Gumnut Pixies

The Magic Gum Tree[1] is a musical comedy written in 1932. The score and lyrics are the singular work of Adelaide pianist[2] and composer Arline Sauer in 1932. Sauer, born Arline Estelle Lower, married her longtime mentor, the well known Sydney[3] conductor, arranger and composer Charles Sauer in May 1924,[4] had twin sons 1925,[5] divorced 1947.

The piece is a work of Australiana featuring Australian animals and characters. Queensland reviewers felt it reminiscent of A. A. Milne,[6] with pleasantly conceived music for solo and parts.

Synopsis

The plot involves an immigrant girl lost in the Australian outback. The girl falls asleep and meets a cast of dreamland characters. She is rescued by a group of ten Australian Aboriginal boys and returned safely home.

Musical numbers

  • Overture
  • Ten Little Aboriginals
  • Gumnut Pixies (dance)
  • Dear Little Wattle Blossom
  • Ko-a-la
  • Hail! Thou Fair Land (duet)
  • Ten Little Aboriginals (Finale)

The complete original published words and music (piano, voices) and dialogue may be viewed here

Performances

  • 1934 Railway Institute, Sydney [7][8]
  • 1935 Melbourne [9]
  • 1935 Clermont, New South Wales [10]
  • 1935 Newcastle, New South Wales [11]
  • 1935 Lismore, New South Wales [12]
  • 1935 Parkside, South Australia [13]
  • 1936 Wayville, South Australia (selections) [14]
  • 1937 Trangie, New South Wales [15]
  • 1937 St George, Queensland [16]
  • 1937 Coffs Harbour [17]
  • 1937 Armidale, New South Wales [18]
  • 1938 Bundarra, New South Wales [19]
  • 1938 Maitland, New South Wales [20]
  • 1939 Hobart, Tasmania [21]
  • 1939 Canberra, ACT [22]
  • 1940 Wellington, New South Wales [23]
  • 1940 Carnarvon, Western Australia [24]
  • 1941 Cairns, Queensland [25]
  • 1941 Mount Barker, South Australia [26]
  • 1941 Newcastle, New South Wales [27]
  • 1942 Manilla, New South Wales [28]
  • 1942 Mudgee, New South Wales [29]
  • 1942 Rockhampton, New South Wales [30]
  • 1946 Burnie, Tasmania [31]
  • 1947 Forbes, New South Wales [32]
  • 1950 Pinnaroo, South Australia [33]

References

  1. ↑ "Trove".
  2. ↑ "Musical Notes". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XLIX, no. 14, 600. South Australia. 27 April 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 6 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "Prof. C. Sauer". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 679. New South Wales, Australia. 24 April 1920. p. 14. Retrieved 6 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "In Divorce". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 34, 004. New South Wales, Australia. 17 December 1946. p. 5. Retrieved 5 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 27, 261. New South Wales, Australia. 20 May 1925. p. 12. Retrieved 6 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "Music and the Drama". The Courier-mail. No. 268. Queensland, Australia. 7 July 1934. p. 20. Retrieved 20 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ ""The Magic Gum Tree."". Sydney Morning Herald. 27 August 1934.
  8. ↑ "Sydney's Big Music Festival Launched". Sun. 26 August 1934.
  9. ↑ "St. Dominic's School, East Camberwell". Advocate. 3 January 1935.
  10. ↑ "Clermont". Central Queensland Herald. 12 December 1935.
  11. ↑ ""The Magic Gum Tree"". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 21 August 1935.
  12. ↑ "Old Bonalbo School Concert". Northern Star. 30 August 1935.
  13. ↑ "Convent of Mercy, Parkside". Southern Cross. 20 December 1935.
  14. ↑ "Thousand Voices Concerts". Advertiser. 23 September 1936.
  15. ↑ "Trangie Convent Concert". Narromine News and Trangie Advocate. 2 December 1937.
  16. ↑ "Heralds of the King". Balonne Beacon. 23 September 1937.
  17. ↑ "School Concert". Coffs Harbour Advocate. 7 December 1937.
  18. ↑ "Armidale 51 Years Ago". Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser. 3 February 1939.
  19. ↑ "Convent School Concert at Bundarra". Uralla Times. 15 December 1938.
  20. ↑ "Musical Play". Maitland Daily Mercury. 2 July 1938.
  21. ↑ "Glenorchy School Concert". Mercury. 14 December 1939.
  22. ↑ "The Social Round in Canberra". Canberra Times. 13 December 1939.
  23. ↑ "The Magic Gum Tree". Wellington Times. August 1940.
  24. ↑ "Convent Concert". Northern Times. 28 November 1940.
  25. ↑ "Japoon Notes". Cairns Post. 6 December 1941.
  26. ↑ "St Scholastica's College". Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser. 18 December 1941.
  27. ↑ "Islington School Concert". Newcastle Sun. 2 May 1941.
  28. ↑ "Convent Concert". Manilla Express. 27 November 1942.
  29. ↑ "Talented Tiny Tots". Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative. 24 August 1942.
  30. ↑ "Rockhampton Diocese". Catholic Press. 22 January 1942.
  31. ↑ "Advertising". Advocate. 8 November 1946.
  32. ↑ "Convent Concert". Forbes Advocate. 26 September 1947.
  33. ↑ "Schoclconcert". Pinnaroo and Border Times. 21 December 1950.
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