at the theatres we can see wonderful Pantomimes like “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Aladdin’s Lamp”.

Harumi: What fun!

Pamela: In Australia the homes are decorated with Christmas trees and candles andin Melbourne, on Christmas Eve, some 200,000 people assemble at theMusic Bowl to sing “Carols by Candlelight” and special candles are soldwith profits going to charity.

Karl: Let us pretend we are at the Music Bowl on Christmas Eve. Do you know this carol – “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht?”

All: Yes.Heidi: Would you like to hear the story of how this Christmas carol was written?

Mother: That would be most interesting, Heidi – while Mr Giles and I get somecandles, would you tell the children all about it?

Heidi: It was Christmas Eve 1818 in the tiny Tyrolean village Oberndorf. Snow layall about, the villagers were completing their preparations for the festivitiesand Father Joseph Kohr, the village priest, was panic-stricken. The bellows of the Church organ had broken and in a few hours the villagers would be filing into the old church for Midnight Mass. Father Joseph had sent to the neighbouring town of Fuegen for the organ builder, but he would not be able to repair the instrument in time. However, the Priest had an idea that mightsave the situation. He rummaged around in his desk for a poem he had written a few years earlier. Finding it,  he hurried to the home of Franz Gruber, the Village schoolmaster and organist, and asked him to compose some simple music to the words, which the Choir children could learn in a couple of hours. Gruber sat down with his guitar and composed this beautiful carol. Here are the candles. Let us sing the carol.

Pamela: Paul, could you accompany us on the guitar? Come on, Paul.

(Carol 6 – “Silent Night”)

Mother: Well, children, it is getting late and I think it is time for your little friends togo home to hang up their Christmas stockings.There is a little gift for each of you as you say goodbye.

Jocelyn (Gunther): Perhaps our friends could say Merry Christmas to us in their own language.

Dione: (Giving them their parcels) A Merry Christmas, Honi and Gretel.

Honi and Gretel: Blyde Kerstdagen.

Pamela: (Giving her a gift) A Merry Christmas Monique.

Monique: Joyeux Noel.

Andrew: (Giving a present) A Merry Christmas Maria.

Maria: Buon Natale.

Jocelyn: A Merry Christmas, Heidi and Karl.

Heidi and Karl: Froliche Weihnachten.

Julie: (Giving gift) Merry Christmas, Harumi.

Harumi:

Everybody: Goodbye. Goodbye. Merry Christmas.

 

MOZART-----THE WONDER BOYHere is a story about the most musical boy who ever lived. Fortunately for us he wrote a great deal of music and this we can hear today, even though we can never hear him play it. Through his lovely music Mozart will always be to us a wonder child and a wonder man.On January 27th in the year 1756 on a bitterly cold night in the little town of Salzburg, a son was born to Leopold and Maria Mozart. What a long name he was given – Johannes Chrysostemus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart; but his mother, father and sister Nannerl simply called him Wolfgang.Father Mozart was a court composer – he played the violin and sometimes conducted the court orchestra. Almost everyday, there was a concert at the Mozart home. Father Mozart’s friends would bring their cellos and violins and play beautiful music and young Wolfgang loved to listen. Many years later, he composed numerous works for chamber ensembles and we will now listen to a (quartet, trio etc) playing one movement of the “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”.When Wolfgang was four years old, his father taught him to play the clavier – the clavier you know is a kind of piano. He learnt so quickly; and more than anything else, Wolfgang loved to compose little pieces of music and Father Mozart would write them down in a copybook. When only five years old, Wolfgang composed this little Minuet in G Major. (Student to play)

It was just two weeks before Wolfgang’s sixth birthday, when Leopold took his two children – Nannerl and Wolfgang – on a concert tour for he realised that the children had musical gifts so rare, the world must share them too. They travelled to the great city of Munich, where they were invited to play for the great Prince Joseph at the beautiful palace. They played duets and solos and when the concert ended the shouts of “Bravo” and ringing cheers greeted the little musicians and many beautiful gifts were presented to them.Wolfgang practised many hours so that he would play even better, when he visited other big cities and he dearly loved to surprise Father Mozart with his own little compositions.In January 1762, when he was only six years old, he composed this Minuet in F Major. (Student to play)

