Reginald Alberto Agrati Stoneham 1879-1942

Reginald Alberto Agrati Stoneham (1879 – 11 March 1942) was an Australian composer and publisher of mostly topical songs, and a musical comedy '' F.F.F.'' He was perhaps Australia's leading exponent of jazz and ragtime piano styles in the first decades of the 20th century as both composer and performer. He was also a popular accompanist and recording artist.

Biography

He was born in Carlton, Victoria in 1879, the fifth son of musician William (c. 1833 – 25 March 1913) and Ellen Stoneham (c. 1846 – 10 February 1889) of 210 Madeline Street Carlton. In 1900 he served in the South Australian Mounted Rifles as a private trumpeter. His trade was listed as "wood turner". He was wounded in action at Slobet's Nek. In 1901 he married Adelaide Minnie "Addie" Lyons (1880–1959). They had a daughter Val Augusta Elsa Stoneham on 10 April 1902. Described as "one of Melbourne's leading florists", she was employed by Harris, Scarfe, Ltd., Adelaide in 1933. Stoneham is most remembered for the song " Sleepy Seas" and patriotic songs during World War 1, notably the popular "Heroes of the Dardanelles". He lived at

St Kilda, Victoria St Kilda is an inner seaside suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, 6 km (4 miles) south-east of Melbourne's Melbourne City Centre, Central Business District, located within the City of Port Phillip Local governmen ...

from 1918. In 1920 he composed the musical comedy, '' F.F.F.'', styled as a "mystery musical comedy", with a book and lyrics by

C. J. De Garis Clement John ("Jack") De Garis (22 November 188417 August 1926) was an Australian entrepreneur and aviator. He worked in the dried fruits industry in the Sunraysia area around Mildura in the early 20th century, and was noted for his vibrant perso ...

, was underwritten by Hugh D. McIntosh. It starred

Maggie Moore Maggie Moore (April 10, 1851 – March 15, 1926) was an American-Australian actress born as Margaret Virginia Sullivan. She met and married producer J. C. Williamson in the U.S. and became popular as an actress in their production of '' Struc ...

and

Charles H. Workman Charles Herbert Workman (5 May 1872 – 1 May 1923) was a singer and actor best known as a successor to George Grossmith in the comic baritone roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas. He was variously credited as Charles H. Workman, C. Herbert Work ...

, among others. The "mystery" centred on the meaning of the enigmatic title, for which solutions were solicited and a prize offered. The show played at Adelaide's Prince of Wales Theatre for a successful season, followed by a week in Perth and a fortnight in Melbourne, where the "Argus" critic praised the songs but lambasted the play. It has not been revived. In November 1929 the baritone Robert Nicholson recorded "Ballarat the Fair" and "Back to Warrnambool", accompanied by Stoneham. In March 1930 he recorded "Mildura (Home of Mine)". In 1932 he conducted a radio orchestra in Adelaide. Ill and unemployed, with an invalid wife and daughter to support, he petitioned for bankruptcy in 1936. He was buried with the ritual of the Returned Services League

Other compositions

*''All for Australia'' *''Albury'' for ''The Weekly Times'' newspaper 1932 *''The Attack (on Zeebrugge)'' *''Back Home'' *''Back to Warrnambool'' *''The Bells of Peace'' *''Bendigo'' for ''The Weekly Times'' newspaper 1932 *''Come to Mildura – the Land of Winter Sunshine'' *''Coral Isles'' c. 1923 *''Distant Memories Waltz'' 1914 *''The Drover'' 1912 *''(Those) Foolish Wives'' 1922 *''Football Song and Chorus'' Commissioned by West Adelaide Football Club 1911 *''For God and St George'', 1914 used as a recruiting song during World War I *''Frivolina'' c. 1916 *''Garden of Rosy Dreams'' featured in Hugh D. McIntosh's revue "Bubbly" *''Golden Dreams'' 1924 *''Heroes of the Dardanelles'' 1915
recording
by Peter Dawson and John Ralston *''Home Fireside'' * Home to Ballaarat *''Jazzin' the Blues'' *''King of the Air'' 1913 as recorded by

Malcolm McEachern Walter Malcolm Neil McEachern (1 April 1883 – 17 January 1945) was a noted Australian Bass (voice type), bass singing, singer who enjoyed a successful career in the United Kingdom, both as a concert soloist and as one half of the comic music ...

*''Lolita'' 1928 recorded by

Jack Lumsdaine John Sinclair Lumsdaine (18 November 1895 – 28 August 1948) was an Australian singer and songwriter. His best known songs celebrate Australian personalities Donald Bradman, Phar Lap and Sydney Harbour Bridge. He was highly sought for adverti ...

*''Love'' featured in Hugh D. McIntosh's revue "Bubbly" *''Maryborough'' for ''The Weekly Times'' newspaper 1932 *''Mellow Mersey Moon'' for "Come to Tasmania" carnival 1927 *''Memories of a Lovely Lei'' (with Barronne Kuva) *''Mildura (Home of Mine)'' *''The Murray Moon'' c.1922 with C.J. De Garis *''Peace and Glory'' *''Pride of the Nation: The National March of Australia'' *''Princess Betty's Lullaby'' 1927 for Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II *''(My) Ragtime Drummer Boy'' *''A Road To Anywhere'' "Between 1920 and 1932" * Sleepy Seas *''Sun-Raysed Waltz'' for Australian Dried Fruits Association of Mildura, Victoria. *''The Tango Rag'' 1914 *''Tantalising Eyes'' featured in Hugh D. McIntosh's revue "Lads of the Village" *''The Tintex Girl'' 1924 *''That Was a Perfect Night'' *''The Wabash Moon'' c. 1922 *''Waikiki Moon'' *''The Warrnambool Waltz Song'' *''When the Wattles Bloom Again'' (with Dan Leahy) * ''What'll we do when the wattle blooms again?'' *''Commerce and Heart'' a radio play ;as "Alberto Agrati" *''The Hesitation Valse-tango'' 1914 *''I've Got a Motorbike (waiting for you)'' *''Viceroy Tea Waltz''

Critical reception

Reginald Stoneham is mentioned in Australian newspapers as a well known and respected music creator. His work 'For God and St George' featured in a charity concert to support Belgians at the outbreak of the Great War.

External links

His copyright stamp
* Access online audio recordings at

National Film and Sound Archive The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA), known as ScreenSound Australia from 1999 to 2004, is Australia's audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national co ...

of Australia * Australian Variety Theatre Archive

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stoneham, Reginald 1879 births 1942 deaths Australian male composers Australian songwriters Composers Jazz Australian musical theatre composers Australian jazz trumpeters Australian accompanists Male jazz musicians People from Carlton, Victoria Musicians from Melbourne Australian accordionists

Biography

Other compositions

Critical reception

Further reading

External links

References