MS 8372
Papers of James Murdoch (1930- )
- Papers
- 1941-1990 (bulk 1960-90)
- 15.96 metres (114 boxes) + 1 folio box
- Access restricted
until the donor's death
The Murdoch papers were purchased from James Murdoch in 1991.
The Murdoch Papers form a large collection documenting in great
detail Murdoch's activities as an arts administrator, artistic
director, manager, promoter of Australian music and musicians,
consultant, and writer and broadcaster in the thirty years 1960-90.
There are virtually no papers dating from his early life.
The papers are exceptionally varied in format: correspondence,
appointment diaries, personal documents, financial papers, newspaper
cuttings, reviews, manuscripts of books and articles, subject
files, photographs, programs, publications, concert hall plans,
music scores and tape recordings. Of special importance are papers
relating to Murdoch's research on Australian composers and his
work as National Director of the Australian Music Centre
in 1975-81. The papers record his close association with other
organisations such as the Australia Council,
the International Society for Contemporary Music and Music Rostrum
and with musicians like Roger Woodward, Peter Maxwell Davies,
Margaret Sutherland, Colin Brumby, Donald Peart and Graeme Koehne.
Most of the papers were in files and these files have been retained.
An exception is the personal letters in Series 1, which were scattered
and which have been arranged by date. The overall arrangement
of the collection into series, and the order of files within series,
have been imposed by the Library.
James Murdoch was born in Sydney on 25 January 1930. He was educated
at Canterbury Boys High School and the New South Wales State Conservatorium
of Music, where he studied piano, composition and conducting.
His first major appointment was in 1958 when he went to Madrid
as Music Director and Company Pianist of Luisillo and his Spanish
Dance Theatre. He returned to Australia in 1962 as Assistant Musical
Director and Company Pianist of the Australian Ballet Company.
In the following year he founded the Universal Record Club and
in 1964 he was appointed Special Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief
of the World Record Club Australia. In that capacity he produced
a monthly magazine and wrote over 200 record cover notes.
In 1968 Murdoch went to London as Director of James Murdoch Management
Pty Ltd. Among his clients were the composers Peter Maxwell Davies,
Hans Werner Henze and Harrison Birtwistle, the pianists Roger
Woodward and Paul Crossley, and such groups as the Fires of London,
the Pierrot Players, and the Budapest Chamber Orchestra. He returned
to Australia in 1972 as Music Consultant to the Music Board of
the Australia Council. In the same year his book Australia's
contemporary composers was published, discussing the work
of 33 composers.
In 1975 Murdoch was appointed first National Director of the Australian
Music Centre, based in Sydney. The Centre, which received a grant
from the Australia Council, established a library and information
centre, produced a series of publications, films and exhibitions,
and organised a large number of concerts. Murdoch attended meetings
of the International Association of Music Libraries, Sound Archives
and Documentation Centres and in 1980 was elected World President
of the Music Information Centres Professional Branch.
After he left the Australian Music Centre in 1981 Murdoch continued
to live in Sydney. He was again a consultant to the Music Board
and in 1983 he published A Handbook of Australian music.
In 1984 he formed the company James Murdoch & Associates which
undertook research projects, provided consultancy services for
the Australia Council, Sydney Opera House
Trust and other bodies, and managed the Australian tours of visiting
musicians and dancers. In 1988 he was Artistic Director of New
Directions, a festival sponsored by the Australian Bicentennial
Authority and Musica Viva.
Since 1990 Murdoch has lived in Bali.
Series
- General correspondence, 1960-90
- Diaries, 1968-89
- Personal documents
- Financial papers, 1966-90
- Photographs
- Writings
- Composers, 1965-88
- Composers' photographs
- Lusillo and his Spanish Dance Theatre, 1958-62
- World Record Club, 1963-69
- International Society for Contemporary Music, 1960-86
- James Murdoch Management, 1968-72
- National Composers Conference, 1973-75
- Music Rostrum, 1974-78
- Australian Music Centre, 1975-88
- Music Information Centres, 1967-82
- Australia Council, 1972-85
- Sydney Opera House Trust, 1983-89
- Roger Woodward, 1971-86
- Graeme Koehne, 1978-88
- New Directions, 1987-89
- Archival Film Project, 1984-88
- Reading 1990
- Subject files, 1963-90
- Concert hall plans
- Music scores
- Chiron College, 1973-79
- Newspaper cuttings and reviews, 1950-90
- Programs, 1913-90
- Publications
- Miscellaneous papers
- Tape recordings
Series 1 General correspondence, 1960-90
The letters and cards in this series are mostly of a personal
nature and deal with many subjects and activities. Letters that
deal entirely with a specific organisation or activity have been
placed in the appropriate series. The letters in Series 1 were
originally scattered through the collection, many of them being
in a number of overlapping concertina files. The dated letters
have been arranged by year, but have not been sorted within each
year.