About this time, Wolfgang commenced learning the violin and progressed so well that in no time, he was able to join in the chamber music groups, which practised at his home.The next concert tour took the Mozart family to that gay musical city of Vienna, where Nannerl and Wolfgang gave concerts at the great castle of Schönbrunn before King Francis 1st and Queen Maria Therese. They played many beautiful solos and duets. Let us listen to a duet composed by Wolfgang. It is the 1st movement of the Sonata in D Major. (Students to play)

After the children had played for the King and Queen of France, one day early in April 1762, they set off for London. Wolfgang and Nannerl had never seen the sea before and they loved to watch the waves beat high against the white cliffs of England.King George III of England was very fond of music and especially liked the compositions of Handel and Bach. He gave Wolfgang pieces of these masters to play by sight and although the little boy had never seen some of this difficult music, he played it all without missing a single note.At this time, the court music master in London was Johann Christian Bach – the son of the great Johann Sebastian Bach – and he composed this Rondo as a piano duet. (Students to play)

From London, the Mozart family travelled to Holland and after three years of concert tours, they returned home to Salzburg.Now we will listen to a little Minuet for violin and piano written in 1766 when Mozart was only ten years old.(Students to play)In 1770, when Wolfgang was fourteen years of age, he and his father visited Italy where he gave very successful concerts at Naples.Wolfgang liked yo compose church music and also wrote many lovely songs. The beautiful one you have probably heard many times – it is called “Wiegenlied” which means Cradle Song.(Student to sing)

After some years, Wolfgang went to live in Vienna, where he had played to the King and Queen when he was only six years old. Here he was often visited by Haydn, and one day, a young musician – whose name was Beethoven – came to ask Mozart to give him some lessons.Mozart spent the rest of his short life composing. He wrote every kind of music and all of it is filled with beautiful, pure melody. His many great symphonies, sonatas, quartets and operas are giving joy to people, the world over.Some day you may visit the little town of Salzburg and there you will find the house still standing, where Wolfgang used to practise and compose his beautiful works. To conclude our story we will listen to the Orchestra playing the Minuet from the Symphony in G Minor, written by Mozart – the wonder boy.

 

