John Antill facts for kids
John Henry Antill (born April 8, 1904, died December 29, 1986) was a famous Australian composer. He is best known for his exciting ballet called Corroboree. A composer is someone who writes music. A ballet is a type of dance performance that tells a story through movement and music.
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About John Antill
John Antill was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1904. He went to Trinity Grammar School and St Andrew's Cathedral School. There, he learned about music.
After school in 1920, John started working for the New South Wales Government Railways. Five years later, he left that job to study music full-time. He went to the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music. He studied with a teacher named Alfred Hill.
John's Music Career
After finishing his studies, John played music in two orchestras. These were the NSW State Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. From 1932 to 1934, he also toured with an opera company. He sang as a tenor and helped rehearse the singers.
In 1936, John started working for the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). He became an assistant music editor. He stayed with the ABC until he retired in 1968. Before retiring, he became the ABC's main Federal Music Editor.
His Famous Work: Corroboree
John Antill's most famous work is his ballet Corroboree. It was first performed as a concert piece in 1946. A concert piece means it was played by musicians without dancers. Eugene Goossens conducted this first performance.
What is a Corroboree?
John based his music on a real corroboree. A corroboree is a traditional Aboriginal Australian ceremony. It often includes singing, dancing, and storytelling. John saw a corroboree in 1913 in La Perouse, Sydney. This experience inspired him to write his ballet.
The Ballet Performance
John had always wanted Corroboree to be a ballet. But it was not performed with dancers until 1950. The first ballet performance was choreographed by Rex Reid. Choreography is the art of creating dance moves.
This 1950 ballet was seen as a big moment for Australian culture. It showed that Australian artists could create important works. Later, in 1954, a new version of the ballet was performed. This version was choreographed by Beth Dean. She was an American-born dancer.
Beth Dean and her Australian husband, Victor Carell, spent eight months traveling. They visited parts of central and northern Australia. They wanted to understand corroborees better. This helped them create a more accurate and respectful ballet. The National Museum of Australia has many costumes and props from Dean's production. Beth Dean and Victor Carell also wrote a book about John Antill. It was called Gentle Genius and came out in 1987.
Awards and Recognition
John Antill received several important awards for his work. These awards honored his contributions to Australian music.
In 1971, he was made an Officer (OBE). This award recognized his great service to Australian music. In 1981, he received another high honor. He was made a Companion (CMG).
In 1985, the year before he passed away, John received a special degree. It was an Honorary Doctorate in Creative Arts. This came from the University of Wollongong. It was another way to celebrate his amazing musical achievements.
See also
In Spanish: John Antill para niños