The principal correspondents are Nadine Amadio, Barry Brook, Frank
Callaway, W.M. Colleron, Roger Covell, W.R. Cumming, Sir Peter
Maxwell Davies, Ian Farr, Mark Furneaux, Dame Joan Hammond, Gail
Holst, Ramli Ibraham, Margaret Kartomi, Justin MacDonnell, Prue
Neidorf, Stan Ostoja-Kotkowski, Donald Peart, Curt Prerauer, Tom
Shapcott, Margaret Sutherland, George Tintner, Jennifer Vogel,
Donald Westlake and Roger Woodward.
Folder
1. 1960
2. 1961
3. 1962
4. 1963
5. 1964
6. 1965
7. 1966
8. 1967
9. 1968
10. 1969
11. 1970
12. 1971
13. 1972
14. 1973
15. 1974
16. 1975
17. 1976
18. 1977
19. 1978
20-21. 1979
22. 1980
23. 1981
24. 1982
25. 1983
26. 1984
27. 1985
28-29. 1986
30-31. 1987
32-33. 1988
34-35. 1989
36. 1990
37-44. Undated
45. Nadine Amadio, 1965-70
46. Nadine Amadio, 1970-83
Series 2 Diaries, 1968-89
The diaries in this series are essentially appointment diaries,
with only brief entries.
Item
1. 1968
2. 1969
3. 1970
4. 1970/71
5. 1971
6. 1972
7. 1973
8. 1975
9. 1976
10-11. 1977
12. 1978
13. 1979
14. 1980
15. 1981
15. 1982
17. 1983
18-19. 1984
20-21. 1985
22-23. 1986
24-25. 1987
26-29. 1988
30. 1989
Series 3 Personal Documents
This series contains miscellaneous personal documents, such as
curricula vitae, references and reports.
Folder
1. Curricula vitae
2. Curricula vitae and references
3. Certificates, 1941-44
4. School reports, 1943-44
5. Job applications, 1982
6. Inventory of apartment
7. Will
Folio items
1. X-rays
Series 4 Financial papers
This series contains a large number of financial papers, including
bank statements, accounts, receipts and cheque butts. Financial
papers relating to specific organisations with which Murdoch was
associated have been placed in the appropriate series. The papers
have been sorted roughly chronologically, but there is some overlap
between files.
Folder
1. 1966-69
2. 1970
3. 1971
4-5. 1972
6-7. 1973
8-9. 1974
10. 1975
11. 1976
12. 1968-86
13-16. 1980-84
17-19. 1984-85
20-25. 1985-86
26-28. 1985-86
30-32. 1987-88
33. 1987-89
34-35. 1989-90
36. Undated
Series 5 Photographs
The photographs in this series include photographs of Murdoch
and friends and also photographs of musical groups and productions.
Photographs of composers are in Series 8
and there are many photographs in other series.
Folder
1. Murdoch
2. Productions
3. Companies
4. Ravi Shankar
5. Henze Monte
6-7. Miscellaneous
Series 6 Writings
This series contains drafts of Murdoch's books and articles and
also correspondence, contracts and reviews of his books. The correspondents
include Ian Cugley, Roger Henry and Bill Read. There are photographs
of Malcolm Williamson, Percy Grainger, Rose Grainger, Joan Sutherland,
Alison Bauld, Richard Meale and Roger Woodward.
Folder
Australian music today (c.1966)
1. Drafts
2. Artwork
3. Contract, 1965
4. Personae
5. Recordings
Australia's contemporary composers (1972)
6. Correspondence and drafts, 1972-79
7. Correspondence, 1973
8. Correspondence and reviews, 1972-76
9. Miscellaneous papers
10. Notebook
11-12. Reviews
A handbook of Australian music (1983)
13-23. Typescript
24-25. Galley proofs
26. Correspondence
27. Photographs
28-32. Miscellaneous writings
Series 7 Composers, 1965-88
This series comprises files maintained by Murdoch on individual
Australian composers and containing correspondence, notes, biographical
material, typescripts and programs. Some of the material was used
in his book Australia's contemporary composers (1972),
but there are later papers extending to 1988. Further papers on
composers can be found in series 19, 20
and 26.
