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March 2024

Things of brass, string and wood - Insights into Canberra's musical youth in 1987

Fig. 1. Flyer for Music at Lanyon Concert (p.1 of 2), 1987

The Territory Records Office is in the early stages of a project to preserve magnetic mediaaudio cassette and video tapesheld within the ACT Government’s archival collections. Magnetic media degrades over time, and digital copies must be made to preserve their contents. So far, the main challenge has been identifying the location of magnetic media within vast holdings of paper-based records.

One of the files documented as containing tapes relates to the 1987 Arts Grant for the Canberra Youth Orchestra.[i]

In 1987 the Department of Territories Arts Development Board allocated $23,000 to the Canberra Youth Orchestra Society, covering a significant part of its day-to-day operations. Other financial support came from the Australia Council, player contributions, sponsorships, and fundraising activities in the community.

The file records that more than 300 musicians, aged between 13 and 23 years old were part of the Canberra Youth Orchestra Society in 1987. They played in one or more of six groups: The Youth Orchestra, the James McCusker Orchestra, the Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, the Peg Mantle Strings, and the String Ensemble.

The file includes the Society’s 1987 annual report, reporting on an impressive program of concerts, tours, camps and other events. (Flyers and/or programs for most of the concerts are also included, a sample of which are reproduced further below.)

Fig. 2. Canberra Youth Orchestra Society activities for 1987 (p. 1 of 2)

Fig. 3. Canberra Youth Orchestra Society activities for 1987 (p. 2 of 2)

The file gives insights into what was happening not only within the orchestra, but also in the music world more generally. It seems to have been a flourishing time for the performance and appreciation of classical music. There are also some clues about the culture and development of Canberra in the late 1980s, including the expansion of town centres; the youth orchestra played at the opening of the Tuggeranong Hyperdome and the Belconnen Community Centre.

The President’s report in the annual report describes the James McCusker Orchestra’s tour to New Zealand as the highlight of the year. The Tour Manager’s report mentions the costly nature of making bookings via trunk telephone calls, the particularly fine concerts at Putaruru, Whangarei and Kerikeri, and the players’ behaviour being ‘generally within the limits of acceptability’.

We think the file provides some interesting insights into the research value of government records. While many of the individual records on file (such as the annual report) are not unique, the accumulation of them is. This reflects the particular purpose of the file, namely, tracking how taxpayers’ money was spent, and whether future funding was worthwhile. The file also highlights that organisational and social history can sometimes found in unexpected places. Finally, this topic shows that ArchivesACT holdings are often complementary with other institutions’ holdings. In this case, especially the ACT Heritage Library, who hold a CD of the Canberra Youth Orchestra’s concerts in 1995, as well as photographs, publications and archival collections.

Back to magnetic mediawe were pleased to find that the file includes three cassettes, one made at the Canberra Youth Orchestra’s Prom Concert, held at Llewellyn Hall in September 1987. Another two cassettes are labelled CYO-in-Concert, 21.11.87. The cassettes are unlikely to be high-quality recordings, but still potentially of interest to researchers, and/or those who were in the orchestra at the time. ArchivesACT will keep researchers updated about the progress of this preservation project, and the improved accessibility of audio-visual records.

Fig. 4. Flyer for Musical Lanyon Concert (p. 2 of 2), 1987

Fig. 5. Flyer for Carmina Burana concert with Canberra School of Music Community Choir, 1987

Fig. 6. Program for CYO Prom Concert, 1987

Fig 7. Program for A Bush Christmas concert (p. 1 of 2), 1987

Fig. 8.  Program for A Bush Christmas concert (p. 2 of 2), 1987

Images

Fig. 1. TRO 86/3610. Flyer for Music at Lanyon Concert (p. 1 of 2), 1987

Figs. 2 & 3. TRO 86/3610. Canberra Youth Orchestra Inc Annual Report 1987

Fig. 4. TRO 86/3610. Flyer for Music at Lanyon Concert (p. 2 of 2), 1987

Fig. 5. TRO 86/3610. Carmina Burana concert with Canberra School of Music Community Choir, 1987

Fig. 6. TRO 86/3610. Program for CYO Prom Concert, 1987

Fig. 7. TRO 86/3610. Program for A Bush Christmas concert (p. 1 of 2), 1987

Fig. 8. TRO 86/3610. Program for A Bush Christmas concert (p. 2 of 2), 1987

References

i Territory Records Office. 86/3610, Arts & Recreation Branch – 1987 Arts Grants – Canberra Youth Orchestra

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