COMPOSER'S COUNTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21583, 30 August 1933, Page 11

COMPOSER'S COUNTRY

MR. CHARLES WILLEBY JUDGE SURPRISES SINGERS NEW ZEALAND CLAIM DENIED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Keen discussion has been aroused as to whether or not Mr. Charles Willeby is a New Zealand composer. One of the classes at the Wellington competition festival is a ladies' vocal solo by a New Zealand composer. There are 27 competitors in the event and threo or four who chose songs by Charles Willeby were astonished when they were informed by the judge, Dr. Cyril Jenkins, that Willeby was not a New Zealand composer, but an American. Willeby had been accepted by tho society as a New Zealand composer, and two of his compositions have been sung, namely, "Summer Rain" and "Stolen Wings." One competitor said her teacher informed her that Charles Willeby was born in Dunedin and lived in New Zealand until ho was about 20 years of age, when ho went to London. A further statement was to tho effect that Charles Willeby was born in Dunedin and worked in a shop in Wellington lor some time. It was contended that his work should bo accepted by tho judge. Dr. Jenkins said it was rather new to him to find an American name figuring on the list of New Zealand composers. It was the first time ho had heard that Charles Willeby was a New Zealander. Ho added that it had been a pleasure to hear some of the charms of one Now Zealand composer, namely, Alfred Hill. Mr. S. P. Hawthorne, of Highland Park, Wellington, who is Mr. Willeby's half-brother, said to-day that Willeby was born in France and came to New Zealand when about five years of ago. He left for England again about five years later to further his education and returned to New Zealand in 1885, with his mother, Mrs. Stuart Hawthorne, and his two half-brothers. He remained in New Zealand for about four years and was well known in Wellington as a teacher of music. Ho married Miss Mary Hume, of Dunedin, sister of tho novelist, the late Mr. Fergus Hume, and, about 1889, accompanied by his wife, went to Italy to study music. He did not return to New Zealand. To the best of Mr. Hawthorne's knowledge, Willeby, with the exception of a few months spent in America, has been in England for the past 30 years. Mr. Hawthorne said he understood his half-brother was at one time London manager for John Church and Company, an American publishing firm. Ho composed some of his songs in Now Zealand, but most of his work was done in England.

CLAIM BY DUNEDIN

" NOW ON THE CONTINENT " [BY TELEGRAM OWN' CORRESPONDENT] DUNEDIN, Tuesday Surprise was expressed in musical circles in Dunedin when Dr. Jenkins' denial of the claim that Charles Willeby was a New Zealand composer was made known. Willeby is widely accepted in Dunedin as a local composer. Credence to the claim was given less than a year ago, when a recital of works by Dunedin composers was given here, and Willeby's "Mandalav," said to be the first song written to bear that now well-known name, was included in the programme. It is stated that Mrs. Willeby was present at the recital. A close friend of the composer's mother said to-day that Charles Willeby arrived in Dunedin with his mother from England when he was five years of age. His mother married Mr. Stuart Hawthorne, who was rector of the Otago Boys' High School from 1869 to 1873, and they resided here until Mr. Hawthorne's death, which occurred six months after he had resigned the rectorship. Charles was educated hero and married Miss Mary Hume, Dunedin vocalist, on the Continent. Mr. and Mrs. Willeby are now on the Continent.