Reginald Stoneham

Reginald Alberto Agrati Stoneham (1879 – 11 March 1942) was an Australian composer and publisher of mostly topical songs, and a musical comedy F.F.F. He was perhaps Australia's leading exponent of jazz and ragtime piano styles in the first decades of the 20th century as both composer and performer. He was also a popular accompanist and recording artist.

Stoneham in 1919

Biography

He was born in Carlton, Victoria in 1879, the fifth son of musician William (c. 1833 – 25 March 1913) and Ellen Stoneham (c. 1846 – 10 February 1889) of 210 Madeline Street Carlton.[1]

In 1900 he served in the South Australian Mounted Rifles as a private trumpeter. His trade was listed as "wood turner".[2][3] He was wounded in action at Slobet's Nek.[4]

In 1901 he married Adelaide Minnie "Addie" Lyons (1880–1959).[5] They had a daughter Val Augusta Elsa Stoneham on 10 April 1902.[6] Described as "one of Melbourne's leading florists", she was employed by Harris, Scarfe, Ltd., Adelaide in 1933.[7]

Stoneham is most remembered for the song "Sleepy Seas"[8] and patriotic songs during World War 1, notably the popular "Heroes of the Dardanelles".[8][9]

He lived at St Kilda, Victoria from 1918.[10] In 1920 he composed the musical comedy, F.F.F., styled as a "mystery musical comedy", with a book and lyrics by C. J. De Garis, was underwritten by Hugh D. McIntosh. It starred Maggie Moore and Charles H. Workman, among others. The "mystery" centred on the meaning of the enigmatic title, for which solutions were solicited and a prize offered. The show played at Adelaide's Prince of Wales Theatre for a successful season, followed by a week in Perth and a fortnight in Melbourne, where the "Argus" critic praised the songs but lambasted the play.[11] It has not been revived.

In November 1929 the baritone Robert Nicholson recorded "Ballarat the Fair" and "Back to Warrnambool", accompanied by Stoneham. In March 1930 he recorded "Mildura (Home of Mine)".[12]

In 1932 he conducted a radio orchestra in Adelaide.[13]

Ill and unemployed, with an invalid wife and daughter to support, he petitioned for bankruptcy in 1936.[14]

He was buried with the ritual of the Returned Services League[15]

Other compositions
  • All for Australia
  • Albury for The Weekly Times newspaper 1932
  • The Attack (on Zeebrugge) [16]
  • Back Home [17]
  • Back to Warrnambool [18]
  • The Bells of Peace [19]
  • Bendigo for The Weekly Times newspaper 1932
  • Come to Mildura – the Land of Winter Sunshine[20]
  • Coral Isles c. 1923 [21]
  • Distant Memories Waltz 1914 [22]
  • The Drover 1912 [23]
  • (Those) Foolish Wives 1922 [24]
  • Football Song and Chorus Commissioned by West Adelaide Football Club 1911
  • For God and St George, 1914 [25] used as a recruiting song during World War I[26]
  • Frivolina c. 1916 [27]
  • Garden of Rosy Dreams [28] featured in Hugh D. McIntosh's revue "Bubbly"
  • Golden Dreams 1924 [29]
  • Heroes of the Dardanelles 1915 [30] recording by Peter Dawson and John Ralston
  • Home Fireside [31]
  • Home to Ballaarat [32]
  • Jazzin' the Blues [33]
  • King of the Air 1913 [34][35][36] as recorded by Malcolm McEachern
  • Lolita 1928 [37] recorded by Jack Lumsdaine
  • Love [38] featured in Hugh D. McIntosh's revue "Bubbly"
  • Maryborough for The Weekly Times newspaper 1932
  • Mellow Mersey Moon for "Come to Tasmania" carnival 1927 [39]
  • Memories of a Lovely Lei (with Barronne Kuva) [40]
  • Mildura (Home of Mine)
  • The Murray Moon c.1922 with C.J. De Garis [41]
  • Peace and Glory [42]
  • Pride of the Nation: The National March of Australia [43]
  • Princess Betty's Lullaby 1927 [44] for Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II
  • (My) Ragtime Drummer Boy [45]
  • A Road To Anywhere "Between 1920 and 1932" [46]
  • Sleepy Seas[47]
  • Sun-Raysed Waltz [48] for Australian Dried Fruits Association of Mildura, Victoria.
  • The Tango Rag 1914 [49]
  • Tantalising Eyes [50] featured in Hugh D. McIntosh's revue "Lads of the Village"
  • The Tintex Girl 1924 [51]
  • That Was a Perfect Night [52]
  • The Wabash Moon c. 1922 [53]
  • Waikiki Moon [54]
  • The Warrnambool Waltz Song [55]
  • When the Wattles Bloom Again (with Dan Leahy) [56]
  • What'll we do when the wattle blooms again?[57]
  • Commerce and Heart a radio play[58]
as "Alberto Agrati"
  • The Hesitation Valse-tango 1914 [59]
  • I've Got a Motorbike (waiting for you) [60]
  • Viceroy Tea Waltz [61]

Critical reception

Reginald Stoneham is mentioned in Australian newspapers as a well known and respected music creator.[62][8]

His work 'For God and St George' featured in a charity concert to support Belgians at the outbreak of the Great War.

