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Reginald Stoneham

{{Short description|Australian composer and publisher}}

{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}

File:Reginald Alberto Agrati Stoneham 1879-1942.png

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.

File:What'll we do, when the wattle blooms again?.mid

File:Deva Jazz.mid

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.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26871578 |title=Musical and Dramatic Notes |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=XXIX |issue=3,431 |location=Western Australia |date=12 April 1913 |accessdate=18 December 2018 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} His siblings include Harry Stoneham (cornet) and Herbert Stoneham (flute) of Melbourne, also Fred and Will Stoneham, music-hall artists in London, and Elsa Stoneham, a popular contralto.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228712643 |title=Men and Women |newspaper=The Sun (Sydney) |issue=859 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=28 March 1913 |accessdate=11 May 2025 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In 1900 he served in the South Australian Mounted Rifles as a private trumpeter. His trade was listed as "wood turner".[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56553551 South Australian Imperial Contingent] South Australian Register 25 April 1900 p.8 accessed 31 July 2011{{Cite web|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1437842|title=R a A Stoneham}} He was wounded in action at Slobet's Nek.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243000438 |title=At the Front |newspaper=The Herald (Melbourne) |issue=6413 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=8 February 1901 |accessdate=13 October 2021 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In 1901 he married Adelaide Minnie "Addie" Lyons (1880–1959).{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4842676 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Advertiser |volume=XLIII |issue=13,306 |location=South Australia |date=11 June 1901 |accessdate=8 December 2018 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} On 10 April 1902 they had a daughter Val Augusta Elsa Stoneham,[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4883186 Family Notices] The Advertiser (Adelaide) 14 April 1902 p.4 accessed 2 July 2011 who married Edward Benjamin on 29 August 1923.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120613600 |title=Victorian Vignettes |newspaper=The Hebrew Standard of Australasia |volume=28 |issue=10 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=7 September 1923 |accessdate=11 May 2025 |page=17 |via=National Library of Australia}} She opened a florist's shop on Carlisle Street, Balaclava in 1928.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article262378231 |title=Personal |newspaper=The Australian Jewish Herald |location=Victoria, Australia |date=1 March 1928 |accessdate=11 May 2025 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}} They divorced in 1931{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4257358 |title=Divorce Court |newspaper=The Argus (Melbourne) |issue=26,362 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=10 February 1931 |accessdate=11 May 2025 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}} and she continued to operate as a florist.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59385199 |title=Advertising |newspaper=The Mail (Adelaide) |volume=21 |issue=1,089 |location=South Australia |date=8 April 1933 |accessdate=8 December 2018 |page=5 ("Candida's" Woman's Section) |via=National Library of Australia}}

Stoneham is best remembered for the song "Sleepy Seas" and patriotic songs during World War 1, notably the popular "Heroes of the Dardanelles".{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221925050 |title=Soldiers' Songs |newspaper=The Sun |issue=665 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 December 1915 |accessdate=18 December 2018 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Several of his songs were used in the 1917 musical Robinson Crusoe.

He lived at St Kilda, Victoria from 1918.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10318818 Stoneham v. Stoneham] The Argus (Melbourne) 11 May 1904 p.5 accessed 2 July 2011 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, was underwritten by Hugh D. McIntosh. It starred Maggie Moore and Charles H. Workman, 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.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4578560 "Music and Drama: King's F.F.F."], Argus, 11 October 1920, p. 8, accessed 8 December 2019 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)".{{cite web|url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/back-warrnambool-robert-nicholson |title=Back to Warrnambool - Robert Nicholson |publisher=NFSA |access-date=18 August 2022}} The year 1924 also mentioned in this article, perhaps in error.

