James Brash
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James Hamish Brash (1881 – 14 October 1961) was a Scots-born Australian pianist, organist and choral conductor, remembered as a composer and adjudicator at eisteddfods throughout Australia and New Zealand.[1]
Brash was born in Helensburgh, Scotland, and educated at the Hermitage School. He received musical instruction, possibly alongside Edgar Barratt (1877–1928), from a Dr Berry of Leipzig, and a Dr Healy of Oxford.[2] He was organist at the Park Church, Helensburgh for over 21 years.[3]
He arrived in Sydney in 1921 to take up an appointment as organist and director of the choir at Scots Church, Sydney.[3][4] He became conductor of the choir of the Highland Society of New South Wales,[5] possibly appointed before leaving Scotland.[6] In May 1923 he was also appointed organist and choirmaster of St Clement's Church, Marrickville.[7]
His compositions include:
- "Port o'Sydney" to words by William Tainsh, first sung by A. E. Yonge Benham at the latter's farewell in August 1922.[8]
- "The Rising Sun"- Anzac anthem
- "Tam i' the Kirk" won an award in London, judged by Dr John Ireland, and was published by Frederick Harris.
- "Four individual songs for medium voice"
- "The Wicklow Lament" (of the convict Michael Dwyer)[9]
- "O Men from the Fields"
- "Dance of the Columbine"
- "Beauty's Daughters"
- "Sing a Song of Sixpence"
- "Down by the Sally Gardens"
He made arrangements of[2]
- Richard Strauss's "Liebeshymnus" c. 1897
- Massenet's opera Werther c. 1892
- Handel's Israel in Egypt for the Royal Philharmonic Society Concert at Sydney Town Hall, 1911
Some of his four-part vocal works were recorded by The Adelaide Singers, conducted by Norman Chinner.