Folder
1. David Ahern, 1968-72
2. Robert Allworth
3. Alison Bauld, 1974
4. Anne Boyd, 1968-72
5. Peter Brideoake
6-7. Colin Brumby, 1966-85
8-10. Nigel Butterley, 1965-67
11. John Carmichael, 1981
12. Bruce Clarke, 1968-72
13. Edward Cowie, 1981-84
14. Peter Crowe, 1966-86
15. Ian Cugley, 1965-72?
16-18. George Dreyfus, 1965-84
19. Max Deacon ; Graham Dudley, 1968
20. Daryl Edwards, 1965
21. Ross Edwards, 1967-68
22. Ian Farr, 1988
23. Andrew Ford, 1984
24. Felix Gethen ; John Gilfedder
25. Helen Gifford, 1973-85
26. Eric Gross, 1975
27. Moya Henderson
28. Graham Hair, 1966-67
29. Raymond Hanson, 1967
30. Alfred Hill
31. Dulcie Holland, 1972
32. Rex Hobcroft, 1982? ; Don Hollier, 1987
33. Brian Howard, 1982-88
34. Robert Hughes, 1968
35. Keith Humble, 1965-70
36. Trevor Jones
37. Jeremy Kellock
38. Dorian Le Gallienne
39. David Lumsdaine, 1973-78
40. Helgart Mahler, 1967
41. William Mann, 1980-82
42. Andrew McCredie, 1975-81
43. Barry McKimm, 1966
44-48. Richard Meale, 1965-80
49. George Michael
50. James Penberthy, 1971-83
51. Vincent Plush, 1977
52. Chester Schultz
53-59 Peter Sculthorpe, 1965-80
60-61. Larry Sitsky, 1963-80
62-65. Margaret Sutherland, 1966-84
66. Carl Vine
67. Felix Werder
68. Martin Wesley-Smith, 1967-74
69. Gillian Whiteheard
70. Kim Williams, 1975-78
71. Malcolm Williamson, 1967-78
The files were maintained by Murdoch and contained both studio
and informal photographs, as well as photographs of performances.
Negatives are sometimes included.
Folder
1. David Ahern
2. John Antill
3. Alison Bauld
4. Ian Bonighton
5. Anne Boyd
6. Colin Brumby
7. Nigel Butterley
8. Bruce Clarke
9. Barry Conyngham
10. Ian Cugley
11-12. Peter Maxwell Davies
13. Clive Douglas
14. George Dreyfus
15. Ross Edwards
16. Ian Farr
17. Helen Gifford
18. Alexander Goehr
19. Eric Gross
20. Raymond Hanson
21. Hans Werner Henze
22. Robert Hughes
23. Keith Humble
24. Antigone Kefala
25. William Louther
26. David Lumsdaine
27. Barry Moreland
28. James Penberthy
29. Peter Sculthorpe
30. Larry Sitsky
31. George Tibbits
32. Felix Werder
33. Martin Wesley-Smith
34. Kim Williams
Series 9 Luisillo and his Spanish Dance Theatre, 1958-62
Murdoch was Musical Director of the Madrid-based company, which
toured throughout the world. He took part in performances as a
conductor and pianist and also composed two ballets. The small
series mostly comprises programs.
Folder
1. Agreements and contract, 1959-60
2-4. Programs
5. Newspaper cuttings and musical score
Series 10. World Record Club, 1963-69
Murdoch was founder and General Manager of the Universal Record
Club in 1963 before joining the World Record Club Australia in
1964 as special assistant to the Editor-in-Chief. In that capacity
he produced cover notes for a large number of recordings, edited
World Record Club News (New Zealand), wrote articles on
contemporary music and artists, and produced the 'Australian Music
Today' recordings in 1965. He remained on the staff of the World
Record Club until 1969.
Folder
1. Correspondence, 1964-66
2. Correspondence, 1966-67
3. Correspondence, 1967
4. 'Australian Music Today' papers, 1965
5. 'Australian Music today' reviews, 1965
6. Agreement between Festival Records and Universal Record Club, 1963
7-8. Miscellaneous papers, 1964-67
9. World Record Club catalogues and magazines, 1963-69
Series 11 International Society for Contemporary Music
Murdoch was an active member of the International Society for
Contemporary Music and at various times was Secretary of its Melbourne
and Sydney branches and the Australian Section. The papers that
he assembled include agenda papers, financial papers, correspondence,
notes, programs, program notes, cuttings and publications. Among
the correspondents are Donald Peart, Frank Callaway, Helen Gifford,
Peter Platt, Ian Farr and Clement Dirago.
Folder
1. Adelaide, 1968-79
2. Australian Section, 1977-81
3. Brisbane, 1974-78
4. Composers
5-6. General, 1960-69
7. General, 1966-67
8-9. International, 1961-73
10-11. International Music Council, 1965-79
12. Mailing lists
13. Melbourne, 1971-73
14-15. Melbourne, 1966-67
16. Melbourne, 1967
17. 1st Melbourne Festival
18. 2nd Melbourne Festival, 1968
19. Melbourne, 1965-68
20. Melbourne accounts
21. Miscellaneous
22. Newcastle, 1966
23. Programs, 1965-71
24. Project New Music, 1967
25-26. Reviews, 1963-67
27. Sydney, 1964-81
28. Sydney, 1979-80
29. Sydney, 1980-81
30-31. Sydney programs, 1965-68
32. World Music Days, 1985-86
Series 12 James Murdoch Management Pty Ltd, 1968-72
In 1968 Murdoch moved to London and became personal manager of
the composer Peter Maxwell Davies and manager of the Pierrot Players.
He formed a company, James Murdoch Management, which was incorporated
in 1970, and was agent and manager of a number of musical groups,
musicians, singers, dancers and choreographers. The files that
he retained from this period contain programs, correspondence,
financial papers, contracts and reviews and include notes by Maxwell
Davies on his opera 'Taverner'. The correspondents include Anthony
Steel, Barrie Iliffe, Bernard Rands and T. Halliwell.
