Call of the Huia: 100 early New Zealand Art Songs
Arnold Trowell Photo: [Studio portrait of Arnold Trowell. Trowell, Arnold Thomas Wilberforce, 1887-1966 :Photographs. Ref: PA1-q-984-02. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22907334 Public Domain]
Arnold Trowell (1887 – 1966) was born in Wellington, where his father was a music teacher and violinist who often played along side Alfred Hill. From a young age Arnold, known as Tom, and his twin brother Garnet, showed musical talent. Arnold’s father taught Katherine Mansfield the cello, so that in 1903 when the Beauchamp family went to England Katherine firmly believed that her future lay in music and not literature. She developed a passion for Arnold that was largely unreciprocated. She eventually had an ill-fated affair with Garnet, which resulted in a miscarriage.
The Trowell boys travelled to Europe to further their musical education in 1903, paid for in part by Harold Beauchamp, at the same time as the Beauchamps travelled to London, so the families probably remained in contact with each other during that period.
The Trowells and Beauchamps returned to New Zealand around the same time in 1906, and then the Trowell boys returned to Europe in 1907 to begin their professional careers. Katherine followed shortly afterwards. Arnold had a hugely successful career as a cellist (Garnet was a violinist), being regard at the time as second only to Spanish cellist Pablo Casals. From 1939 performing was gradually replaced by composition and teaching.
'Donald the Black' – Words by Sir Walter Scott
The manuscript for ‘Donald the Black’ with words by Sir Walter Scott is undated and held in the Alexander Turnbull Library.
Two Heine Songs Op 50 – Words by Heinrich Heine
These two songs - ‘Nacht liegt auf dem fremden Wegen’ (On the Silent Highways) and ‘Mädchen mit dem roten Mündchen’ ( Lassie, with the lips sae rosy) were published in 1912.
Although published in both German and English they are performed here in German. Trowell gave Katherine Mansfield a book of Heine poetry as a gift.
Recorded 12 February 2021, St Andrew's on The Terrace, Wellington by RNZ Concert
Producer: David McCaw for RNZ Concert
Engineer: Darryl Stack for RNZ Concert
Video: Chris Watson for SOUNZ
The Call of the Huia research project by music historian Michael Vinten is funded by the Lilburn Trust with support from the Alexander Turnbull Library, the Hocken Library, SOUNZ Centre for NZ Music, RNZ Concert and others. The scores with CDs for Call of the Huia can be purchased in hard copy or as digital download from SOUNZ.
