Alfred Hill
Encyclopedia
Alfred Francis Hill CMG OBE (16 December 186930 October 1960) was an Australian/New Zealand composer, conductor and teacher.
in 1869. His year of birth is shown in many sources as 1870, but this has now been disproven. He spent most of his early life in New Zealand
. He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory
between 1887 and 1891 under Gustav Schreck
, Hans Sitt
and Oscar Paul. Later he played second violin with the Gewandhaus Orchestra
, under the conductorship of names such as Brahms
, Grieg
, Tchaikovsky
, Bruch
, and Reinecke
. While there, some of his compositions were played with fellow students, and several were published in Germany. These included the Scotch Sonata for violin and piano.
Hill returned to New Zealand, where was appointed director of the Wellington
Orchestral Society. He also worked as a violin teacher, recitalist, chamber music
ian, and choral conductor. He was active in the push for a New Zealand Conservatorium of Music, and for the foundation of an institute of Māori studies at Rotorua
.
Hill returned to Australia in 1897 where he remained, and taught for a number of years. After several years regularly travelling between Australia and New Zealand, Hill settled in Sydney in 1911, becoming the principal of the Austral Orchestral College, and viola
player of the Austral String Quartet. In 1913 Hill founded the Australian Opera League with Fritz Hart, as part of an attempt to create an Australian operatic tradition. Hill was also a founder of the Sydney Repertory Theatre Society, and a foundation council member (later president) of the Musical Association of New South Wales.
In 1915–16 Hill co-founded the NSW State Conservatorium of Music
and became its first Professor of Theory and Composition, and later deputy conductor to Henri Verbrugghen
. The Australian Broadcasting Commission
was formed in 1932 and Hill was member of the ABC's Music Advisory Committee.
He composed and conducted music for the Hugh McCrae
play The Ship of Heaven which was produced by the Independent Theatre
in 1933.
From 1937, Hill devoted himself full-time to composition. He wrote more than five hundred compositions, including 12 symphonies
(of which 11 are arrangements of previously written string quartets), eight opera
s (including The Weird Flute), numerous concerti, a mass, 17 string quartet
s and other chamber works, two cantatas on Maori subjects (Hinemoa and Tawhaki) and 11 other choral works, and 72 piano pieces.
In 1947 he became president of the Composers' Society of Australia.
While much neglected nowadays, he is still very well known on both sides of the Tasman
for a short song Waiata Poi, which was recorded by many singers including Peter Dawson.
He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
in 1953, and a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
in 1960.
In 1959 his 90th birthday was celebrated by a special concert of his music played by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
under Henry Krips
. Alfred Hill died at the age of 90 in 1960. His wife, Mirrie Hill
(1892–1986), was also a composer.
Listen to Alfred Hill's The Moon's Golden Horn online at ABC Classic FM's classic/amp website
Biography
Alfred Hill was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1869. His year of birth is shown in many sources as 1870, but this has now been disproven. He spent most of his early life in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory
Felix Mendelssohn College of Music and Theatre
The University of Music and Theatre "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig is a public university in Leipzig . Founded in 1843 by Felix Mendelssohn as the Conservatory of Music, it is the oldest university school of music in Germany....
between 1887 and 1891 under Gustav Schreck
Gustav Schreck
Gustav Ernst Schreck was a German composer and music educator. He was the cantor of the Thomanerchor from 1893 to 1918.-External links:...
, Hans Sitt
Hans Sitt
Jan Hanuš Sitt, known as Hans Sitt, , was a Bohemian-German violinist, violist, teacher, and composer. During his lifetime, he was regarded as one of the foremost teachers of violin...
and Oscar Paul. Later he played second violin with the Gewandhaus Orchestra
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra is one of the the oldest symphony orchestras in the world...
, under the conductorship of names such as Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
, Grieg
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
, Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
, Bruch
Max Bruch
Max Christian Friedrich Bruch , also known as Max Karl August Bruch, was a German Romantic composer and conductor who wrote over 200 works, including three violin concertos, the first of which has become a staple of the violin repertoire.-Life:Bruch was born in Cologne, Rhine Province, where he...
, and Reinecke
Carl Reinecke
Carl Heinrich Carsten Reinecke was a German composer, conductor, and pianist.-Biography:Reinecke was born in Altona, Hamburg, Germany; until 1864 the town was under Danish rule. He studied with his father, Johann Peter Rudolph Reinecke, a music teacher...
