William Vincent Wallace (1812-1863), Robert Stewart (words): Echo’s song [Oh! I am Echo, Queen of sound] (Sydney, 1837); first modern performance; Koen van Stade (tenor), Neal Peres Da Costa (pianoforte); Elizabeth Bay House, Sydney, 27 February 2022

Abstract

For two years from early 1836 to early 1838, Sydney was home to the young Irish violinist, pianist and composer William Vincent Wallace. The musical offspring of leading local families lined up for the honour of receiving music lessons from him, and were the target market for the only two pieces of sheet music he published here. The first was ‘Echo’s song’, to words by Sydney attorney Robert Stewart, and dedicated to Wallace’s cousin, Maria Logan, who was herself later Sydney’s leading society piano teacher. The second was a set of original piano variations on a popular waltz by Johann Strauss II. Words (first verse only): Oh! I am Echo, Queen of sound, / Mid rocks and caves I roam, / Unseen I float the wide world round, / Or make the sea my home. / Upon the distant shore I sleep, / 'Till waked by Magic song; / Then climbing up the mountain steep, / I bear the notes along. The original Sydney sheet music edition of ‘Echo’s song’ can be viewed here: https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/24305586; (TROVE record); https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168749528 (Copy at the National Library of Australia, DIGITISED)