Ernest Edwin Mitchell

Ernest Edwin Mitchell
Born(1865-01-16)16 January 1865
Port Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia
Died10 December 1951(1951-12-10) (aged 86)
Payneham South, South Australia
GenresLiturgical
Occupation(s)Composer, conductor, teacher
Instrument(s)Organ; keyboard
Years active1895–1937
NationalityAustralian
Alma materUniversity of Adelaide
Spouse
Amy Bertha Edmeades
​
(m. 1885)​
Children3

Ernest Edwin Mitchell (16 January 1865 – 10 December 1951) was an Australian composer, conductor, music lecturer and organist.

Career

Mitchell was born on 16 January 1865, in Port Adelaide, South Australia, when his father, Thomas James Mitchell, was 43 and his mother, Thurza Lucy Cole, was 36. He married Amy Bertha Edmeades on 27 July 1885. He died on 10 December 1951, in Payneham South, South Australia, at the age of 86, and was buried in Payneham Cemetery, Payneham, South Australia, Australia. They had three children Lillian Bertha Mitchell 1886–1974, Kathleen Lois Mitchell 1895–1972 and Alan Rodney Clemhilt Mitchell 1904–1983.

Mitchell graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Music[1] and was granted honours in second year.[2] He played keyboards and organ.[3] Mitchell was a devout member of the Uniting Church[4] with passionate feelings about music[5] particularly the standard of teaching. So keen on quality services, he allowed his musical works to be distributed by newspaper.[6][7]

Mitchell was secretary of the South Australia Music Teachers' Society.[8] He was active in music teaching for at least sixteen years.[9]

Fellow Australian composer Ruby Claudia Davy was a pupil.[10]

Notable works

'In His Presence' 1902 by Ernest Edwin Mitchell
MIDI version of lyrics by Ellen Lakshmi Goreh[11]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Mitchell's notable works include:[12]

  • 1902 Eolus [13]
  • This Land We Love The Best
  • Lovely Voices of the Sky – Christmas Carol [14]
  • The Princes Men
  • Two Sacred Songs
  • Break Break Break
  • Oh Taste and see
  • 1913 Tomorrow [15]
  • 1920 My Lady Sleeps - an SATB setting of 'Serenade' by Longfellow[16]

References

  1. ^ "Mr. Esmond George". The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser. Vol. 52, no. 2699. South Australia. 26 August 1932. p. 4. Retrieved 1 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Out among the People". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 8 December 1938. p. 25. Retrieved 28 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "MUSIC". Leader. No. 3099. Victoria, Australia. 29 May 1915. p. 35 (WEEKLY). Retrieved 28 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "BY ERNEST E. MITCHELL". Australian Christian Commonwealth. Vol. XXIV, no. 1203. South Australia. 11 August 1911. p. 10. Retrieved 28 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "BY ERNEST E. MITCHELL". Australian Christian Commonwealth. Vol. XXIV, no. 1203. South Australia. 11 August 1911. p. 11. Retrieved 28 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "COME, LET US WORSHIP. INTROIT". Australian Christian Commonwealth. Vol. XXIV, no. 1192. South Australia. 26 May 1911. p. 19. Retrieved 28 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "O! LOVELY VOICES OF THE SKY". Chronicle. Vol. 45, no. 2313. South Australia. 20 December 1902. p. 40. Retrieved 28 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "ETHICS OF TEACHING". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXIV, no. 19, 653. South Australia. 8 November 1909. p. 6. Retrieved 28 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "MUSICAL NOTES". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXVI, no. 20, 287. South Australia. 18 November 1911. p. 6. Retrieved 1 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "MISS RUBY DAVY, Mus. Bac. (Adel.)". The Mail (Adelaide). No. 57. South Australia. 31 May 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 19 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ Mitchell, Ernest Edwin (1902), Two sacred songs, Ernest Edwin Mitchell, retrieved 11 June 2022
  12. ^ "WALKS TO ELDER HALL TO HEAR HIS SONG "TOMORROW"". News. Vol. XX, no. 3032. South Australia. 6 April 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 28 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ Mitchell, Ernest Edwin (1902), [h Eolus [music] : a three-part song for ladies voices with pianoforte accompaniment / the music composed by Ernest Edwin Mitchell], Ernest Edwin Mitchell {{citation}}: Check |url= value (help)
  14. ^ "O! Lovely Voices of the Sky". Chronicle. 20 December 1902.
  15. ^ "WALKS TO ELDER HALL TO HEAR HIS SONG "TOMORROW"". The News. Vol. XX, no. 3, 032. South Australia. 6 April 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 1 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ Mitchell, Ernest Edwin; Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, 1807-1882; South Australian Literary Societies' Union (1920), [h My lady sleeps [music] : part song / the words by H.W. Longfellow ; the music by Ernest E. Mitchell], Novello, Ewer & Co. {{citation}}: Check |url= value (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)