. While there, some of his compositions were played with fellow students, and several were published in Germany. These included the Scotch Sonata for violin and piano.
Hill returned to New Zealand, where was appointed director of the Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
Orchestral Society. He also worked as a violin teacher, recitalist, chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
ian, and choral conductor. He was active in the push for a New Zealand Conservatorium of Music, and for the foundation of an institute of Māori studies at Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
.
Hill returned to Australia in 1897 where he remained, and taught for a number of years. After several years regularly travelling between Australia and New Zealand, Hill settled in Sydney in 1911, becoming the principal of the Austral Orchestral College, and viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
player of the Austral String Quartet. In 1913 Hill founded the Australian Opera League with Fritz Hart, as part of an attempt to create an Australian operatic tradition. Hill was also a founder of the Sydney Repertory Theatre Society, and a foundation council member (later president) of the Musical Association of New South Wales.
In 1915–16 Hill co-founded the NSW State Conservatorium of Music
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
and became its first Professor of Theory and Composition, and later deputy conductor to Henri Verbrugghen
Henri Verbrugghen
Henri Verbrugghen was a Belgian musician, who directed orchestras in England, Scotland, Australia and the United States....
. The Australian Broadcasting Commission
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
was formed in 1932 and Hill was member of the ABC's Music Advisory Committee.
He composed and conducted music for the Hugh McCrae
Hugh McCrae
Hugh Raymond McCrae was an Australian writer.McCrae was born in Melbourne, the son of the Australian author George Gordon McCrae. He was originally articled to an architect, but later took upon writing and acting, settling eventually in Sydney and Camden...
play The Ship of Heaven which was produced by the Independent Theatre
Independent Theatre
The Independent Theatre was a dramatic society founded in 1930 by Doris Fitton , and was also the name given to the building it occupied from 1938. It was named for London's Independent Theatre Society founded by J. T...
in 1933.
From 1937, Hill devoted himself full-time to composition. He wrote more than five hundred compositions, including 12 symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
(of which 11 are arrangements of previously written string quartets), eight opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s (including The Weird Flute), numerous concerti, a mass, 17 string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
s and other chamber works, two cantatas on Maori subjects (Hinemoa and Tawhaki) and 11 other choral works, and 72 piano pieces.
In 1947 he became president of the Composers' Society of Australia.
While much neglected nowadays, he is still very well known on both sides of the Tasman
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
for a short song Waiata Poi, which was recorded by many singers including Peter Dawson.
He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1953, and a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1960.
In 1959 his 90th birthday was celebrated by a special concert of his music played by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra , commonly known as the Sydney Symphony, is an Australian symphony orchestra based in Sydney...
under Henry Krips
Henry Krips (conductor)
Henry Maria Krips MBE was an Austrian-Australian conductor and composer, best known for his 23-year record term as principal conductor of the South Australian Symphony Orchestra...
. Alfred Hill died at the age of 90 in 1960. His wife, Mirrie Hill
Mirrie Hill
-Life:Mirrie Irrna Solomon was born in Sydney, and showed an early talent for music and pitch. She studied piano with an aunt, and at age 13 with Josef Kretschmann and later with Laurence Godfrey-Smith...
(1892–1986), was also a composer.
Listen to Alfred Hill's The Moon's Golden Horn online at ABC Classic FM's classic/amp website
Discography (partial)
- String Quartets Nos. 5, 6 and 11 (Australian String Quartet) : Marco Polo 8.223746
- String Quartets, Vol. 1 (Dominion String Quartet) – Nos. 1, 2, 3 : Naxos 8.570491
- String Quartets, Vol. 2 (Dominion String Quartet) – Nos. 4, 6, 8 : Naxos 8.572097
- String Quartets, Vol. 3 (Dominion String Quartet) – Nos. 5, 7, 9 : Naxos 8.572446
- Symphony Nos 3 and 7, The Lost Hunter, The Moon's Golden Horn (Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Wilfred Lehmann) : Marco Polo 8.223537
- Symphony Nos 4 and 6, The Sacred Mountain (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Wilfred Lehmann) : Marco Polo 8.220345
External links
- See also and compare with the following biography, which contains more information: http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/H/HillAlfred/HillAlfred/en