Folder
1. General papers, 1968-71
2. Articles of Association and Management Agreement, 1970
3. Artists Place, 1970
4. British Council, 1969-70
5. Graham Collier, 1969-71
6. Composers' Guild, 1968-70
7. Paul Crossley, 1970
8. Bryan Fairfax, 1970
9. Domaine Musicale
10. Europe, 1968-69
11. Joelson & Co., 1970
12. Pierrot Players, 1969-70
13. Prague, 1970-71
14. Press lists, 1969-71
15. Harry Redner, 1969-71
16. Stephen Pruslin, 1969-71
17. Royal Festival Hall, 1968-71
18. Arnold Schonberg
19. Universities, 1969
20. Westdeutsche Rundfunk, 1969-70
21. Miscellaneous papers, 1971
Series 13 National Conference of Australian Composers, 1973-75
National Conferences of Australian Composers were held in Hobart
in 1963 and 1965. The third Conference, organised by the Canberra
School of Music and the Australian National University, was held
in Canberra in September 1973. Murdoch took part in his capacity
as Music Consultant to the Australian Council for the Arts. The
papers in this small series comprise correspondence, press releases,
financial papers, transcripts of proceedings and speeches. The
correspondents include Eric Gross and Ken Healey.
Folder
1. Planning papers
2. Correspondence, 1973-75
3. Financial papers
4. Speeches and addresses
5-6. Proceedings, 24 Sept. 1973
7-8. Proceedings, 25 Sept. 1973
9. Proceedings, 26 Sept. 1973
10. Proceedings, 27 Sept. 1973
11. Resolutions
Music Rostrum was conceived by Roger Woodward in 1973 with the
aim of organising a comtemporary music festival in Australia,
with performances, master classes, lectures and seminars. The
first festival was held in Sydney and Melbourne in 1975. Murdoch
was on the Board of Directors. The papers he accumulated consist
of correspondents, financial papers, circulars, press releases,
programs and photographs. The correspondents include Murray Khouri,
Robin Stanford, Stuart Thompson, Frank Barnes and Kim Williams.
Folder
1. Minutes and agenda papers, 1975
2. Minutes and agenda papers, 1976
3. Minutes and agenda papers, 1977
4. Agenda and financial papers, 1975-78
5. Agenda papers and correspondence, 1975
6. Rostrum '75 advertising
7. Reviews, 1975
8. Cuttings and leaflets, 1975-76
9. Programs, 1974-75
10. Programs, 1975
11. Programs, 1976
12. William Pearson recital, 1976
13. Sydney String Quartet, 1976
14. Jazz Concert I, 1976
15. Jazz Concert II, 1976
16. All Australian Rostrum, 1976
17. Sonic Circle, 1976
18. Acme Concert, 1976
19. Jazz Concert III, 1976
20. William Pearson recital, Melbourne, 1976
21. Electronic Encounter, 1976
22. Robyn Archer, Melbourne, 1976
23. William Pearson recital, Adelaide, 1976
24. Carnival of the Animals, 1976
25. El Cimarron, 1976
26. Lunch hour series, 1976
27. Lecture series, 1976
28. Correspondence and other papers, 1975-76
In 1975 Murdoch was appointed the first National Director of the
Australian Music Centre, an independent non-profit company formed
on the initiative of the Music Board of the Australia Council.
The Centre, which was based in The Rocks in Sydney, was recognised
by the Government and UNESCO as the official national music information
centre. It built up a large library of publications, scores and
sound recordings, produced a number of directories and other publications
and organised concerts and exhibitions. Murdoch resigned as Director
in 1981.
This very large series mostly comprises files created by Murdoch,
including a series of alphabetical files. They contain an extensive
correspondence, reports, agenda papers, financial papers, leaflets
and cuttings. Among the correspondents are John Amis, John Antill,
Anne Carr Boyd, Claire Bramley, Colin Brumby, John Cage, H.C.
Coombs, Clive Douglas, Graham Dudley, Helen Gifford, Rodney Hall,
Dorothy Helmrich, Miriam Hyde, Paul Isherwood, Graeme Koehne,
Diana Manson, Barry Moreland, Prue Neidorf, Stan Ostoja-Kotkowski,
Clive Pascoe, Therese Radic, Tom Shapcott, Kenneth Tribe and Rod
Wallbridge.
Other papers on the Australian Music Centre can be found in Series
16 and 17.
