Reginald Stoneham
Encyclopedia
Reginald Alberto Agrati Stoneham (1879 – 11 March 1942) was an Australia
n composer and publisher of mostly topical songs, and a musical comedy F.F.F. He was perhaps Australia's leading exponent of jazz
and ragtime
piano styles in the first decades of the 20th century as both composer and performer. He was also a popular accompanist and recording artist.
in 1879 to musician William (ca.1833 – 25 March 1913) and Ellen Stoneham (ca.1846 – 10 February 1889) of 210 Madeline Street Carlton. Ellen was mother of Harry, Herbert, Fred, Will, Bertha, Reg, Elsa; William's second wife Annie Grace (ca.1850 – 22 September 1938) was mother of Theo, Algie and Arthur.
In 1899 he married Adelaide Minnie "Addie" Lyons (d. 1959), daughter of Augusta Rachel (ca 1853 – 2 March 1934) and Jonah Aaron "Joe" Lyons (d.27 July 1916) of Unley, South Australia
.
They had a daughter Val Augusta Elsa Stoneham on 10 April 1902.
In 1900 he was on the force of the South Australian Contingent (to South Africa) as a trumpeter. His trade was listed as "wood turner".
He lived at St Kilda, Victoria
from 1918, initially in Princess Street, perhaps later at 29 Orange Grove, East St Kilda as per a copyright notice in 1930, and at the time of his death at 3 Robe Street, St Kilda. His wife's brother Sol. M. Lyons lived nearby at 48 Acland Street; his brother Herbert Leslie Stoneham lived at 152 Madeline St Carlton.
Ill and unemployed, with an invalid wife and daughter to support, he petitioned for bankruptcy in 1936. He had never adapted to the new demands of radio broadcasting, and the vogue for Australian sheet music had dried up.
and devised by promoter-businessman C. J. De Garis who also wrote the lyrics to music by Stoneham, starring Maggie Moore
, Rex London, Minnie Love, Billy Rego, Hugh Steyne, Marie Le Varre and Charles H. Workman
. The "mystery" centred on the meaning of the enigmatic title, for which solutions were solicited and a prize offered. The show opened 28 August 1920 at the "Prince of Wales" theatre (previously "Tivoli", now "Her Majesty's") Adelaide for a successful season, followed by a week in Perth
and a fortnight in Melbourne
, where the "Argus" critic praised the songs but lambasted the play. It was never revived.
Among the sixteen songs were:
as "Alberto Agrati"
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n composer and publisher of mostly topical songs, and a musical comedy F.F.F. He was perhaps Australia's leading exponent of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
piano styles in the first decades of the 20th century as both composer and performer. He was also a popular accompanist and recording artist.
Biography
He was born in Carlton, VictoriaCarlton, Victoria
Carlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
in 1879 to musician William (ca.1833 – 25 March 1913) and Ellen Stoneham (ca.1846 – 10 February 1889) of 210 Madeline Street Carlton. Ellen was mother of Harry, Herbert, Fred, Will, Bertha, Reg, Elsa; William's second wife Annie Grace (ca.1850 – 22 September 1938) was mother of Theo, Algie and Arthur.
In 1899 he married Adelaide Minnie "Addie" Lyons (d. 1959), daughter of Augusta Rachel (ca 1853 – 2 March 1934) and Jonah Aaron "Joe" Lyons (d.27 July 1916) of Unley, South Australia
Unley, South Australia
Unley is an inner-southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. The relatively wealthy area lies within the City of Unley. The suburb is the home of the Sturt Football Club, an SANFL team...
.
They had a daughter Val Augusta Elsa Stoneham on 10 April 1902.
In 1900 he was on the force of the South Australian Contingent (to South Africa) as a trumpeter. His trade was listed as "wood turner".
He lived at St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
from 1918, initially in Princess Street, perhaps later at 29 Orange Grove, East St Kilda as per a copyright notice in 1930, and at the time of his death at 3 Robe Street, St Kilda. His wife's brother Sol. M. Lyons lived nearby at 48 Acland Street; his brother Herbert Leslie Stoneham lived at 152 Madeline St Carlton.
Ill and unemployed, with an invalid wife and daughter to support, he petitioned for bankruptcy in 1936. He had never adapted to the new demands of radio broadcasting, and the vogue for Australian sheet music had dried up.
F.F.F.
F.F.F., styled as a "mystery musical comedy", underwritten by Hugh D. McIntoshHugh D. McIntosh
Hugh Donald "Huge Deal" McIntosh was an Australian show-business entrepreneur born to parents of Scottish and Irish origin and modest means in Sydney's Surry Hills, then a ramshackle suburb with a reputation for crime and vice among the largely Irish immigrant population. His policeman father Hugh...
and devised by promoter-businessman C. J. De Garis who also wrote the lyrics to music by Stoneham, starring Maggie Moore
Maggie Moore
Maggie Moore was the stage name of the American-Australian actor Margaret Virginia Sullivan .Sullivan was born at San Francisco, U.S.A., in 1851, and began her theatrical career at an early age. She established a local reputation, and having married J. C. Williamson came with him to Australia in 1874...
