Hymns Ancient and Modern

MARSHALL-HALL, G. W. L. (George William Louis) (1862-1915)

Beschreibung

Melbourne : The Atlas Press (W. H. Newlands), Block Place, 1898. First and only edition. Small octavo (190 x 125 mm), original stiff green wrappers printed in black and red (spine expertly repaired); title-page stamped 'With the author's compliments', pp. [1-6], 7-70; scattered foxing, mostly marginal but more pronounced on the preliminary and last few leaves, else internally very good; housed in a custom clamshell box of matching green cloth with gilt-lettered morocco title-piece to spine. Extremely scarce copy of this notorious collection of verse by the controversial composer, conductor and professor of music G. W. L. Marshall-Hall. Although privately printed and received well by his circle of liberal-minded friends, many of them fellow musicians and artists such as Streeton, Roberts and the Lindsays, the appearance of this publication caused a scandal in late nineteenth-century Melbourne. In early 1891 London-trained Marshall-Hall arrived in Australia to take up the University of Melbourne's new chair of music. His atheist views and bohemian personality very soon began to ruffle feathers in the establishment and to shock a generally conservative public. However, his obvious musical prowess and talent for leadership proved a worthy counter to any potential official censure: in 1892 he formed the enormously popular and successful Marshall-Hall Orchestra, and in 1895, with William Laver, he helped establish the Melbourne University Conservatorium. Still, his approach to teaching music was considered unorthodox, placing a much higher value on emotional response than on technique. He also took a strong stance against assessment of students by formal examination. Hymns Ancient and Modern, published in July 1898, was actually Marshall-Hall's fourth volume of verse. Its ironic title ensured the book was destined to be marked as blasphemous from the start - even by those who had not (and probably would never) read its contents. An article in The Argus(5 August 1898) railed against the depravity of the sexual imagery in these pagan, anti-clerical poems, and questioned Marshall-Hall's suitability for the role he held in Melbourne's only tertiary institution. A long chain of events - stemming largely from the damning ofHymns Ancient and Modern by press and public-culminated in the University not renewing Marshall-Hall's tenure in June 1900. However, despite having that particular door slammed in his face, he remained the lessee of the Conservatorium; consequently, he was able to continue the existence of this valuable institution in Albert Street, East Melbourne under a slightly modified name - Conservatorium of Music, Melbourne - although it would ultimately become known by a name more familiar to most - Melba Conservatorium. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 41477

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Hymns Ancient and Modern

Einband: Softcover