From DIY to Radio: Music in Early Auckland

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This year's Heritage Festival concert explores music and theatre in the home and the local community in early Auckland. In a time without modern diversions like movies, the internet, radio and television, households had to amuse themselves. As well as amusements such as card, board, dice and parlour games, families turned to imaginative musical and theatrical entertainment.  

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Drawing on material from the Leys Orchestra heritage collection, this programme reminds us of the simple pleasures of music and theatre from a bygone Auckland, before recorded music, radio and the end of silent movies changed everything.  

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The programme includes evocative music of faraway lands, fantastical pieces conjuring enchanted places,  cheeky song-and-dance numbers, an amusing 'scene' penned by children's author AA Milne plus three favourites from 'When We Were Very Young'. 

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Admission is free.

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​Soloists

Steve Dale (baritone, narrator)

Briar English (piccolo)

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Programme

A.A. Milne:  The King's Breakfast
A.A. Milne:  Politeness; Buckingham Palace; Vespers
Albert Ketelby:  Sanctuary of the Heart; In a Persian Market
Frederic Curzon:  Dance of an Ostracised Imp
George Ess:  Willie Wood Would Whistle
Arthur Sullivan:  The Lost Chord
Eric Mareo:  Peacock Land

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https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/tags/auckland-heritage-festival/

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https://www.facebook.com/aklheritage

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