Alfred Wheeler (composer) explained

Reverend Alfred Wheeler (27 October 1865 – 1949) was an Anglican minister and composer of spiritual and romantic music.^{[1] [2]} He arranged children's folk songs and nursery rhymes for publication. He composed other songs and wrote orchestrations for larger choral works. Wheeler lived in Adelaide for eight years on arrival in Australia in 1899 before spending most of his life in Geelong.^[3] He was successful and well regarded as a musician and minister.^[4] He acted as director of the Australian performing rights organization.^[5]

Wheeler composed the score for a 1940 children's musical The Magic Basket with lyrics written by Melbourne university arts graduate Bronnie Taylor (Later Oxford PhD). The premiere played at Lauriston Girls School and was revived in New South Wales, Tasmania^[6] and South Australia and more recently in Queensland. The plot entails a magic basket used to recruit children to the moon, where they help the sand man rescue his sleep dust from goblins. Fourteen melodies and dialogue are preserved in Australian libraries.

Works

• 1920: Soot and the Fairies : an amusing cantata suitable for schools
• 1940: The Magic Basket: Children's Musical
• Old Mother Hubbard : a comic quartette for SATB
• 1946: May Joy Be Yours
• 1935: Love Triumphant
• 1937: An Old Fairy Tale
• Pompadour
• The Lord is my Light
• Spring Flowers (trio)
• Little Bo-Peep
• Song The Angels Sing
• Ye Spotted Snakes (Lyrics William Shakespeare)
• Minuet in G
• The Bells (female part song)

Recordings

• 2006 Love triumphant by Edward Larenson^[7]
• Humpty dumpty, Goosey goosey gander, Little Bo-peep^[8]
• Murmur of the bush^[9]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Alfred Wheeler: (author/organisation) - AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. Austlit. Austlit.edu.au. 20 December 2017.
2. Web site: Wheeler, Alfred (-1949) - People and organisations. Nla.gov.au. 20 December 2017.
3. Web site: Sacred and Secular. News. 21 January 1931 . 20 December 2017.
4. Web site: Noted Song Writer. News. 24 October 1928 . 20 December 2017.
5. Web site: Canon Alfred Wheeler. Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser. 8 April 1949 . 20 December 2017.
6. Web site: Christmas Operetta. Examiner. 17 December 1951 . 20 December 2017.
7. Web site: Love Triumphant / Edward Laurenson. Edward Laurenson. 24 July 2008. 20 December 2017. YouTube.
8. Web site: Alfred Wheeler : Australian Music Centre. Australianmusiccentre.com.au. 20 December 2017.
9. Web site: Murmur of the bush : choir by Alfred Wheeler : Work : Australian Music Centre. Australianmusiccentre.com.au. 20 December 2017.