In 1932 he conducted a radio orchestra in Adelaide.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73986773 |title=Social |newspaper=The Advertiser (Adelaide) |location=South Australia |date=29 September 1932 |accessdate=18 December 2018 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Ill and unemployed, with an invalid wife and daughter to support, he petitioned for bankruptcy in 1936.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11892019 Misfortunes of Musician] Angus (Melbourne) 15 July 1936 p.10 accessed 31 July 2011

His remains were ashed at the Springvale Crematorium according to the rituals of the Returned Services League and the Church of England.{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8237204|title=Funeral of Mr R. Stoneham|newspaper=Argus |date=13 March 1942|publisher=|pages=3|via=Trove}}

Other compositions

  • "All for Australia"
  • "Albury" for The Weekly Times newspaper 1932
  • "The Attack (on Zeebrugge)"{{Citation

| title=The attack (on Zeebrugge) [music] / Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| year=1914

| publisher=Loebel

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-165683472

}}

  • "Back Home"{{Citation

| title=Back home [music] / words and music by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| year=1918

| publisher=J. Albert & Son

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-164928390

}}

  • "Back to Warrnambool"Stoneham, R. (1934). Souvenir back to Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia : Official program [music] : Song "Back to Warrnambool" / written and composed by Reg. A. A. Stoneham. Warrnambool, Vic.: Warrnambool Progress Association.
  • "The Bells of Peace"{{Citation

| title=The bells of peace [music] : song / words and music by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Allan & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-176273810

}}

  • "Bendigo" for The Weekly Times newspaper 1932
  • "Come to Mildura – the Land of Winter Sunshine"{{Citation | author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879–1942 | author2=Come to Mildura Committee | author3=Archive CD Books Australia | title=Come to Mildura the land of winter sunshine: souvenir & song | date=2005 | publisher=Archive CD Books Australia | isbn=978-1-921081-71-2 }}
  • "Coral Isles" c. 1923{{Citation

| title=Coral isles [music] : waltz romance of the south seas / written & composed by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Reginald Stoneham Music

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-165322750

}}

  • "The demon of the deep" (in musical Robinson Crusoe)
  • "Distant Memories Waltz" 1914{{Citation

| title=Distant memories waltz [music] / composed by R. A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| year=1914

| publisher=Chapman's

| language=No linguistic content

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-166622038

}}

  • "The Drover" 1912{{Citation

| title=The drover [music] : song / words and music by Reginald Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=W. J. Deane & Son

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-173958910

}}

  • "(Those) Foolish Wives" 1922{{Citation

| title=Those foolish wives [music] : song fox trot / by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| year=1922

| publisher=The Reginald Stoneham Music Publishing Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168529225

}}

  • "Football Song and Chorus" commissioned by West Adelaide Football Club 1911
  • "For God and St George", 1914{{Citation

| title=For God and St. George [music] : song / words and music by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=W. H. Paling & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-165762770

}} used as a recruiting song during World War I{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15622719 |title=The Appeal for Men Church Day |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=24,281 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 November 1915 |accessdate=14 February 2019 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}

  • "Frivolina" c. 1916{{Citation

| title=Frivolina [music] : valse / by Reginald Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Allan & Co

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-166275783

}}

  • "Garden of Rosy Dreams"{{Citation

| title=Garden of rosy dreams [music] : song / words & music by Reg A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Loebel & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-167186528

}} featured in Hugh D. McIntosh's revue "Bubbly"

  • "Golden Dreams" 1924{{Citation

| title=Golden dreams [music] / words & music by Reg. A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Allan & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168139236

}}

  • "Heroes of the Dardanelles" 1915{{Citation

| title=Heroes of the Dardanelles [music] / composed by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| year=1916

| publisher=Allan & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-164000239

}} [http://malcolm.nfsa.gov.au/olcmedia/audio/00017437.mp3 recording] by Peter Dawson and John Ralston

  • "Home Fireside"{{Citation

| title=Home fireside [music] : song / written & composed [by] Reg. A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Loebel & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168260605

}}

  • "Home to Ballaarat"{{Citation | title=Home to Ballaarat, Official programme and souvenir song book for the Home to Ballarat (Back to Ballarat) celebrations, held Jan 28 - Feb 4, 1927 | date=1927 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/188690971 | accessdate=14 February 2019 }}
  • "Jazzin' the Blues"{{Citation

| title=Jazzin' the blues [music] : jazz fox trot / Reg. A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Loebel & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168262402