BEETHOVEN

The good folk of the quaint little city of Bonn hurried into their tall pointed houses and locked the doors tightly against the bitter December thunderstorm that suddenly beat down upon them from the Seven Mountains, as grandfather Beethoven tramped through the wet cobbled streets.At last, he reached a little street, called Bongasse – and as he climbed the stairs to the attic rooms at the top of the cold, poor, three roomed home of his son, a crash of thunder shook the walls and a baby cried lustily. Yes! On the 16th December 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven was born on such a night.As Grandfather Louis bent over the old worn bed and looked at his new grandson, he said to the new mother – “He is not a pretty baby Maria, but he makes a great noise”.In the months that went quickly by, little Ludwig heard music most of the time, for father Beethoven was a singer in the royal choir at the Elector’s Palace, and gave lessons on the violin and piano to the children of noble families.As soon as Ludwig was 4 years old, his father lifted him to his knees and let him press the keys very gently. You can imagine the surprise of father Beethoven, when Ludwig picked out a melody he had just heard. Ludwig learned very quickly and was soon able to play the accompaniments of his father’s songs.The neighbours would gather around the piano and would say “Bravo! Bravo! Little musician – surely he will be another Mozart some day”. Father Beethoven had taught him all he could, so he now studied with Herr Pfeiffer who was a fine musician but stern taskmaster. He even moved into the Beethoven home and there were lessons any time of day or night. Often long after Ludwig had been in bed and asleep, Herr Pfeiffer would shake him awake and leading him to the piano, kept him practising until the early morning.Sometimes when the lessons went well, Herr Pfeiffer took his flute and played lovely melodies for his pupil and when Ludwig turned to the piano to make an accompaniment, his teacher was pleased indeed. – “Now Ludwig, you must sit here at the table and write the music we have played together – by the time I return from the theatre”.Poor Ludwig! – The day had been long and hard and he was very tired and the notes would not come, so he went to bed. Suddenly in the middle of the night, someone shook him awake and called out loudly – “Come on you rascal! Up with you and finish the work that I left for you to do”. Herr Pfeiffer went off to bed, leaving his weary pupil to finish the writing. Suddenly Ludwig paused and a smile lightened his face. He would play the music in his own way instead – just as it sang itself in his head. Father Beethoven and Herr Pfeiffer awakened by the sound, could not believe their ears. From that day on, Ludwig spent all his time in music. He was only 11 years old, but could play all of Bach’s Preludes and Fugues fluently and skilfully.Wonderful melodies were creeping into his mind and sang to him gently. Perhaps this flute composition was one of the works he heard:(Student to play)***Ludwig now began to learn to play the violin and he learnt so quickly that one night when friends came to play Chamber Music, father Beethoven said to Ludwig “You may play the easy part with us tonight my son, but mind there are no mistakes”. Ludwig ran to find his instrument and proudly drew the bow across the strings.One morning after a long piano lesson, his father said – “At last Ludwig, you are ready to play for the people of Bonn”.Ludwig strode away to the palace with his father and when the Great Hall was quiet, be bowed solemnly and seating himself at the piano, he began to play. When the concert was over, the people clapped their hands and shouted “Bravo! Bravo!” and would not leave the hall until Ludwig played his pieces again.The young musician always went to church because he loved to hear the organ music, which he hoped to play on the organ.One day, when the service was over, the organist – Brother Willibald – saw a young boy sitting there alone and said, “Would you like to see the organ?” In a moment, Ludwig was seated at the organ and his fingers ran swiftly over the keys; he listened to the music that rang out through the tall pipes overhead. Brother Willibald asked Ludwig if he would like to learn to play the organ and when he played well enough, he could help with the services. Every day Ludwig spent most of his time at the organ and soon the time came for him to play in the chapel.At the church of Minorities – not far away – was and even larger organ and after making friends with the organist there, Ludwig helped him too, playing for the special services each week in return for lessons on the instruments.On to the Munsterkirche went the eager musician to make a bargain with the organist – Zenser – the finest master of all.One morning after the lesson, Ludwig quietly hand his teacher a roll of music that he had just finished. “But”, said Herr Zenser – “Ludwig this is too difficult for your small hands to play”. “Oh, that doesn’t matter”, answered the young musician, “I will play it when I am bigger”.Beethoven loved to make up melodies and see how many different ways he could make them sound – then he would hurry home to write the new music.He was still learning to play the violin and soon he was ready to take his place with the men in the orchestra at the Elector’s Palace. Whenever there was a spare minute, Ludwig was busy composing pieces for the piano and sometimes for the instruments of the orchestra, such as this movement from a cello sonata.