Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2123/1414

Title: The Royal Philharmonic Society of Sydney: the rise and fall of a musical organisation
Authors: Thornley, Clare A
Keywords: history of the Royal Philharmonic Society of Sydney
history of music organisations in Sydney
Issue Date: 22-Sep-2004
Publisher: University of Sydney.
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Abstract: The Royal Philharmonic Society of Sydney, formed as the Sydney Philharmonic Society in 1885, represented the rich tradition of amateur choral organisations present in Sydney in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Under the strong leadership of two of their conductors, Roberto Hazon and Joseph Bradley, the Philharmonic Society presented the Sydney and Australian premieres of many choral works, engaged the services of many international vocal soloists, performed for full houses, and was invited to perform at many important civic and state events. Yet this organisation has been forgotten by history and the Sydney music community. Although many issues contributed to the decline of this amateur organisation, the strongest factors included the Philharmonic’s inability to maintain consistency in their leadership in later years, a change in general musical trends from amateur vocal performances to professional orchestral concerts, an increase in competition from other entertainments, the establishment of the ABC, and an ongoing lack of support from the city and state governments. These were further exacerbated by the lack of support from members of the Sydney press, particularly the Sydney Morning Herald. Therefore, an in-depth study into the story of the Royal Philharmonic Society of Sydney not only uncovers the history of a forgotten music organisation, it also contributes to a deeper understanding of the musical performance culture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Sydney.
Description: Master of Music (Musicology)
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2123/1414
Appears in Collections:Sydney Digital Theses (Open Access)

Files in This Item:

File Description SizeFormat
01front.pdfFront Matter98.05 kBAdobe PDFView/Open
02introduction.pdfIntroduction114.26 kBAdobe PDFView/Open
03chapter1.pdfChapter 1131.66 kBAdobe PDFView/Open
04chapter2.pdfChapter 2252.67 kBAdobe PDFView/Open
05chapter3.pdfChapter 3237.78 kBAdobe PDFView/Open
06chapter4.pdfChapter 4222.24 kBAdobe PDFView/Open
07chapter5.pdfChapter 5280.3 kBAdobe PDFView/Open
08conclusion.pdfConclusion48.21 kBAdobe PDFView/Open
09bibliography.pdfBibliography101.67 kBAdobe PDFView/Open

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