William Garnet James
William Garnet James (1892–1977) was an Australian pianist and composer who became a pioneer of music broadcasting as the ABC’s first Director of Music.
His most enduring works are the fifteen Australian Christmas carols, which give traditional Nativity themes outback settings. Among them are The Three Drovers (MCD 365) and The Silver Stars are in the Sky (MCD 585), still heard widely in Australian Christmas programmes.
Secular songs with bush colour, including Bush Night Song (MCD 142), also entered school and recital repertoire. After study in Melbourne, London and Brussels he returned home in 1923; from 1931 to 1957 he directed music for the ABC, helping establish the state orchestras.
Compositions by William Garnet James appear on
Christmas Bells
More carillon music from Canberra’s National Carillon: Joan Chia plays Christmas carols and Australian seasonal pieces in a short festive programme.
Mandolin Christmas
Christmas songs for mandolin orchestra. Arguably Australia’s most acclaimed mandolinist, Kurt Jensen leads an international programme of sparkling carols, from mediaeval favourites to modern classics.
A Golden Christmas: for Flute and Harp
Elizabeth Koch and Suzanne Handel. A superb collection of popular Christmas carols and songs, arranged for the charming combination of flute and harp.
Great Bass Ballads
Baritone Alan Light brings operatic presence to fourteen popular bass ballads, from drinking songs and sea shanties to Australian bush songs, in orchestral and choral arrangements by Eric Gross.
The Sound of Rosny
The Australian Rosny Children's Choir and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra present songs from other lands, Chinese and Australian repertoire, and cantata movements by Vaughan Williams and Don Kay.
Christmas Variations
Harpist Megan Reeve gathers Christmas music in theme and variation: familiar carols, a French Noël, Britten, Bach–Gounod, and an Australian lullaby, with flute on two tracks.
Looking to the Light: Songs of Christmas
Looking to the Light is an easy-listening Christmas collection of favourites such as O Holy Night, The Little Drummer Boy, Ave Maria and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, with Australian carols, lesser-known songs and children's numbers including All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth and I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.
Repose
Beautiful lullabies and cradle songs by Australian composers from 1890–1999. Soprano Linda Thompson and pianist Deviani Segal present world premiere recordings drawn from a century of Australian cradle song.