(Students to play)***Herr Ries was so delighted with the compositions that he suggested that they be shown to the great composer – Herr Neefe.Making his way to the chapel, Ludwig crept quietly to a corner of the room where the brilliant musician was playing the organ. Suddenly Herr Neefe saw Ludwig and said, “What do want young man?” “I am Ludwig Beethoven sir, and I have brought some music that Herr Ries thought you might like to see”. “Writing melodies is all very well young man”, said the great teacher, “But first, let me see how you can play music”. The master gave him one difficult task after another – playing on piano, the organ and then on the violin and viola.He was amazed but told Ludwig that he still had much to learn; but if he worked hard he would teach him. There difficult works of Bach to be mastered and lessons in composition.Herr Neefe gave him a little march tune and asked him to write the melody in nine different ways and when he had finished the variations to bring them to be corrected. Hurrying home, Ludwig began to work at once; but when the master saw the finished work, he shook his head and said: “No Ludwig, it will not do, you have not followed the rules”. “But”, said Ludwig, “I will play it for you as I like it to sound”. “Later, my young pupil”, said the Master severely, “But now the rules come first”.Sadly Ludwig began the longest task; but when the writing was again finished, Herr Neefe was pleased and had the work printed – “Nine Variations on a March”. Herr Neefe was glad to see his student so happy and said to himself, “Ludwig will be another Mozart someday”.Soon Ludwig liked to compose pieces even more than playing the organ and already in his book were compositions for the piano, some quartets for stringed instruments and violin solos. Here is a favourite violin solo – “The Romance in F”.(Students to play)***There were never enough hours in the day for work, so Ludwig had to work during the night. This was the best time, for now his mischievous brothers were asleep and all was quiet in the small rooms, except for the sounds of the river Rhine just outside.One night, he had just fallen asleep when his mother’s voice rang out. “Ludwig, Ludwig, the river is rising! We must leave the house at once”. They awakened father Beethoven and the other children, and quickly rushed to the stairs; but already the water had risen to their feet, so they ran to the window and called for help.A friend heard them and soon they were rescued and were climbing into a boat. During the night they rode on the swirling river and Ludwig listened to the Rhine as it rushed madly on its way.In a few days, the Beethovens were once again settled and Ludwig hurried to Herr Neefe to tell him of their exciting adventure. But to Ludwig’s dismay, the river had swept away his book of compositions. However, he went to the piano and played the last little piece that he had written – this delightful “Romance in G”.(Student to play)***When he had finished this small piece, Herr Neefe said, “And now there is a new adventure awaiting you, Ludwig. A conductor is needed for the Elector’s orchestra in the theatre”.The next afternoon, Ludwig went to the theatre and finding the musicians ready with their instruments, sat at the piano ready to conduct the orchestra. The men thought that surely someone was playing a trick on them – fancy a child conducting us.Quietly Ludwig opened the book before him, nodded to the musicians and the rehearsal began. When the music became very difficult, Ludwig stopped the players to practise parts over and over till they were able to master them. When the rehearsal was over the musicians applauded again and again.Herr Neefe realised that he could no longer teach Beethoven and suggested that Ludwig should go to Vienna to study with the great Mozart, but Vienna was a long way off and there was no money. Ludwig had given up all hope of going to study with the great Mozart, when the Elector himself decided to pay for him to study with Amadeus Mozart.At last Beethoven arrived at the home of Mozart, and after hearing Ludwig play, the great Master decided to really test him. Mozart played a melody and asked him to improvise on the little air. A pleased smile stole over the face of the Master who said to his friends, “Keep your eyes on this young man – he will make a noise in the world one day”.However, the lessons soon came to an end as Ludwig was called home. His mother had died.He must now earn a living for father Beethoven and his two younger brothers; and soon he was playing the organ in the chapel, the violin in the theatre and giving lessons to students.But no matter how hard he struggled from early morning to late night, there was still not enough money to keep the family together. Soon he became very ill for there was not enough money to buy food to eat of time to rest.His good student – Stephen Brooning – helped by taking him to his beautiful home and kind Frau Brooning cared for the young musician till he was strong and well again.When Count Waldstein met Ludwig at the Brooning home, he realised what potential this lad had and he sent him a new piano, many students to teach and often arranged concerts for him to play at the homes of his noble families.One morning, Count Waldstein brought Ludwig an invitation. Herr Haydn was to stop at Bonn and he wished to entertain the local musicians. Fancy, the great Joseph Haydn visiting Bonn. Ludwig immediately wrote a new work to show the great Haydn who was most impressed with Beethoven’s Cantata and offered to give him lessons in Vienna. When the Elector heard of Haydn’s offer, he paid all the expenses to send Ludwig to the musical city of Vienna.The young pianists of Vienna welcomed Ludwig and a contest was arranged amongst them to see who could improvise the best. Yes! Beethoven won the contest and the young pianists broke into loud cheering and cried out – “A miracle man. Bravo! Brabo!”Often Prince Lichnowsky invited him to come to the palace rooms to play for his royal guests and one evening asked Ludwig if he would come to live in the palace and conduct the orchestra.The next day, Ludwig left his attic room and made his way to the richly furnished quarters, where special servants were waiting to attend him.When Ludwig would finish a new composition, he hurried to show it to his new masters – Albrechtsberger and Salieri; but Salieri exclaimed sternly – “You still do not follow the rules that I have taught you”.Ludwig was feeling something that no one could teach him and he went his own way, writing as no one had ever written before, such as this 3rd Movement of the Horn Sonata in F.