Introduction

This book represents the first comprehensive survey of the Australian symphony from 1892 to 1960. Most Australian orchestral music composed during this period remains little-known, even amongst the Australian music community. In particular, the majority of the symphonies of this period are largely absent from concerts or radio broadcasts, and modern recordings are few. The reception of Australian visual arts of the same period stands in marked contrast; many artists and their works are relatively well-known and represented in public exhibitions and documentation.