Mona McBurney facts for kids
Mona Margaret McBurney (born July 29, 1862 – died December 4, 1932) was a talented British musician. She was a pianist, a teacher, and a composer. Mona lived and worked in Australia for most of her life.
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Early Life and Education
Mona McBurney was born in Douglas, on the Isle of Man. She was the youngest of six children. Her father, Isaiah McBurney, was a teacher and a scholar. Her mother, Margaret McBurney, taught art and music.
Mona started her music studies in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her teacher was Sir Alexander Mackenzie. He later became the head of the famous Royal Academy of Music.
Moving to Australia
In 1881, Mona's family moved to Victoria, Australia. They settled in a town called Geelong. Mona attended the Ladies' College there. Her brother, Samuel, was the principal of the college.
She also studied at the University of Melbourne in 1881. Later, in 1892, she went back to the University of Melbourne. She studied music with G.W.L. Marshall-Hall. Mona finished her studies and graduated in 1896.
A Career in Music and Teaching
After finishing her education, Mona McBurney became a composer and an educator. She was very active in the music world.
In 1907, she led a women's orchestra. They performed her piece called Northern Ballad. This was a big achievement for a woman at that time.
Teaching at Universities
Mona also became a university teacher. In 1918, she started teaching Italian and French. She taught these subjects at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium. A conservatorium is a special school for music.
In 1921, she also began teaching Italian at the Albert Street Conservatorium. She worked at both places until she passed away in 1932.
Supporting Young Musicians
Mona McBurney was a very active person. She was involved in many literary and music groups. She worked hard to create opportunities for young musicians and composers. She wanted to help them share their talents.
Mona never married. She died in Hawthorn, Melbourne, from pneumonia.
Mona McBurney's Musical Works
Mona McBurney wrote many different kinds of music. She composed an opera, which is a play set to music. She also wrote a concerto for piano and orchestra. A concerto is a piece where one instrument, like a piano, plays a solo with an orchestra.
She also wrote a string quartet, which is music for four string instruments. She composed two choral odes, which are songs for a choir. Besides these, she wrote many pieces for piano and about thirty songs.
Here are some of her well-known works:
- Ode to Dante, 1902
- The Dalmatian, an opera from 1910. The story was based on a popular book.
- Northern Ballad for orchestra, 1907
- String Quartette in G Minor
- Bardic Ode From Ossian
- Persian Song of Spring with lyrics from the 14th century
- To my Friends the Birds
- O Bella Italia, addio
- Shrine of Remembrance
- Waldtraut's Song
- An Elizabethan Madrigal
- A mes amis, les oiseaux with lyrics by Jean Jacques Rousseau
- Chansonnette based on French poetry from the 15th century
- Song on May Morning (a recording of this exists)
- Gavotte