(Students to play)***As years went by, Ludwig seemed to spend more and more time performing for the friends of the Prince, so he asked his friend – Veilgeler – to help him leave the palace, as there was no longer time in which to compose. Quickly packing his belongings, he said goodbye to the Prince and moving to a simple little room, he was happy again, composing.He gave concerts of his compositions in Vienna, then onto Berlin and Leipzig but was always glad to return to Vienna where his good friends eagerly awaited him.Already Beethoven had written quartets, trios, sonatas and songs. Like this beautiful “Mit einem gemalten band”, translated “With a painted ribbon”.***And now throughout the city of Vienna and in all the cities near by, the name of Beethoven was spoken everywhere and eager visitors made their way to his rooms, begging to study with him and calling for more concerts. But Ludwig could not hear them, for there were noises of buzzing and ringing in his ears all day long. He would never hear his music again or the voices of his friends.Quickly packing a few belongings, he once more left Vienna – the city of music. He went to the little village of Heiligenstadt – just outside the busy city of Vienna.One day as he walked in the meadows, a thunderstorm broke and although Ludwig could not hear the thunder, he felt the earth tremble, the wind and heavy raindrops and immediately he heard the mighty tones ringing in his mind and so the great Fifth Symphony was written – ending with the stirring song of victory. Now the cold winds had begun to sweep down the mountains, it was time to go back to Vienna.When the Spring came, he had moved four times and now all of his fine pianos were without legs, for with so many moves there had not been time to put them on again.Vienna was filled with bustle and excitement because the Congress was soon to meet – when noble throughout the world gather together. Beethoven was asked to compose something special for this rare occasion and he set to work on his only opera – “Fidelio”.When the curtain went down, the bravos of the audience sounded again and again. The Empress of Russia, royal princes from foreign lands and lords and ladies of Vienna heaped costly presents and large sums of money on the famous composer and the name Beethoven rang throughout the countryside.Beethoven decided to celebrate this fine occasion and go away to Baden Baden, thinking that someone there may be able to help his hearing; but it was not to be. However, Beethoven was soon lost in his composing – working on his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies.When the long restful summer was over, Beethoven and his friend, Stephen, said goodbye to lovely Baden Baden and set off once more to Vienna.As they arrived at the composer’s house, a young boy ran swiftly to greet the master. “Uncle Ludwig, I have come to live with you”, he announced in a clear voice. Beethoven smiled and put the ear trumpet close to the boy’s lips. “I am Karl – your nephew. My father has just died”. Beethoven had always wanted a son of his own and he said eagerly, “You are welcome Karl”.Now the days were not long enough to care for Karl, so Ludwig gave up his composing. His boy must have the finest education and Beethoven carefully put away for him, the large sum of money that had come from the last concert. They moved to the country and often Ludwig would go without food so that his boy had enough to eat.When it was time to send Karl away to school and once more Beethoven was alone, he returned to Vienna.16One evening, as he sat dreaming near his piano, the door opened and there stood his odl friend – Count Waldstein. He could not entertain his friend in his shabby room, so Beethoven suggested that they walk in the moonlight. As they walked, Count Waldstein exclaimed – “Ludwig someone is playing one of your Sonatas. Come! Let us go in”.They went quietly into the poor little home and there sat a blind girl at an old worn-out harpsichord. Gently the master spoke to her. “We heard your music. If you wish, I will play for you”.Suddenly the candle flickered and went out and as Waldstein flung open the shutters, the moonlight flooded the room and the glorious music continued. “You! You are Beethoven”, whispered the young girl. Gently Beethoven said goodnight and hurried home where he worked until daylight to set down the music of his beautiful Moonlight Sonata.