Further reading
  • Van Straten, Frank Play it Again Reg in Theatre Heritage Australia: on stage part 1. in Vol.11 no.3 WINTER 2010 p. 10; part 2 in Vol.11 no.4 SPRING 2010 p. 42
  • Van Straten, Frank. The Riddle of 'FFF', A Forgotten Australian Musical Comedy Australasian Music Research, No. 6, 2002: 105–119. Availability: http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=755888837969038;res=IELHSS ISSN 1325-5266
  • Hill, Jennifer, "Stoneham, Reg(inald) A. A.)", in Oxford Companion to Australian Music (ed. Warren Bebbington) (Melbourne: OUP, 1997), p. 532

References
  1. "Musical and Dramatic Notes". The West Australian. Vol. XXIX, no. 3, 431. Western Australia. 12 April 1913. p. 9. Retrieved 18 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. South Australian Imperial Contingent South Australian Register 25 April 1900 p.8 accessed 31 July 2011
  3. "R a A Stoneham".
  4. "At the Front". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 6413. Victoria, Australia. 8 February 1901. p. 1. Retrieved 13 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Family Notices". The Advertiser. Vol. XLIII, no. 13, 306. South Australia. 11 June 1901. p. 4. Retrieved 8 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. Family Notices The Advertiser (Adelaide) 14 April 1902 p.4 accessed 2 July 2011
  7. "Advertising". The Mail (Adelaide). Vol. 21, no. 1, 089. South Australia. 8 April 1933. p. 5 ('Candida's" Woman's Section). Retrieved 8 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Music Composer's Death". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 32, 518. New South Wales, Australia. 18 March 1942. p. 6. Retrieved 12 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Soldiers' Songs". The Sun. No. 665. New South Wales, Australia. 26 December 1915. p. 11. Retrieved 18 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. Stoneham v. Stoneham The Argus (Melbourne) 11 May 1904 p.5 accessed 2 July 2011
  11. "Music and Drama: King's F.F.F.", Argus, 11 October 1920, p. 8, accessed 8 December 2019
  12. "Back to Warrnambool - Robert Nicholson". NFSA. Retrieved 18 August 2022. The year 1924 also mentioned in this article, perhaps in error.
  13. "Social". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 29 September 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 18 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. Misfortunes of Musician Angus (Melbourne) 15 July 1936 p.10 accessed 31 July 2011
  15. "Funeral of Mr. R. Stoneham". 13 March 1942. p. 3 – via Trove.
  16. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942 (1914), The attack (on Zeebrugge) [music] / Reginald A. A. Stoneham, Loebel{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942 (1918), Back home [music] / words and music by Reginald A.A. Stoneham, J. Albert & Son{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. Stoneham, R. (1934). Souvenir back to Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia : Official program [music] : Song "Back to Warrnambool" / written and composed by Reg. A. A. Stoneham. Warrnambool, Vic.: Warrnambool Progress Association.
  19. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, The bells of peace [music] : song / words and music by Reginald A.A. Stoneham, Allan & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879–1942; Come to Mildura Committee; Archive CD Books Australia (2005), Come to Mildura the land of winter sunshine: souvenir & song, Archive CD Books Australia, ISBN 978-1-921081-71-2{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, Coral isles [music] : waltz romance of the south seas / written & composed by Reginald A. A. Stoneham, Reginald Stoneham Music{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942 (1914), Distant memories waltz [music] / composed by R.A.A. Stoneham (in no linguistic content), Chapman's{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, The drover [music] : song / words and music by Reginald Stoneham, W.J. Deane & Son{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942 (1922), Those foolish wives [music] : song fox trot / by Reginald A.A. Stoneham, The Reginald Stoneham Music Publishing Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, For God and St. George [music] : song / words and music by Reginald A.A. Stoneham, W. H. Paling & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. "The Appeal for Men Church Day". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 24, 281. New South Wales, Australia. 3 November 1915. p. 12. Retrieved 14 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, Frivolina [music] : valse / by Reginald Stoneham, Allan & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, Garden of rosy dreams [music] : song / words & music by Reg A.A. Stoneham, Loebel & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, Golden dreams [music] / words & music by Reg. A. A. Stoneham, Allan & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942 (1916), Heroes of the Dardanelles [music] / composed by Reginald A.A. Stoneham, Allan & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  31. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, Home fireside [music] : song / written & composed [by] Reg. A.A. Stoneham, Loebel & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. Home to Ballaarat, Official programme and souvenir song book for the Home to Ballarat (Back to Ballarat) celebrations, held Jan 28 - Feb 4, 1927, 1927, retrieved 14 February 2019