Folder
1. Agreement with Murdoch, 1975
2. Annual report, 1982
3. Robyn Archer, 1977-79
4. Arts administration, 1977-78
5. Australia Council 1980
6. Australia Council, 1981
7-9. Australian composers
10-11. Background information
12. Bicentennial Encyclopaedia of Australian Music, 1977-80
13. 'A Blueprint', 1975
14. Composers' Guild of Australia, 1975-79
15. Confidential letters, 1977
16. Confidential letters, 1979
17. Coopers & Lybrand report, 1981
18. Financial papers, 1974-75
19. Flederman Sextet, 1982
20-22. Friends of the Australian Music Centre, 1981
23. Percy Grainger, 1975-80
24. Rodney Hall, 1972-77
25. International Association of Music Libraries, 1978-82
26. International Music Council, 1979-81
27-28. International Music Council NSW Committee, 1979-80
29. Letters of support, 1981
30. Library Bulletins, 1977-79
31. Library inquiry, 1980
32. Lucrecia Kasilag, 1977-80
33. Macmillan, 1974-80
34. Manual
35. Barry Moreland, 1975-81
36. Music Coordination, 1978-81
37-38. Official management, 1980-81
39. Paintings, 1976
40. Posters, 1981
41. Press, 1981
42. Repertoire International de Litterature Musicale, 1976
43. Section 199 Companies Act, 1980-81
44. Testimonials, 1976-82
45. Theatre Board, 1981
46. R.N. Wallbridge & Co., 1978-82
47. George Whyte, 1975
48. Universal Edition, 1977-81
49-53. Young Composers Summer School
54. A, 1975-80
55. A, 1980
56. B, 1975-80
57. B, 1980-81
58. C, 1980-81
59. C, 1979-81
60. D, 1973-79
61. D, 1980-84
62. E, 1975-80
63. F, 1973-79
64. F, 1980
65. G, 1972-80
66. G, 1979-81
67. H, 1972-80
68. J, 1975-79
69. K, 1975-79
70. K, 1980
71. L, 1975-80
72. M, 1973-80
73. M, 1980-81
74. N, 1974-79
75. O, 1969-81
76. P, 1976-79
77. P, 1978-80
78. R, 1974-79
79. R, 1975-81
80. S, 1972-80
81. S, 1980-81
82. T, 1974-80
83. T, 1980
84. V, 1975-80
85. W, 1975-81
86-87. Miscellaneous papers
88. AMC News, 1985-86
89. Later papers, 1986-87
90. Later papers, 1988
91. Cutting book, 1978 [Folio box]
92. Australian Music Centre; the first 18 months [Folio box]
The Australian Music Centre affiliated with the International
Group of Music Information Centres in 1975. The Group was a branch
of the International Association of Music Libraries, Archives
and Documentation Centres. Murdoch was President of the Group
in 1980-82 and presided at its meeting in Brussels. The series
comprises reports, agenda papers, correspondence, leaflets, circulars
and notes. Correspondents include Jan Olaf Ruden, William Elias,
Bernard Huys, Anna Van Steenbergen and Andre Jurres.
Folder
1. Correspondence and papers, 1975-76
2. Correspondence and papers, 1977-78
3. Correspondence and papers, 1979-80
4. Correspondence and papers, 1981
5-6. Correspondence and papers, 1982
7. International meetings, 1967-70
8. International meetings, 1972-73
9. International meeting, Bergen, 1976
10-11. International meeting, Mainz, 1977
12. International meeting, Cambridge, 1980
13. International meeting, Brussels, 1982
14. IAML/IASA Conference, 1981
15. Papers on communication between music centre librarians
The Australia Council was established as a statutory authority
in 1975, replacing the Australian Council for the Arts. As Director
of the Australian Music Centre, Murdoch had a close association
with the Music Board of the Council. In 1981-82 he was a Consultant
to the Australia Council and undertook a number of projects, including
a review of the Music Board's publishing program and the planning
of a National Music Council. The series contains files and publications
acquired by Murdoch in this period, including correspondence with
Clive Pascoe, Ian Johnston and John Cameron.
Further papers on the Australia Council can be found in Series
15 and 22.
Folder
1. Music Board, 1972-73
2. Music Board, 1973
3. Music Board grants, 1973-81
4. Music Board: instrument makers' taxation, 1977
5. Music Board, 1977-78
6. Music Board, 1979
7. Music Board, 1978-81
8. Music Board-Australian Music Centre meetings, 1979-81
9. Music Board, 1982-85
10. Australian National Music Centre, 1981
11. Consultant's file notes, 1981
12. Consultant's projects, 1981
13. Consultant's reports, 1981-82
14-15. General papers, 1981-84
16-20. Music Board Publishing Program Review, 1973-82
21. Sir Ian Potter dinner, 1985
22. Miscellaneous photocopies
23. Jean Battersby. A Centre for Studies in the Arts, 1981
24. Tavistock Research Centre. Australians' attitudes to the arts, 1980
25. Drama companies productions list, 1975-80
26. Sandra Forbes. National plan for the promotion of Australian
literature
Series 18 Sydney Opera House Trust, 1983-89
In 1985 Murdoch was appointed a consultant for the Sydney Opera
House Trust Bicenntennial Program and in 1986 he was also music
consultant to the Trust. Most of the papers in this series relate
to the Trust's bicentennial activities.
Folder
1-8. Program and Marketing Committee meetings, 1987-89
9. Profit and loss statement, 1987
10-16. Dance Springboard: research notes and programs, 1986-88
17. Bicentennial Authority agreements, 1986
18-25. Bicentennial activities proposals, 1986-87
26. Bicentennial diary of events, 1988
27. 15th anniversary pageant, 1988
28. Laser spectaculars
29. Ultra Art Pty Ltd, 1986
30. Bicentennial exhibition, 1985-86
31-33. Programs
34. Correspondence, 1985-86
35. Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 1983-87
36. Music theatre, 1985-86
37. Larrikin Music Group
38. Bennelong, 1987
39. Educational
40. Corroboree, 1986-87
41. Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra, 1986
42. Goossens lectures
43. Library, 1986
44. Music Consultant, 1986
45. Technical information sheets
46. Agents lists
47. Australian composers, 1987
48. Art of Charles Blackman, 1987
49-50. Don Burrows special concert, 1988
51. Beethoven concert, 1988
52. Jane Peters recital, 1988
53. Sydney International Piano Competition
54-57. Program proposals
58-59. Programs
60. Consultancy
Murdoch was at one time the manager of the pianist Roger Woodward
and he later worked closely with him in establishing Music Rostrum.