***As the years went by, the great lonely composer could no longer perform for the people of Vienna as he could not hear the slightest sound.One night after he had finished his simple meal at the inn, he sat in a corner with his eyes closed, smoking his long pipe while the last parts of his Ninth Symphony worked themselves out in his mind. As he dreamed away, he felt a hand on his arm and there was his dear friend Stephen who had come with a message from the people of Vienna.Beethoven read the message aloud: The people of Vienna humbly beseech their world famous composer – Ludwig van Beethoven – to grant them the honour of performing for them, for the first time, his Ninth Symphony and his great Mass – The Missa Solemnis.Beethoven hurried home, for the Symphony was as yet not finished. When the great night arrived, Beethoven was never so happy and as he walked onto the platform, the audience stood to honour their beloved Beethoven – the composer of the greatest symphonies that the world had ever known.When the concert was over, a storm of applause came from the audience – “Long live Beethoven! Long live Beethoven!” But the Master could not hear them, and as a singer turned him gently to face the audience, the noble head bowed low and he whispered gently – “I write not for you, but for those who shall come after”. 17MUSIC THROUGH THE AGESThe Town Crier ran through the streets of the little German village of Eisenach calling the good news. “Make way! The Band is coming! Make way for the Bach musicians!” Almost all who played – brothers, uncles, cousins – were named Bach. In this same little village of Eisenach, a little boy was born many years later – he was christened Johann Sebastian Bach.In Sebastian’s home there was always music – his father was the organist in the village church. He also played violin and taught many students, and as soon as Sebastian was able to hold the smallest violin, his father gave him lessons.When he was almost 10 years old, both his mother and father died and he was sent to live with his brother – Christoph – who taught Sebastian to play the clavier which is like a small piano.Later he went to school at St. Michael’s in Leineburg, where he sang in the choir and played the organ and the violin in the orchestra – in fact when anyone was absent, he would play any instrument that was given to him. He spent many hours writing his own compositions and let us now listen to one of his earliest works, the Minuet in G.(Student to play)***After Bach married his first wife – Maria Barbara – he was made chief organist at the royal court of Weimar. When Maria Barbara died, Sebastian Bach and his many children moved to Leipzig, where he married Anna Magdelena who brought great joy to Bach’s home.Bach composed Oratorios and works for all instruments. We will now hear “Bist du Bei Mir” played on the cello.(Student to play)***Bach’s music was a ray of light for those masters who were to follow and we leave one of the greatest Baroque musicians and move on to the Classical Period.Joseph Haydn, known as Papa Haydn, the father of the Symphony, was born on March 31st in Rohrau – a small village in Austria. He was the son of peasants – his father was a wheelwright and his mother had been a cook in a noble household. Joseph was the 2nd of twelve children of whom only six survived. One of his younger brothers, Michael, also became a composer.18Although his mother was anxious that her son should be trained for the Priesthood, music won, and at the age of six, Haydn was able to stand up “like a man” and sing masses in the church choir and play the clavier and violin. However, he was a regular little urchin – he loved to climb trees or even scaffolding in the Imperial Palace at Schönbrunn and it is related that the departure from St. Stephan’s was because he cut off another boy’s pigtail.In his nineteenth year, he wrote his first Mass.Around 1761, Haydn had come to the notice of Prince Anton Esterhazy, one of the wealthiest nobles in the Empire, and the Prince whose Kappelmeister, Warner, was growing old, engaged Haydn as an assistant and Haydn remained in the service of the Prince and his successors for the rest of his life.Throughout his life Haydn wrote over 100 Symphonies, String Quartets, Trios, Oratorios – including “The Creation” – and over 50 piano Sonatas. We will now hear the 1st movement of his 2nd Concerto for French Horn.(Student to play)***Haydn had great admiration for the music of the young Mozart who was 24 years his junior, and after hearing three of Mozart’s Quartets – dedicated to him – Haydn exclaimed to Leopold Mozart, Amadeus’s father, “In the face of God and as an honest man, I tell you that your son is the greatest composer known to me, either personally or by reputation.”Mozart was born at Salzburg on 27th January 1756 and was christened Johannes Chrystostomous Wolfgangus Theophilus; but we know him as Wolfgang Mozart. Here is the 1st movement of a sonata for flute written by Mozart when he was 12 years old.(Student to play)***Out of seven children in the family only Wolfgang and his older sister Mariane – known as Nannerl – survived. Nannerl also inherited the musical gifts of her father and often she and Wolfgang would play duets for the Empress Maria Theresa and King Francis 1st at the great palace of Schönbrunn in Vienna.When only five years old, Wolfgang composed this little Minuet in G.(Student to play)***After some years, Mozart went to live in Vienna where he had played to the King and Queen when he was only 6 years old. Here, he was often visited by Haydn and one day, a young musician, whose name was Beethoven, came to ask Mozart to give him lessons.19Mozart spent the rest of his short life composing. He wrote every kind of music which included nearly 20 Operas, 27 String Quartets, more than 20 Piano Sonatas, about 50 Symphonies and Concertos for violin, flute and clarinet. We will now listen to the 3rd movement of the French Horn Concerto.