Ode for Australia’s 150th Anniversary. (Presentation copy for Francis Crosslé)

/ words by H.E. Horne ; music by Herbert F. Treharne and Christian Hellemann. Cover: “Schools’ concert, Town Hall, Sydney, 8th, 9th & 10th March, 1938”. Royal octavo (240 x 180 mm), original printed wrappers, staple bound, a presentation copy inscribed on the upper wrapper by the author H. E. Horne and composer Herbert F. Treharne for Dr. Francis Crosslé (respected patron of the arts in Sydney, and Norman Lindsay’s personal physician) with the date 28/1/38 – a full six weeks before the work’s first public performance; 22 pp, with complete text of the Ode and music score (arrangement for voice and keyboard); lower wrapper lightly marked, but clean throughout; a very good inscribed copy.

Hail festal morn! In joyful song all hail!

Let music sound across the sunlit way,

Australia’s birthday tells its wondrous tale, One hundred years and fifty speak to-day;

Wave, starry banners, ‘neath earth’s loveliest sky,

For splendid deeds, and dreams that cannot die!

Wave, starry banners! Neath Australia’s blue

O tell the world her greatness and her worth,

And speak for hearts of free-men, beating true

To fold her close, our own dear land of birth!

For all who loved and served her – all who gave

The light that crowned her, starry banners, wave!

… … …

If an ode were to be written in 2038, one can imagine that its tone would be light years removed from Horne’s “literary” effort of 1938.

Trove locates only three examples (NLA; SLNSW; University of Adelaide)