Woodward resigned as Musical Director of Music Rostrum in 1976.
The series contains an important group of letters of Woodward,
many of them written while he was living in Poland. Other correspondents
include Frank Barnes, Kim Williams, Rex Hobcroft, Stuart Thompson
and Justin McDonnell. Other papers concerning Woodward can be
found in Series 14.
Folder
1. Correspondence between Murdoch and Woodward, 1973-86
2. Correspondence about Woodward and Music Rostrum, 1974
3-4. Correspondence about Woodward and Music Rostrum, 1975
5. Correspondence about Woodward and Music Rostrum, 1976
6. Correspondence, cuttings and other papers about Woodward, 1974-82
7. Cuttings, 1971-76
8. Programs and reviews, 1971-84
9. Photographs
10. Copies of official correspondence concerning performances by
Woodward in London, 1971
Murdoch became manager of the Adelaide-born composer Graeme Koehne
in 1984. Most of the papers in this series date from 1984-87,
although there is some earlier correspondence. Koehne was a Harkness
Fellow in 1985-86 and several of his letters were written from
the United States. Other correspondents include Wayne McKenna,
Lynn Ralph, Sylvia Box and Noel Pelly. Apart from letters, there
are programs, cuttings, financial papers, reviews and lists of
Koehne's compositions.
Folder
1. Correspondence, 1978-86
2. Curriculum vitae, photographs and other papers, 1986-88
3. Accounts, 1986-87
4. Australian Ballet, 1984-87
5. Australian Chamber Orchestra, 1986
6. Boosey & Hawkes, 1986-87
7. Queensland Ballet Company, 1988
8. Seymour Group, 1987
9. 'Nearly beloved', 1986
10-11. Western Australian Ballet Company, 1987-88
12. South Australian Jubilee 150, 1986
13. Works by Koehne
14. 'The selfish giant', 1986
15. Copies of reviews, 1982-86
Series 21 New Directions, 1987-89
'New Directions' was a series of 101 performances of Australian
and international contemporary and experimental music held in
Sydney in September 1988. It was sponsored by the Australian Bicentennial
Authority and administered by Musica Viva. Murdoch was the Artistic
Director. The files that he assembled contain circulars, correspondence,
reviews, programs, financial papers, press releases, reports and
photographs. The correspondents include Miriam Hyde, Peter Sculthorpe,
Michael Dewis and Philip Henry.
Folder
1. Draft brochure
2. Budget
3. Contracts
4-5. Correspondence
6. Newspaper cuttings
7-8. Diary of events
9. Launch
10. Media releases
11. Photographs
12. Press kits
13. Draft programs
14. Programs
15. Program proofs
16-17. Publications
18. Report
19. Bobby Goldsmith Foundation
20-22. Diamanda Galas
23. David Hykes
24. Musica Viva
25-26. New Directions 1990
27-28. Miscellaneous papers
From 1974 onwards the Australia Council supported an Archival
Film Project which recorded on film interviews with leading writers,
composers and artists. Copies of the film were deposited in the
National Library (later the National Film and Sound Archive).
In 1984 Murdoch was engaged by the Australia Council as a researcher
for the Project and carried out 25 interviews. The interviewees
included Peggy Glanville-Hicks, Joan Hammond, Judith Wright, Manning
Clark, Hal Missingham and Gwen Harwood. Murdoch produced a directory
of arts on film in 1988.
Folder
1-2. Correspondence and notes, 1984-87
3-4. Arts on Film; a user directory, 1988
5. Subject index
6. Notes and newspaper cuttings
7. Indexes
8. Newsletters and printed material.
Series 23 Reading 1990
Reading 1990 was established by the National Book Council, in
conjunction with the Literature Board of the Australia Council
and the National Library, to promote reading in Australia during
1990, International Literary Year. Murdoch was appointed Director
of the project in April 1989. His contract ended in November 1989
and the National Book Council then took over the administration
of the project. This small series contains correspondence, circulars,
reports and notes. The correspondents include Rosemary Wighton
and Peter Field.
Folder
1. Circulars
2. Contract
3. Correspondence, 1989
4. Legal, 1988-89
5. Management Committee
6-7. Miscellaneous papers
Series 24 Subject Files, 1963-90
Murdoch maintained an extensive series of subject files, containing
biographical notes, typescripts of articles, newspaper cuttings,
photocopies of articles, programs, reports, lists of works, transcripts
of oral history recordings and some correspondence.
