Hearing the Music
of Early New South Wales
Concert Eight
The eighth Sydney concert, for George Sippe’s benefit, was held on Wednesday the 11th of October 1826 in the School Room of the Old Court House in Castlereagh Street, Sydney. It was highly attended - some sources suggested over 400 people, and others between 250 and 300 people were in the audience. The Monitor reported on the ‘unbecoming conduct of one or two young Gentlemen’ who ‘hiss[ed] what the audience most applaud’, suggesting that the ‘brilliant Dandies should leave such folly at home…’.
Program
First Part
Overture
Song
Stephen STORACE (1762-1796)
Cease Your Funning
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Performers: Harriet Jones (soprano vocalist); George Sippe (pianoforte)
Glee
John STEVENSON (1761-1833)
See our oars with feather’d spray​
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Performers: Vocalists, with Kent bugle accompaniment
Air & Variations (Clarionet)
Louis DROUET (1792-1873)
Believe Me if all Those Endearing Young Charms (with a Rondeau composed by Mr. Sippe)
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Performers: George Sippe (clarinet, composer)
Song
John BRAHAM (c. 1774-1856)
Is There a Heart that Never Loved
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Performers: Benjamin Francis (vocalist); George Sippe (pianoforte)
Air & Variations (Pianoforte)
Recitative & Air
John BRAHAM (c. 1774-1856)
The Death of Nelson (in The Americans)
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Performers: Barnett Levy (vocalist); George Sippe (pianoforte)
Comic Song
Second Part
Overture
Henry Rowley BISHOP (1787-1855)
The Miller and His Men
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Performers: Full band; or military band/s.
Song
John Westbrooke CHANDLER (c.1763-1807)
Adieu my Native Land
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Performers: Mr. Clarke (tenor vocalist); George Sippe (pianoforte)
Glee
Composer not identified.
Work not identified.
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Performers: Likely the vocalists.
Quartette, flutes and French horns
Carl Maria von WEBER (1786-1826)
Work not identified.
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Performers: Joshua Frey Josephson (flute); George Sippe (flute); 2 bandsmen (horns)
Duet
Thomas THOMPSON (1777-1834)
Now at Moonlight’s Fairy Hour
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Performers: Mr. Clarke, John Edwards (vocalists), George Sippe (pianoforte)
Duet, violin and violincello
Jean Baptiste BRÉVAL (1753-1823)
Work not identified.
​
Performers: John Edwards (violin); George Sippe (violoncello)
Comic Song
Words by Charles DIBDIN Junior (c. 1768-1833). Music by William REEVE (1757-1815)
Tippitywitchet
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Performers: Barnett Levey (vocalist)
Finale
Reviews
'MR. SIPPE'S BENEFIT CONCERT'
The Monitor, 13 October 1826, p. 5.
'Bishop's admired "Overture to the Miller and his Men" was a soul-inspiring performance, and put the audience in proper temper to listen to the mellow tones of Mr. Clarke, who never acquitted himself more respectably than on this occasion.'
'NEWS'
The Australian, 14 October 1826, p. 3.
'Between 250 and 300 persons, of both sexes, attended the benefit concert for Mr. Sippe, on Wednesday evening. The different instrumental pieces were well chosen, and equally well executed. The songs and glees, with one or two exceptions, appeared to afford general gratification, even to the most sceptical...'