}}

  • "Kewpie's parade : two step" (in musical Robinson Crusoe)
  • "King of the Air" 1913{{Citation

| title=King of the air [music] : bass or baritone song / words & music by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| year=1913

| publisher=W. H. Paling & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168263309

}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article209509108 |title=St Cuthbert's Tennis Club Concert |newspaper=The St George Call |volume=X |issue=34 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 August 1913 |accessdate=14 February 2019 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article72085148 |title=The Concert at Night. |newspaper=Northern Star |volume=40 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=2 August 1915 |accessdate=15 February 2019 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} as recorded by Malcolm McEachern

  • "Lolita" 1928{{Citation

| title=Lolita [music] : Mexican waltz song / words and music by Reginald Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Allan & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-164728474

}} recorded by Jack Lumsdaine

  • "Love"{{Citation

| title=Love [music] / written and composed by Reg. A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Loebel & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168309493

}} featured in Hugh D. McIntosh's revue "Bubbly"

  • "Loves Sweet Dream" (in musical Robinson Crusoe)
  • "Maryborough" for The Weekly Times newspaper 1932
  • "Mellow Mersey Moon" for "Come to Tasmania" carnival 1927{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29818077 |title=Hobart Travel League |newspaper=The Mercury |volume=CXXXIII |issue=19,722 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=22 October 1930 |accessdate=14 February 2019 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}
  • "Memories of a Lovely Lei" (with Barronne Kuva){{Citation

| title=Memories of a lovely lei [music] / Reg. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| author2=Humphries, Don

| author3=Adams, Les

| author4=Bowden, Charles

| publisher=Reginald Stoneham Publishing House

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-170238976

}}

  • "Mildura (Home of Mine)"
  • "The Murray Moon" c. 1922 with C. J. De Garis{{Citation

| title=The Murray moon [music] : song fox-trot / written and composed by R. A. A. Stoneham and C. J. De Garis

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| author2=De Garis, C. J. (Clement John), -1926

| year=1922

| publisher=Chappell & Co. Ltd

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-165511250

}}

  • "Peace and Glory"{{Citation

| title=Peace & glory [music] / written and composed by Reg. A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Loebel & Co

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168560616

}}

  • "Pride of the Nation: The National March of Australia"{{Citation

| title=Pride of the nation [music] : the national march of Australia for piano / Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| year=1914

| publisher=Deluy

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-178015862

}}

  • "Princess Betty's Lullaby" 1927{{Citation

| title=Princess Betty's lullaby [music] / words and music by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Allan & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168393156

}} for Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II

  • "(My) Ragtime Drummer Boy"{{Citation

| title=Ragtime drummer boy [music] / words and music by Reg. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| year=1914

| publisher=Loebel & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168264205

}}

  • "The rainbow isle" (in musical Robinson Crusoe)
  • "A Road To Anywhere" 1920~1932{{Citation

| title=Sleepy seas [music] : waltz song / by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=unknown

| language=English

| url=http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au:80/record=b1443736~S1

| year=1920

}}

| title=Sleepy seas [music] : waltz song / by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| year=1920

| publisher=Loebel & Co.; Melola Salon

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-167011702

}}

  • "Sun-Raysed Waltz"{{Citation

| title=The sun-raysed waltz [music] / composed by Reg A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| year=1919

| publisher=C. J. De Garis

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-165319712

}} for Australian Dried Fruits Association of Mildura, Victoria.

  • "The Tango Rag" 1914{{Citation

| title=The tango rag [music] / composed by R. A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Chapman's

| language=No linguistic content

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-170409602

}}

  • "Tantalising Eyes"{{Citation

| title=Tantalizing eyes [music] / written and composed by Reg. A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Loebel & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168267360

}} featured in Hugh D. McIntosh's revue "Lads of the Village"

  • "The Tintex Girl" 1924{{Citation

| title=The Tintex girl [music] : one step song / words & music by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Tintex

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-166312194

}}

  • "That Was a Perfect Night"{{Citation

| title=That was a perfect night [music] : song / words and music by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| year=1915

| publisher=M. Witmark & Sons; Allan & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-171934584