Folder
1-2. Aboriginal arts, 1983-88
3. Aboriginal music, 1984
4-8. Adelaide Festival of Arts, 1982-88
9. Amadio Saunders Concert Management, 1976
10-11. Araluen Festival, 1984
12-14. Arts in Australia
15. Arts journalism, 1986
16. Arts travel, 1985
17. Asian Composers Festival, 1980
18-20. Australian Chamber Orchestra, 1985
21. Australian Dance Theatre, 1984
22. Australian Studies Project, 1982
23. Australian Music Survey, 1969-72
24. Australian National Music Council, 1981
25. Australian Opera, 1987
26. Australian Performing Rights Association, 1963
27. Australian Society of Authors, 1968-76
28. Margaret Barr, 1985-86
29. Jean Battersby, 1972-80
30-36. Bicentennial projects, 1988
37. Charles and Barbara Blackman, 1977-78
38. Elsie Blumann, 1984
39. Pamela Boden, 1977
40. Joan Bona
41-42. Barry Brook, 1974-83
43. Boosey & Hawkes, 1985 ; Xena Borovansky, 1984 ; Virginia Braden ;
Vera Broadford
44. Edna Busse
45. Canada-Australia, 1986
46. Canberra School of Music, 1986
47. Careers in music, 1990
48. Stuart Challender
49. Chandrabhanu, 1978
50-52. China, 1980-81
53. Christensen Foundation, 1989
54. Manning Clark
55. Eric Clapham
56. Computers, 1977
57. Copyists and copyright, 1975-86
58. Cultural Grants Advisory Council, 1987
59. Dance music, 1983-87
60-62. Darling Harbour exhibition, 1985
63. Festival of Perth, 1966-68
64. Film arts education, 1985
65. Foreign Affairs: Festival of Pacific Arts, 1985
66. Dorothy Green, 1990
67. Gulbenkian Foundation
68. Joan Hammond
69. Barbara Hanrahan
70. Margarita Hanson
71. Max Harris
72. Gwen Harwood
73. Ivor Hele
74. Gail Holst, 1976-80
75. Hong Kong Arts Centre, 1982
76. Hanna Horovitz, 1981-82 ; Mary Houghton
77. Indian artists, 1984
78. Indian Ocean Festival, 1984
79. International Association of Music Libraries, 1981-82
80. International Clown Festival, 1980
81-82. International Dance Course, 1982
83. Eileen Joyce
84. Lecture notes London, 1982
85. London Contemporary Dance Theatre, 1967-78
86. London Sinfonietta
87. Shirley McKechnie ; Alan McCulloch ; John Manifold
88. Naranyan Menon, 1977-81
89. Hal Missingham, 1980
90. Don Mitchell
91. Irene Mitchell ; John Morrison, 1986 ; Alice Moyle
92. Ian Munro ; James Murdoch
93. Music magazines
94. Music theatre
95. Musica Viva, 1981
96. Musicians Union, 1971
97. National Aboriginal Observance Day, 1988?
98. National Music Camps Association, 1984
Northern Territory Schools Commission, 1978
99-100 Notes on a landscape
101. Jack O'Hagen, 1968
102-7. Oral History Program, National Library
108. Constantine Orbelian, 1986
109. Lunaire Pierrot, 1982
110. Betty Pounder, 1979
111. Rex Reid, 1986
112. Olaf Ruhen, 1984
113. John Sangster, 1971
114. South Pacific Festival of Arts, 1984
115. Sydney International Piano Competition, 1985
116. Sydney Metropolitan Opera, 1990
117. Howard Taylor, 1978
118. Theatre Australia, 1982
119. Colin Thiele
120. Frank Thring, 1982-85
121. John Timlin, 1973
122. Peter Travis, 1984-85
123. UNESCO: Australian National Commission, 1981
124. UNESCO: Australian National Advisory Committee, 1965-66
125. Universities of Wollongong, 1983-84?
126. Venues
127. Victoria
128. Victorian Arts Centre, 1967
129. Visual arts, 1985
130. Kath Walker, 1976
131. Margaret Walker, 1984
132. Western Australia
133. Judith Wright, 1965-83
Series 25 Concert Hall Plans
The plans in this series appear to have been collected by Murdoch
in the 1980s.
Folder
1-2. Adelaide Festival Theatre
3. Brisbane Concert Hall ; Canberra Theatre Centre
4. Sydney Opera House
5. Her Majesty's Theatre, Perth
6. Queensland Performing Arts Centre
7. Sydney State Theatre
8. Victorian Arts Centre
9. Perth Concert Hall
This series contains a collection of published music scores, mostly
by Australian composers. The composers include John Antill, Harrison
Birtwhistle, Barry Conyngham, Peter Maxwell Davies, George Dreyfus,
Andrew Ford, Helen Gifford, Hans Werner Henze, Robert Hughes,
Dorian Le Gallienne, Peter Sculthorpe, Larry Sitsky, Margaret
Sutherland and Malcolm Williamson. There is also a manuscript
score by Murdoch and a copy of a manuscript score of Sitsky's
opera 'Lenz'.
Series 27 Chiron College, 1973-79
Chiron College was a small two year matriculation school located
in Birchgrove in Sydney. It was registered with the New South
Wales Department of Education in March 1974, but closed down in
1977. Murdoch was on the Board of Directors from 1973 and was
President of Chiron College at the time of its closure. Some of
the files in this series were created by Murdoch, while others
appear to have belonged to the Principals John Welch and Peter
Ofner and the Registrar Diana Thomson. The correspondents include
Ofner, Geoffrey Lehmann, Barbara Blackman and Charles Blackman.
