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John Albert Delany (6 July 1852 – 11 May 1907),^[1] usually referred to as John A. Delany, was an organist and composer in Sydney, Australia, a champion of choral music.^[2]^[3] He has been called "Australia's greatest musician"^[4] and "The Australian Gounod".^[5]

History

Born in England in 1852, the only son of J. D. Delany, and came to New South Wales around 1855 with his parents. His first music lessons were with Ellis Taylor, organist of St John's Church of England, Newcastle,^[6] then studied with the Benedictine monks at Lyndhurst College, Sydney, and had music lessons from William Cordner, organist of St Mary's pro-Cathedral. After Cordner's death, in 1870, he was taken on as a student by Charles S. Packer.^[7]

His first musical appointment was as violinist in the orchestra of the Victoria Theatre.^[5] He had become sought-after by theatre managers for his expertise in scoring music for orchestra.^[7]

In 1872 "Cordner's boy"^[8] was appointed choirmaster at St Mary's Cathedral, and followed John Hill as choirmaster and organist in 1873.^[9] There could have been no pipe organ in the brick building that served as the cathedral since the fire of 1868, but a harmonium would have been adequate for the purpose. ^[7]

His students include Harry Barton Dawkins.^[1]

He joined the Lyster Opera Company as conductor and chorus master in 1877, and was musical director for Nellie Melba's Sydney debut.^[10] He later filled similar functions with Martin Simonsen's company.^[7]

He returned to St Mary's briefly, for the triduum — three-day festival — that accompanied the opening of the new Cathedral by Archbishop Vaughan 8–10 September 1882, when choirs from all of Sydney's Catholic churches took part.^[11] Delany composed the march that was performed at the opening and closing ceremonies. Thomas P. Banks was the organist.^[6]

He was conductor of the Sydney Liedertafel 1885–1897.^[5]

From 1886 to 1897 he served at St Mary's pro-Cathedral as musical director, and from 1895 to 1897 as organist. His resignation from both posts has been attributed to the cathedral's refusing to allow women as choir members.^[5]

Delany served in 1897 as first director of the Sydney Institute of Music as chairman of the board of examiners.^[12]

Notable performances

He was one of three conductors, with Alfred Hill and Hugo Alpen, of the mass choirs at the Federation celebration on New Year's Day 1901 at Centennial Park, Sydney.
He conducted the Australian premiere of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius at the Sydney Town Hall on 21 December 1903.

Compositions

Delany wrote spiritual works in unaccompanied plainsong.^[13]
He is best known for an operatic Mass in A Flat, first performed December 1892. It was recorded in the 1950s^[14] and revived in 1993.^[15]
Triduum march (1882)
Cantata Captain Cook, to words by P. E. Quinn MLA, brother of Roderic Quinn
A Song of the Commonwealth, first performed at the investiture of Governor-General Hopetoun in 1901.

Family

Delany married Jane Anne Sharpe at St Mary's pro-Cathedral on 11 May 1872.^[16] The couple had two daughters; his wife Jane died in 1887.^[1] Delany died in Paddington, Sydney, in 1907 and his remains were buried in the Waverley Cemetery.^[1]^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d E. J. Lea-Scarlett (1972). "John Albert Delany (1852–1907)". Australian Dictionary of Biography: Delany, John Albert (1852–1907). National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
^ Design, UBC Web. "John Albert Delany – Monument Australia". monumentaustralia.org.au.
^ "Delany, J. A. (John Albert) (1852–1907) – People and organisations". Trove.
^ "Delany Memorial". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 21, 678. New South Wales, Australia. 11 July 1907. p. 4. Retrieved 27 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Graeme Skinner. "John A. Delany". Dictionary of Sydney.
^ ^a ^b "Our Church Otganists and Organs". The Sunday Sun (Sydney). No. 159. New South Wales, Australia. 15 April 1906. p. 12. Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Mr John Delany". Table Talk. No. 148. Victoria, Australia. 20 April 1888. p. 16. Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia. This reference has 1853 as Delany's year of birth.
^ "Death of Mr Delany". The Australian Star. No. 6084. New South Wales, Australia. 13 May 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 27 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Advertising". Freeman's Journal. Vol. XXIV, no. 1508. New South Wales, Australia. 8 March 1873. p. 1. Retrieved 31 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Marvellous Melba". The Star (Sydney). No. 143. New South Wales, Australia. 25 August 1909. p. 5. Retrieved 27 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "J. A. Delany's Concert". Freeman's Journal. Vol. XXXIII, no. 2011. New South Wales, Australia. 7 October 1882. p. 8. Retrieved 30 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^ McNeill, Rhoderick (23 March 2016). The Australian Symphony from Federation to 1960. Routledge. ISBN 9781317040873 – via Google Books.
^ "J. A. Delany, Te Deum (1900)". 13 November 2013.
^ "ABC Classic FM – Weekend Breakfast – A Fox's Breakfast". ABC Classic FM.
^ Delany, J. A.; Russell, David (15 September 1993). "Mass in A flat [sound recording] : Ave Maria". Sydney, N.S.W. : Walsingham Classics – via Trove.
^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. LXV, no. 10, 632. New South Wales, Australia. 15 June 1872. p. 1. Retrieved 31 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

External links

Photograph and obituary notice: "The Late Mr J. A. Delany". The Daily Telegraph (8720). New South Wales, Australia. 14 May 1907. p. 9. Retrieved 9 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.