}}

  • "The Wabash Moon" c. 1922{{Citation

| title=The Wabash moon [music] : song waltz / words & music by Reginal A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Reginald Stoneham Music Publishing Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-176113258

}}

  • "Waikiki Moon"{{Citation

| title=Waikiki moon [music] : vocal waltz / words & music by Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Reginald A. A. Stoneham

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168533083

}}

  • "The Warrnambool Waltz Song"{{Citation

| title=The Warrnambool waltz song [music] / composed by Reginald Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| author2=Weekly times (Melbourne, Vic.)

| year=1932

| publisher=The Weekly Times

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-177590270

}}

  • "When the Wattles Bloom Again" (with Dan Leahy){{Citation

| title=When the wattles bloom again [music] : song foxtrot / words by Dan Leahy; music by Reginald Stoneham

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| author2=Leahy, Dan

| year=1920

| publisher=Reginald Stoneham

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-177449040

}}

  • "What'll we do when the wattle blooms again?"{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244015798 |title=Advertising |newspaper=The Herald |issue=16,117 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=12 January 1929 |accessdate=30 April 2021 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}
  • "Commerce and Heart" a radio play{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94657886 |title=On The Air From 2NR |newspaper=Northern Star |volume=61 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=24 August 1936 |accessdate=18 December 2018 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}

;as "Alberto Agrati"

  • "The Hesitation Valse-tango" 1914{{Citation

| title=The hesitation valse-tango [music] / by Alberto Agrati

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Chapman's Music & Musical Instrument Stores

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-166629493

}}

  • "I've Got a Motorbike (waiting for you)"{{Citation

| title=I've got a motor-bike (waiting for you) [music] / words and music composed by Alberto Agrati

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| publisher=Loebel & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-167544867

}}

  • "Viceroy Tea Waltz"{{Citation

| title=The Viceroy tea waltz [music] / composed by Alberto Agrati

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A.

| author2=Wilkinson & Co

| publisher=Wilkinson & Co

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-166113121

}}

Recordings

  • 1945 Sleepy Seas by Johnnie Wade and His Hawaiians
  • 1989 Murray Moon by Slim Dusty with Anne Kirkpatrick

Critical reception

Reginald Stoneham is mentioned in Australian newspapers as a well known and respected music creator.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article67534372 |title=Tasmanian Popular Song. |newspaper=The Advocate (Australia) |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=11 October 1926 |accessdate=18 December 2018 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17792913 |title=Music Composer's Death |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=32,518 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 March 1942 |accessdate=12 February 2019 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}

His work 'For God and St George' featured in a charity concert to support Belgians at the outbreak of the Great War.

Further reading

  • Van Straten, Frank Play it Again Reg in Theatre Heritage Australia: on stage part 1. in Vol.11 no.3 WINTER 2010 p. 10; part 2 in Vol.11 no.4 SPRING 2010 p. 42
  • Van Straten, Frank. The Riddle of 'FFF', A Forgotten Australian Musical Comedy Australasian Music Research, No. 6, 2002: 105–119. Availability: http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=755888837969038;res=IELHSS {{ISSN|1325-5266}}
  • Hill, Jennifer, "Stoneham, Reg(inald) A. A.)", in Oxford Companion to Australian Music (ed. Warren Bebbington) (Melbourne: OUP, 1997), p. 532

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.78rpm.net.nz/mechcopy/mech5.htm His copyright stamp]
  • Access online audio recordings at National Film and Sound Archive of Australia{{Cite web | url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/ | title=National Film & Sound Archive of Australia [Australia's Living Archive]| date=21 February 2020}}
  • Australian Variety Theatre Archive{{Cite web | url=https://ozvta.com/ | title=Australian Variety Theatre Archive}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stoneham, Reginald}}

Category:1879 births

Category:1942 deaths

Category:Australian male songwriters

Composers

Jazz

Category:Australian musical theatre composers

Category:Male musical theatre composers

Category:Australian jazz trumpeters

Category:Australian accompanists

Category:Australian male jazz composers

Category:People from Carlton, Victoria

Category:Musicians from Melbourne

Category:Australian accordionists

Category:20th-century Australian singer-songwriters