(Student to play)***On a very bitter December night in 1770, in the quaint little German city of Bonn, in a poor three roomed home, a baby was born. Early the next morning, the father carried his new son to the church of Sanct Remigus where he was christened Ludwig van Beethoven.In the months that went quickly by, little Ludwig heard music much of the time, for father Beethoven was a singer in the Royal Choir at the Elector’s palace and gave lessons in piano and violin to the children of noble families.When Ludwig was 4 years old, his father lifted him on his knee and let him press down the keys of the clavier, and you can imagine how delighted his father was when the little boy picked out a melody of a work he had just heard.Ludwig learned very quickly and was soon able to play difficult accompaniments of his father’s songs. Then there were lessons on the violin.When he was 11 years old, father Beethoven decided that his young son would concentrate on music, so he left school and spent many hours day and night practising and composing.He studied with Master Neefe but soon the master realised that he could no longer teach Ludwig anymore and suggested that he study with Mozart. When Mozart heard Beethoven, he said to his friends “Keep your eyes on this young man – he will make a noise in the world someday.”When Ludwig’s mother died, Beethoven had to leave Vienna and go back to Bonn where he studied with Haydn.Often Prince Lichnowsky invited him to play for his royal guests at his palace and eventually he became leader of one of the finest Viennese orchestras.Two new masters – Albrechtsberger and Salieri – taught Beethoven the art of composition, but Ludwig would not write according to the rules set down by the new teachers, as he was feeling something that no on could teach him.When he finished his 1st Symphony, it was time to give another concert. The audience was astounded at the power of this young composer and throughout the city of Vienna and in all cities nearby, the name of Beethoven was spoken everywhere; but Ludwig could not hear them – already there was ringing in his ears all day long.20He could not bear never to hear the glad voices of his friends, so he decided to go away, and he settled in the beautiful little village of Heilogenstadt – just outside the busy city of Vienna. It was here one day, during a thunderstorm, that Beethoven commenced to write the glorious 5th Symphony ending with the stirring song of victory. If he could no longer play for people, he would give them something even better – his noble music to enjoy.Although Beethoven lived in the Classical Period, some say that he was the beginning of the Romantic Era.Beethoven’s compositions include 1 Opera - Fidelio; 1 Violin Concerto, 5 Piano Concertos, 9 Symphonies, String Quartets, Violin and Cello Sonatas, and 32 Piano Sonatas.To finish our little anecdote on Beethoven, we will now hear his Romance in F for violin and Piano.(Student to play)***In the Romantic Period, there are so many favourite composers. Schubert 1797-1828, Chopin 1810-1849, Liszt 1811-1886, Schumann 1810-1856, Mendlessohn 1809-1847 – not forgetting Brahms 1833-1897 – just to mention a few of the greats.Franz Schubert, who was born and died in Vienna lived only 31 years. Although he wrote Symphonies, Chamber Music, Masses and numerous Piano works, perhaps he is best known for his beautiful songs. Let us now listen to Die Fiorello.(Student to sing)***Robert Schumann was a German composer and his works show strongly the influence of certain romantic literary writers. Schumann’s piano compositions are of great importance to the pianist and his wife – Clara Wieck – a distinguished pianist, who was largely responsible for introducing his works to the world.Apart from his numerous piano works, his compositions include Symphonies, Concertos, Chamber music, works for clarinet and many songs including several important song cycles.Almost every day, some important musician came to visit the Schumanns. There was Liszt, Wagner and even the great singer, Jenny Lind – and there would be beautiful concerts in the living room.One sunny afternoon, Robert Schumann was startled to see a poorly dressed young man waiting in the shadows near the door. “And who are you my good fellow?” asked Robert to which the reply came, “I am Johannes Brahms sir, and I would like to play my music for you.” Clara and Robert listened to the brilliant playing of the wonderful music.21That night, Brahms stayed with the Schumanns and when Johannes had gone to bed, Robert declared to Clara – “This man will make a great stir in the world. He is like a soaring eagle or a grand river thundering down from a mountain top.”To finish this little story of “Music through the Ages”, let us turn to the moderns of the 20th century.The year that Brahms died – 1897 – Serge Prokofieff was only 6 years old. He was born and died in Russia and was widely known as a brilliant pianist. He made use of this art to introduce his compositions to the public. Among his well known compositions are ballets, operas – the best known is “The Love of Three Oranges” and of course “Peter and the Wolf”, piano and violin concertos, symphonies and many piano pieces.Do not let us forget our Australian composers – There is our Melbourne musician – George Dreyfus – who has composed works including operas, chamber music and much incidental music for TV shows. There’s also Peter Sculthorpe who is a world-renowned Australian composer. He was born in Launceston, Tasmania and studied in Melbourne and England. In 1964, je was appointed to a lectureship at Sydney University in Composition and Ethnomusicology. His compositions have won world-wide acclaim and include a ballet, orchestral and chamber music, piano, vocal and choral works.Last but not least, there are Lindley Evans and Frank Hutchens who often appeared in public as duo-pianists and both wrote many piano and orchestral works and much music for young students. So to conclude this narrative let us listen to “Two Little Birds” by Frank Hutchens.(Student to play)