Hearing the Music
of Early New South Wales
Concert One
The first concert in Hobart Town took place on Thursday 28 September 1826 at the Court House on Murray Street, Hobart. The Hobart Town Gazette noted that in every way the musicians of Hobart were keeping up with developments in Sydney. They wrote:
‘oncerts have for some months past been established in Sydney, and several gentlemen here of the first respectability conceiving that many inhabitants of Hobart Town possessed equal, if not superior musical talents, set on foot a plan for introducing the same source of enjoyment amongst us also; and in this, the first attempt, they have succeeded beyond expectation.
It was estimated that 250-300 people attended, ‘several of whom were from various parts of the country’.
Program
First Part
Overture
Glee
Samuel WEBBE (1740-1816)
Performers: John Philip Deane (vocalist); Mr. Langford (vocalist); John Swan (vocalist)
Song
Thomas WILLIAMS (d. 1854)
The Sun that Lights the Roses
​
Performers: John Swan (vocalist); John Philip Deane (accompanist)
Concerto, Piano Forte
Glee
John DANBY (1757-1798)
Fair Flora Decks the Flow’ry Ground​
​
Performers: John Philip Deane (vocalist); Mr. Langford (vocalist); John Swan (vocalist)
Song
John BRAHAM (c. 1774-1856)
In This Cottage my Father Once Dwelt​
​
Performers: Henry Widowson (vocalist)
Concerto, Clarionet
Isaac Franco DACOSTA (1778-1866)
Work not identified.​
​
Performers: Joseph Reichenberg (clarinet); with full band or piano accompaniment
Second Part
Overture
Glee
Garrett WESLEY, Lord Mornington (1735-1781)
​
Performers: John Philip Deane (vocalist); Mr. Smith (vocalist); John Swan (vocalist)
Recitative & Air
Quintette
Song
SLADE
Dearest Maid, I Adore Thee
​
Performers: John Swan (vocalist); John Philip Deane (accompanist)
Glee
Matthew Peter KING (c. 1773-1823)
The Witches' Glee
​
Performers: John Philip Deane (vocalist); Mr. Langford (vocalist); John Swan (vocalist)
Song
William SHIELD (1748-1829)
The Wolf (in the comic opera of The Castle of Andalusia)
​
Performers: John Philip Deane (vocalist); Joseph Reichenberg (accompanist)
Finale
God Save the King
​
Performers: 'In full Chorus'
Reviews
'HOBART TOWN CONCERT'
Colonial Times and Tasmanian Advertiser, 29 September 1826, p. 3.
‘We have not time for a detailed account of the performances - we can only say, that they were such as would have astonished and delighted the most fastidious ear of the London critic, scarcely escaped from the fascination of Hanover-square.’
'HOBART TOWN CONCERTS'
Hobart Town Gazette, 7 October 1826, p. 4.
‘The applause and general sentiments of unanimity and satisfaction with which the Concert was received will, we doubt not, induce the principal promoters to renew so chaste and rational a recreation at regular intervals, and we have heard, that a Concert of equally elegant and classical composition is proposed quarterly.’