MUSICIAN’S DEATH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21676, 10 June 1940, Page 8

MUSICIAN’S DEATH

Collapse At Rehearsal By Telegraph —Press Association AUCKLAND. June 9. Half an hour after the members of the Centennial Festival Symphony Orchestra were informed at a rehearsal on Saturday morning of the death of Mr Frank William Egerton, secretary of the Auckland Branch af the New Zealand Musicians’ Union, one of their number, Mr L. R. Brakenrig, of Auckland, collapsed on the stage and died. Mr Egerton’s death occurred on Saturday morning after a long illness. The news was announced to the orchestra by the conductor, Mr Andersen Tyrer, and members stood as a mark of respect. When the rehearsal was resumed shortly afterward Mr Brakenrig gave a very fine solo interpretation on the cor anglais (tenor oboe) of a passage from Cesar Franck’s Symphony in D Minor and was complimented by Mr Tyrer. A few minutes later he collapsed and was dead before medical assistance could be obtained. Music and-the welfare of musicians were among Mr Egerton’s principal interests in life. Born in Manchester 59 years ago, he took up music as a profession when a youth and became an accomplished pianist and conductor. Before coming to New Zealand in 1912 he conducted several orchestras in Liverpool. Mr Brakenrig had been a well-known and popular musician m Auckland for many years.