Reverend Alfred Wheeler (27 October 1865 – 1949) was an Anglican minister and composer of spiritual and romantic music. 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. He was successful and well regarded as a musician and minister. He acted as director of the Australian performing rights organization. Wheeler composed the score for a 1940 children's musical ''

The Magic Basket ''The Magic Basket'' is a musical play written in 1940 for children by Australian composer Alfred Wheeler. The score includes dialogue and fourteen tunes. Action occurs on a single magical moon-scape set. There are twelve speaking parts and addi ...

'' 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 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:

: 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 William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

) *Minuet in G *The Bells (female part song)

Recordings

* 2006 Love triumphant by Edward Larenson * Humpty dumpty, Goosey goosey gander, Little Bo-peep * Murmur of the bush

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeler, Alfred 1865 births 1949 deaths Australian male composers Australian composers Australian songwriters Musicians from Geelong Australian musical theatre composers