| Description |
Tape#2: General Musical Life of Rabaul
Side A & B
Ray Sheriden came to Rabaul upon invitation of Administrator, Colonel Murray as a Music Officer in the 1940s' and 1950s' to work with the indigenous choirs and choral festivals.
Ray worked closely with Fr Reichel, a catholic priest who was well known within the Church and across the communities and villages where he taught music including chorals, instruments and relating with traditional music.
Ray was well known with the indigenous or Tolai people and had impact with choirs and engagement to choral festivals such as Queens Birthday and other church organised competitions such as George Brown Day, John Wesley Day with the Methodist/United Church as well as Catholic and SDA choirs.
Ray was also involved with Frank Boisen, Peter Livingston, Percy Cochrane amongst others in fostering music of Rabaul.
Ray had an high opinion of the indigenous music in that choirs and hymnity although introduced by missionaries and colonizers, it had already been part of the Tolai traditional music culture so it was an enhancement part harmonies and melodies in songs. He witnessed the introduction of guitars and stringbands such as Kambiu Club with the mixed race community of Rabaul town.
Ray then worked other parts of PNG (then New Guinea) in New Ireland when based in Rabaul then transferred to Port Moresby where he worked in the various regions in Papua, Highlands and Coastal Mainland. He made patrols to remote rural areas along the coastlines from Central, Milne Bay, Oro (Northern), Western Highlands to the Markham valley in Morobe as some places he explored with the communities and indigenous people.
When Ray returned to Australia in early 1960s' be got involved in the preservation and retention of New Guinea indigenous music with archives of ABC and National Sound Archives in Canberra.
He was also involved with music publications with scholars and academics across Australia and worldwide in collaboration with others in the industry.
(Steven Gagau, June 2019) |