Folder
1. Board meeting, 1973
2. Incorporation and reports to committee, 1973
3-4. Board meetings, 1974-76
5. Appeal re recurrent grants, 1976
6. Capital grants, 1976 ; Schools Commission correspondence, 1976-77 ;
Schools Commission questionnaire, 1974
9. Lectures, 1976-78
10. Press releases, 1975
11-12. Student record cards, 1973
13. Accounts, 1973
14. Application forms, 1974
15. Applications for enrolment and employment, 1974-75
16-17. Enrolments, 1976-77
18. Admissions register, 1976
19. Letters to parents, 1976
20. Correspondence, 1976
21. Correspondence, including liquidation papers, 1975-79
22-23. Correspondence re fees
24-25. Fundraising and donations, 1976
26. Textbook allowance for students, 1976
27. Purchase of textbooks and spirit machine, 1974-76
28. Equipment and excursions, 1976
29. Staff matters, 1976
30. Photographs of opening of school, 1973
31. History of Clifton Villa, Birchgrove
32. Maintenance and hire of building, 1974-76
33. Miscellaneous papers
Series 28 Newspaper Cuttings and Reviews, 1950-90
This series consists of concert, opera and recital reviews and
articles from both Australian and overseas newspapers. They have
been arranged roughly chronologically.
Folder
1-2. 1950-59
3-5. 1960-68
6. 1968
7-8. 1966-69
9-10. 1968-71
11-18. 1967-80
19-22. 1988-90
Series 29 Programs, 1913-90
Murdoch retained a very large number of programs of musical and
dance performances in Australia, Britain and Europe from about
1960 to 1990. In addition, there are a few J.C. Williamson opera
programs of 1913 and two binders of Australian, New Zealand and
English performances of the period 1937-50. The latter are mostly
of music performances, but include programs of the Old Vic tour
of Australia and New Zealand in 1948.
Series 30 Publications
This series contains a varied collection of Australian, British
and European monographs, magazines, pamphlets, government reports
and other publications relating to music and the arts, 1960-90.
Series 31 Miscellaneous
This series contains notes, lists and other manuscripts by Murdoch,
as well as typescript copies of writings by others, leaflets,
cuttings and other ephemera. In addition, there is a typescript
copy of Patrick White's play 'Signal driver' and a report by Jean
Battersby on cultural policy in Australia.
Series 32 Tape Recordings
The large number of tape recordings kept by Murdoch are mostly
of musical performances, but also include radio talks and conference
proceedings. Among the composers represented are Richard Rodney
Bennett, Colin Brumby, Peter Maxwell Davies, Clive Douglas, George
Dreyfus, Richard Meale, Peter Sculthorpe and Margaret Sutherland.
Many of the tapes were made while Murdoch was in London in 1968-71
and there are also several tapes for a documentary on Bali.
Box Series Folder/Item
1 1 1-14
2 1 15-25
3 1 26-36
4 1 37-46
5 2 1-7
6 2 8-11
7 2 12-15
8 2 16-19
9 2 20-25
10 2 26-30
11 3 1-8
12 4 1-9
13 4 10-16
14 4 17-25
15 4 26-33
16 4 34-36
16 5 1-6
17 6 1-10
18 6 11-21
19 6 22-32
20 7 1-10
21 7 11-19
22 7 20-30
23 7 31-38
24 7 39-48
25 7 49-57
26 7 58-65
27 7 66-71
27 8 1-7
28 8 8-25
29 8 26-34
29 9 1-5
30 10 1-9
31 11 1-11
32 11 12-22
33 11 23-32
34 12 1-10
35 12 11-21
36 13 1-11
37 14 1-8
38 14 9-18
39 14 19-28
40 15 1-12
41 15 13-25
42 15 26-38
43 15 39-53
44 15 54-65
45 15 66-78
46 15 79-90
47 16 1-9
48 16 10-15
48 17 1-3
49 17 4-13
50 17 14-22
51 17 23-25
51 18 1-6
52 18 7-15
53 18 16-24
54 18 25-32
55 18 33-41
56 18 42-51
57 18 52-60
58 19 1-9
59 20 1-9
60 20 10-15
60 21 1-3
61 21 4-14
62 21 15-24
63 21 25-28
63 22 1-4
64 22 5-8
65 23 6-7
65 24 1-6
66 24 7-16
67 24 17-24
68 24 25-32
69 24 33-39
70 24 40-49
71 24 50-58
72 24 59-65
73 24 66-75
74 24 76-82
75 24 83-92
76 24 93-101
77 24 102-110
78 24 111-17
79 24 118-25
80 24 126-33
81 25 1-9
82 26
82 27 1-4
83 27 5-14
84 27 15-24
85 27 25-34
86 28 1-10
87 28 11-18
88 28 19-22
88-93 29
94-99 30
100 31
101-14 32
Folio box
1 3
1 15 91-92
1 26
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