RECORD - MOLLY MCGURK & GEOFFREY PARSONS

1988 - 1989
Overview

Black vinyl 33' record with a gold-coloured paper circle around a central hole. Information regarding music on record is printed on the gold-coloured paper circle, that reads: [ Molly McGurk & / Geoffrey Parsons / MJ RECORDS / 1. Chevaux de Bois (Debussy) / 2, Green (Debussy) / 3. L'invitation au Voyage (Duparc) / 4. Chanson triste (Duparc) / 5. Phidyle (Duparc) / 6. Au pays ou se fair la Guerre (Duparc) / 7. Le Manoir de Rosemonde (Duparc) / SIDE ONE / MJ 001 / MX300683 / Soprano: Molly McGruk / Accompanist: Geoffrey Parsons / Funding assisted by the Geoffrey William Robinson / Bequest of the University of Western Australia. / Produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. / All rights of the manufacturer and / of the owner of the recorded / work reserved. Unauthorised / public performance, / broadcasting and / copying of / the record / prohibited. ]
On the rear of the record, information on the gold-coloured paper circle reads: [Molly McGurk & / Geoffrey Parsons / MJ RECORDS / 1. Clair de Lune (Faure) / 2. Fleur jette (Faure) / 3. Chanson d'amour (Faure) / 4. Mai (Faure)/5. Sylvie (Faure) / 6. In the silent night (Rachmaninoff) / 7. Spring Waters (Rachmaninoff) / 8. The Lilacs (Rachmaninoff) / 9. To the children (Rachmaninoff) / SIDE TWO MJ 001 / MX300684 / 10. The harvest of sorrow (Rachmaninoff) / 11. Before my window (Rachmaninoff) / Soprano: Molly McGurk / Accompanist: Geoffrey Parsons / Funding assisted by the Geoffrey William Robinson / Bequest of the University of Western Australia. / Produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. / All rights of the manufacturer and / of the owner of the recorded / work reserved. Unauthorised / public performance, / broadcasting and / copying of / the record / prohibited. ]

Historical information

Hannah 'Molly' McGurk was born in Armadale in 1929 and grew up at the family home on Prospect Road. She was a very musical child and learnt the piano. She was a regular competitor and winner of the state finals of the ABC's Concerto and Vocal Competition, first as a pianist and then as a solo singer in the 1940s. She also competed in other national singing competitions. She was in demand to perform in concert work, including a production of the Messiah.
In 1966 she was awarded the Churchill Fellowship and spent 12 months in England studying singing with Lucie Manen and Paul Hamberger. Recorded a couple of records with prominent accompanist Geoffrey Parsons.
Molly was also a well-respected singing teacher with well known students Gregory Yurisich and Elisa Wilson.
This record was produced in 1988/89 by MJ Records from recordings done at the ABC studios in Perth in 1975 and 1976.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-33-COA2013.57B
Width
330 mm
Height or length
330 mm
Inscriptions and markings

[MJ RECORDS]

Statement of significance

HIGH
Aesthetic: Cover by prominent Western Australian artist Robert Juniper and music sung by Molly McGurk.
Provenance: Owned by the McGurk family who listened to Molly's music.
Representativeness: Of Molly McGurk's skill as a soprano singer.
Historic: Molly McGurk was a well known and prominent soprano singer in WA and Australia from the 1940s-80s. Cover by prominent Western Australian and Australian artist Robert Juniper. Music by prominent Australian accompanist Geoffrey Parsons.

Comparative significance criteria
Rare or representative
Well provenanced
Last modified
Thursday, 25 July, 2024
City of Armadale - History House

City of Armadale - History House

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