Orchestral Music in Victoria

Component identifier:

Series 28

Content Summary:

This series documents the history of orchestral music in Victoria from 1908 until 1968. It falls into three groups; the Lady Northcote Permanent Orchestra Trust Fund, (1908-1968), the Ladies' committee of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (1926-1966), and the Million Shilling Appeal (1927), each of which has been arranged as a subseries.

The Lady Northcote Permanent Orchestra Trust Fund was established in 1908 with the purpose of setting up a permanent orchestra. Its correspondence in this collection dates from 1915 until 1968, and is arranged chronologically. Topics discussed include the Alberto Zelman and Marshall Hall Orchestras, the Verburgghien Orchestra Guarantee Company set up in 1921, the appointment of Bernard Heinze to the Ormond chair of Music in 1925, and the foundation of the Faculty of Music in 1926, the inauguration of celebrity concerts by the University Symphony Orchestra in 1929, and the amalgamation in 1932 at the instance of Sidney Myer of both the University and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras under the name Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Further correspondence appears here, as well as in Series 26 (ABC) and Series 27 (University of Melbourne) concerning the assumption in 1935 by the ABC of financial responsibility for celebrity concerts. The Trust's deed, dated 1908, an incomplete set of minutes of meetings from 1927 until 1966, typescript notes of articles by J. Sutton Crow, and Bernard Heinze, and press cuttings complete with subseries.

Placed next are the papers of the Ladies' Committee of the University Symphony Orchestra, later known as the Ladies' Committee of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Ivy Brookes formed this committee in 1925 and was its Vice-President and later President. Contained here are correspondence between 1925 and 1961, much of it concerning fund-raising, minute books (1926-1931), notes including lists of members, a very incomplete set of minutes of meetings and agenda until 1967, printed material and press cuttings.

The Million Shilling Appeal was launched in 1927 to obtain finance for the nucleus of a

This association evolved in 1913 from the Guild of Play of the Women's Division of the People's Liberal Party, Ivy Brookes was its foundation Secretary, whilst her father, Alfred Deakin, was Vice-President. The correspondence extends from 1910 until 1966 but most of it dates from the years when Ivy was Vice-president (1936) and President (1952-1966). Minutes of meetings from 1954 until 1966, an incomplete set of financial statements and annual reports from 1922 until 1967, together with notes, invitations, photographs, permanent Orchestra, and Ivy Brookes became its Vice-President. Correspondence concerning the Appeal, agenda minutes, financial statements, printed matter and press cuttings complete the series.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers of Herbert Brookes were presented to the National Library in April 1967 by his widow Ivy Deakin Brookes. In October 1967 she deposited her own extensive collection, and together they form the Brookes Papers.

Names:

Brookes, Ivy

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