, Rex London, Minnie Love, Billy Rego, Hugh Steyne, Marie Le Varre and Charles H. Workman
Charles H. Workman
Charles H. Workman was a singer and actor best known as a successor to George Grossmith in the comic baritone roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas. He was sometimes credited as C. Herbert Workman or C. H...
. The "mystery" centred on the meaning of the enigmatic title, for which solutions were solicited and a prize offered. The show opened 28 August 1920 at the "Prince of Wales" theatre (previously "Tivoli", now "Her Majesty's") Adelaide for a successful season, followed by a week in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and a fortnight in Melbourne
Melbourne
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...
, where the "Argus" critic praised the songs but lambasted the play. It was never revived.
Among the sixteen songs were:
- The Murray Moon http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an20041983
- The Courtship
- The Aussie Glide
- Wait For Me
- A Garden of Girls
- O-O-Omeo
- We Feel Fine
- Coo-ee
Other compositions
- Albury for The Weekly Times newspaper 1932
- The Attack (on Zeebrugge) http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an6162107
- Back Home http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an5522910
- The Bells of Peace http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn3426760
- Bendigo for The Weekly Times newspaper 1932
- Coral Isles ca.1923 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an5971911
- Distant Memories Waltz 1914 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an7375390
- The Drover 1912 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn2189672 (Recorded on 10" 78rpm; sung by Peter Dawson http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au/record=b1529891
- (Those) Foolish Wives 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an12925698
- Football Song and Chorus Commissioned by West Adelaide Football Club 1911
- For God and St George, 1914 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an6259665 used as a recruiting song during World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
- Frivolina ca. 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an6631959
- Garden of Rosy Dreams http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an9131036 featured in Hugh D. McIntosh's revue "Bubbly"
- Golden Dreams 1924 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an11236489
- Heroes of the Dardanelles 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an4462426 recorded by Peter DawsonPeter DawsonPeter Smith Dawson was an Australian bass-baritone and songwriter. Dawson gained worldwide renown through song recitals and many best-selling recordings of operatic arias, oratorio solos and rousing ballads during a career spanning almost 60 years.Although Dawson's repertoire embraced a great deal...
and John RalstonJohn RalstonJohn R. Ralston is a former American football player, coach, and sports executive. He served as the head football coach at Utah State University , Stanford University , and San Jose State University , compiling a career college football record of 97–81–4... - Home Fireside http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an11791493
- Home to Ballaarat (words by W(illiam) A(ustin) Bevan) http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an13044825 for Ballarat celebrations of 1927
- Jazzin' the Blues http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an11791541
- King of the Air 1913 as recorded by Malcolm McEachernMalcolm McEachernWalter Malcom Neil McEachern was a noted Australian bass singer who enjoyed a successful career in the United Kingdom, both as a concert soloist and as one half of the comic musical duo Flotsam and Jetsam....
http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an11791575 - Lolita 1928 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an5397687 recorded by Jack Lumsdaine
- Love http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an11943642 featured in Hugh D. McIntosh's revue "Bubbly"
- Maryborough for The Weekly Times newspaper 1932
- Mellow Mersey Moon for "Come to Tasmania" carnival 1927. http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn3310423
- Memories of a Lovely Lei (with Barronne Kuva) http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn234160
- The Murray Moon c.1922 with C.J. De Garis http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an6054084
- Peace and Glory http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an13032238
- Princess Betty's Lullaby 1927 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an12155745 for Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II
- (My) Ragtime Drummer Boy http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an11791634
- The Road To Anywhere "Between 1920 and 1932" http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=524
- Sleepy Seas http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an8605266
- Sun-Raysed Waltz http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an5971872 for Australian Dried Fruits Association of Mildura, VictoriaMildura, VictoriaMildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
. - The Tango Rag 1914 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn342755
- Tantalising Eyes http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an11805698 featured in Hugh D. McIntosh's revue "Lads of the Village"
- The Tintex Girl 1924 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an6723565
- That Was a Perfect Night http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn1331474
- The Wabash Moon ca.1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn3410588
- Waikiki Moon http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an12926321
- The Warrnambool Waltz Song http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn4608732
- When the Wattles Bloom Again (with Dan Leahy) http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn4498405
as "Alberto Agrati"
- The Hesitation Valse-tango 1914 http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an7375567
- I've Got a Motorbike (waiting for you) http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an10032494
- Viceroy Tea Waltz http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an6492521
Further reading
- Van Straten, Frank Play it Again Reg in Theatre Heritage Australia: on stage part 1. in Vol.11 no.3 WINTER 2010 p. 10; part 2 in Vol.11 no.4 SPRING 2010 p. 42
- Van Straten, Frank. The Riddle of 'FFF', A Forgotten Australian Musical Comedy Australasian Music Research, No. 6, 2002: 105-119. Availability: http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=755888837969038;res=IELHSS ISSN: 1325-5266
- Hill, Jennifer, "Stoneham, Reg(inald) A. A.)", in Oxford Companion to Australian Music (ed. Warren Bebbington) (Melbourne: OUP, 1997), p. 532