The Magic Gum Tree[1] is a musical comedy written in 1932. The score and lyrics are the singular work of
Adelaide pianist[2] and
composer Arline Sauer in 1932. Sauer, born Arline Estelle Lower, married her longtime mentor, the well known Sydney[3] conductor, arranger and composer Charles Sauer in May 1924,[4] had twin sons 1925,[5] divorced 1947.
The piece is a work of
Australiana featuring Australian animals and characters. Queensland reviewers felt it reminiscent of
A. A. Milne,[6] with pleasantly conceived music for solo and parts.
Synopsis
The plot involves an immigrant girl lost in the Australian outback. The girl falls asleep and meets a cast of dreamland characters. She is rescued by a group of ten
Australian Aboriginal boys and returned safely home.
Musical numbers
Overture
Ten Little Aboriginals
Gumnut Pixies (dance)
Dear Little Wattle Blossom
Ko-a-la
Hail! Thou Fair Land (duet)
Ten Little Aboriginals (Finale)
The complete original published words and music (piano, voices) and dialogue may be viewed
here
^"Musical Notes". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XLIX, no. 14, 600. South Australia. 27 April 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 6 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^"In Divorce". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 34, 004. New South Wales, Australia. 17 December 1946. p. 5. Retrieved 5 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Music and the Drama". The Courier-mail. No. 268. Queensland, Australia. 7 July 1934. p. 20. Retrieved 20 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
The Magic Gum Tree[1] is a musical comedy written in 1932. The score and lyrics are the singular work of
Adelaide pianist[2] and
composer Arline Sauer in 1932. Sauer, born Arline Estelle Lower, married her longtime mentor, the well known Sydney[3] conductor, arranger and composer Charles Sauer in May 1924,[4] had twin sons 1925,[5] divorced 1947.
The piece is a work of
Australiana featuring Australian animals and characters. Queensland reviewers felt it reminiscent of
A. A. Milne,[6] with pleasantly conceived music for solo and parts.
Synopsis
The plot involves an immigrant girl lost in the Australian outback. The girl falls asleep and meets a cast of dreamland characters. She is rescued by a group of ten
Australian Aboriginal boys and returned safely home.
Musical numbers
Overture
Ten Little Aboriginals
Gumnut Pixies (dance)
Dear Little Wattle Blossom
Ko-a-la
Hail! Thou Fair Land (duet)
Ten Little Aboriginals (Finale)
The complete original published words and music (piano, voices) and dialogue may be viewed
here
^"Musical Notes". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XLIX, no. 14, 600. South Australia. 27 April 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 6 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^"In Divorce". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 34, 004. New South Wales, Australia. 17 December 1946. p. 5. Retrieved 5 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Music and the Drama". The Courier-mail. No. 268. Queensland, Australia. 7 July 1934. p. 20. Retrieved 20 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.