Charles Nalden
CBE
Birth nameJohn Leslie Simpson
Born(1908-03-16)16 March 1908
London, England
Died17 June 2002(2002-06-17) (aged 94)
Auckland, New Zealand
Occupation(s)
  • bandmaster
  • conductor
  • professor of music
  • author
  • harpist
Instrument(s)

Charles Nalden CBE (born John Leslie Simpson; 16 March 1908 – 17 June 2002)[1] was a British and New Zealand musician and professor at the University of Auckland.

Born out of wedlock, at the age of 29 days[2] Nalden was accepted into the Thomas Coram Foundation for Children[1] where his birth name was changed.[3] As 'child number 23,062', Nalden joined the hospital Boys' Band in 1920 at age twelve, where he learned to play Cornet.[4] From the age of 14, Nalden was in His Majesty’s Royal Artillery (Mounted) Band, where he rose to become Bandmaster. During these 26 years of army service, Nalden also studied at the Royal Military School of Music, where he gained a Doctorate in Music.

Three months before his 40th birthday, Nalden arrived in Auckland, New Zealand to join the academic staff of the then Auckland University College, later the University of Auckland, where from 1956, he rose to the rank of Professor and Head of Music, eventually establishing the country’s first conservatorium of music.[1] He remained there until his retirement in 1974, and was conferred with the title of professor emeritus.[1][5] From 1951 to 1975, Nalden was the conductor of Auckland Junior Symphony Orchestra,[6] several of whose former members formed the Auckland Symphony Orchestra at its 30th anniversary. AJSO was then renamed 'Auckland Youth Orchestra'. Nalden was also a keen harpist, and an EP recording was made of him performing four Celtic pieces for Harp.[7]

Publications

  • A history of the Conservatorium of Music, University of Auckland, 1888-1981[8]
  • Half and half : the memoirs of a charity brat, 1908-1989 (Autobiography)[2]
  • Fugal Answer[9]

Recordings

  • D SERIES - Dr Nalden, Talk on Junior Symphony Orchestra.[10]
  • Awake the Harp[7]

Honours

In the 1976 Birthday Honours, Nalden was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to music.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dart, William (23 June 2002), "A progressive spirit", The New Zealand Herald, retrieved 28 February 2022
  2. 1 2 'Half and half : the memoirs of a charity brat, 1908-1989'. ISBN 0-908705-48-4 (pbk.) Moana Press, c1989. Tauranga, New Zealand.
  3. ↑ Charles Nalden (1989). Half and Half. Moana Press, Tauranga, New Zealand.
  4. ↑ Memoir by 'Molly': The Boys’ Band, London. Foundling Museum.
  5. ↑ The University of Auckland Calendar 1974, p. 45, retrieved 28 February 2022
  6. ↑ 'Nalden, Charles (Dr), 1908-2002'. National Library of New Zealand
  7. 1 2 Nalden, Charles. Awake The Harp. Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, EP. Kiwi – EA-121. A.H. & A.W. Reed. Discogs.
  8. ↑ Charles Nalden History of the Conservatorium of Music, University of Auckland. ca 1981. MSS & Archives E-26. Special Collections, University of Auckland Libraries and Learning Services. The University of Auckland. Accessed October 02, 2023.
  9. ↑ Nalden, Charles. (1970). 'Fugal Answer'. ISBN 0-19-647552-X, 978-0-19-647552-3 Auckland University Press.
  10. ↑ Dr Nalden, Talk On Junior Symphony Orchestra. Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.
  11. ↑ "No. 46921". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 12 June 1976. p. 8056.
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