Reverend Alfred Wheeler (27 October 1865 – 1949) was an

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

minister and composer of spiritual and

romantic music Romantic music is a stylistic movement in Western Classical music associated with the period of the 19th century commonly referred to as the Romantic era (or Romantic period). It is closely related to the broader concept of Romanticism—the ...

. He arranged children's folk songs and nursery rhymes for publication. He composed other songs and wrote orchestrations for larger choral works. Wheeler lived in Adelaide for eight years on arrival in Australia in 1899 before spending most of his life in

Geelong Geelong ( ) (Wathawurrung language, Wathawurrung: ''Djilang''/''Djalang'') is a port city in Victoria, Australia, located at the eastern end of Corio Bay (the smaller western portion of Port Phillip Bay) and the left bank of Barwon River (Victo ...

. He was successful and well regarded as a musician and minister. He acted as director of the Australian performing rights organization. Wheeler composed the score for a 1940 children's musical '' The Magic Basket'' with lyrics written by Melbourne university arts graduate Bronnie Taylor (Later Oxford PhD). The premiere played at Lauriston Girls School and was revived in New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia and more recently in Queensland. The plot entails a magic basket used to recruit children to the moon, where they help the sand man rescue his sleep dust from goblins. Fourteen melodies and dialogue are preserved in Australian libraries.

Works

* 1920: Soot and the Fairies : an amusing cantata suitable for schools * 1940: The Magic Basket: Children's Musical * Old Mother Hubbard : a comic quartette for SATB * 1946: May Joy Be Yours * 1935: Love Triumphant * 1937: An Old Fairy Tale * Pompadour * The Lord is my Light * Spring Flowers (trio) * Little Bo-Peep * Song The Angels Sing *Ye Spotted Snakes (Lyrics

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

) *Minuet in G *The Bells (female part song)

Recordings

* 2006 Love triumphant by Edward Larenson * Humpty dumpty, Goosey goosey gander, Little Bo-peep * Murmur of the bush

References

1865 births 1949 deaths Australian male composers Australian composers Australian male songwriters Musicians from Geelong Australian musical theatre composers Male musical theatre composers {{Commons category, Christian music musicians from Australia

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...