  33. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, Jazzin' the blues [music] : jazz fox trot / Reg. A.A. Stoneham, Loebel & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942 (1913), King of the air [music] : bass or baritone song / words & music by Reginald A.A. Stoneham, W.H. Paling & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. "ST. CUTHBERT'S TENNIS CLUB CONCERT". The St George Call. Vol. X, no. 34. New South Wales, Australia. 23 August 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 14 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. "The Concert at Night". Northern Star. Vol. 40. New South Wales, Australia. 2 August 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 15 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, Lolita [music] : Mexican waltz song / words and music by Reginald Stoneham, Allan & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, Love [music] / written and composed by Reg. A.A. Stoneham, Loebel & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  39. "Hobart Travel League". The Mercury. Vol. CXXXIII, no. 19, 722. Tasmania, Australia. 22 October 1930. p. 3. Retrieved 14 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  40. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942; Humphries, Don; Adams, Les; Bowden, Charles, Memories of a lovely lei [music] / Reg. Stoneham, Reginald Stoneham Publishing House{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  41. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942; De Garis, C. J. (Clement John), -1926 (1922), The Murray moon [music] : song fox-trot / written and composed by R.A.A. Stoneham and C.J. De Garis, Chappell & Co. Ltd{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  42. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, Peace & glory [music] / written and composed by Reg. A.A. Stoneham, Loebel & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  43. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942 (1914), Pride of the nation [music] : the national march of Australia for piano / Reginald A.A. Stoneham, Deluy{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  44. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, Princess Betty's lullaby [music] / words and music by Reginald A.A. Stoneham, Allan & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  45. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942 (1914), Ragtime drummer boy [music] / words and music by Reg. Stoneham, Loebel & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  46. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942 (1920), Sleepy seas [music] : waltz song / by Reginald A. A. Stoneham, unknown{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  47. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942 (1920), Sleepy seas [music] : waltz song / by Reginald A. A. Stoneham, Loebel & Co. ; Melola Salon{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  48. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942 (1919), The sun-raysed waltz [music] / composed by Reg A.A. Stoneham, C.J. De Garis{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  49. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, The tango rag [music] / composed by R.A.A. Stoneham (in no linguistic content), Chapman's{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  50. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, Tantalizing eyes [music] / written and composed by Reg. A.A. Stoneham, Loebel & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  51. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, The Tintex girl [music] : one step song / words & music by Reginald A.A. Stoneham, Tintex{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  52. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942 (1915), That was a perfect night [music] : song / words and music by Reginald A.A. Stoneham, M. Witmark & Sons ; Allan & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  53. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, The Wabash moon [music] : song waltz / words & music by Reginal A.A. Stoneham, Reginald Stoneham Music Publishing Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  54. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, Waikiki moon [music] : vocal waltz / words & music by Reginald A. A. Stoneham, Reginald A.A. Stoneham{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  55. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942; Weekly times (Melbourne, Vic.) (1932), The Warrnambool waltz song [music] / composed by Reginald Stoneham, The Weekly Times{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  56. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942; Leahy, Dan (1920), When the wattles bloom again [music] : song foxtrot / words by Dan Leahy ; music by Reginald Stoneham, Reginald Stoneham{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  57. "Advertising". The Herald. No. 16, 117. Victoria, Australia. 12 January 1929. p. 10. Retrieved 30 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  58. "On The Air From 2NR". Northern Star. Vol. 61. New South Wales, Australia. 24 August 1936. p. 11. Retrieved 18 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  59. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, The hesitation valse-tango [music] / by Alberto Agrati, Chapman's Music & Musical Instrument Stores{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  60. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942, I've got a motor-bike (waiting for you) [music] / words and music composed by Alberto Agrati, Loebel & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  61. Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942; Wilkinson & Co, The Viceroy tea waltz [music] / composed by Alberto Agrati, Wilkinson & Co{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  62. "Tasmanian Popular Song". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 11 October 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 18 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  63. "National Film & Sound Archive of Australia [Australia's Living Archive]". 21 February 2020.
  64. "Australian Variety Theatre Archive".
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