A century after he was killed on the battlefields of the Somme, the works of Frederick Septimus Kelly, hailed as Australia's answer to Chopin, are being revived through a new biography, performances of his long-neglected piano music, and a screening of an award-winning documentary. The events, centred on Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance, aim to reclaim a forgotten figure in Australia's musical history.
Kelly, born in Sydney in 1881, was both an accomplished pianist and composer and an Olympic gold-medal rower. He studied in Frankfurt alongside fellow Australian Percy Grainger, performed with cellist Pablo Casals and violinist Jelly d'Aranyi, and won a rowing gold at the 1908 London Olympics.
When World War I broke out, he enlisted in Britain's Royal Naval Division and served at Gallipoli alongside poet Rupert Brooke. Brooke's death inspired his best-known composition, Elegy for Strings, which is now the subject of the documentary Elegy.
Despite military duties, Kelly continued composing. While on leave before deploying to France, he delivered corrected proofs of his 12 Studies and 24 Monographs to his London publisher. He was killed on 13 November 1916, aged 35. His diaries revealed his fear of dying before completing his work; he listed a symphony, piano sonata and string quartet among the works left unfinished.
Chris Latham, the Australian War Memorial's first musical artist-in-residence, has spent nearly two decades recovering Kelly's compositions. "Sep, in order of his talents, was an Olympic gold medal-winning rower, a great pianist and an even greater composer," Latham said. "It's time for our long-lost son to come home."
Latham believes Kelly's service in a British unit contributed to his neglect, leaving his achievements stranded between two countries. "One can only speculate what would have happened if Kelly had lived," he said. "Had he returned to Australia, he would have likely risen to be the head of music at the ABC or perhaps at the Sydney Conservatorium."
The new biography, written by Melbourne author Therese Radic and Olympic gold medallist Martin Cross, is part of a broader campaign to restore Kelly's reputation. His recovered compositions are being made freely available to musicians and cultural institutions.
Sunday's event at the Shrine features performances by pianists Edward and Stephanie Neeman and readings from Kelly's diaries by arts figure Carrillo Gantner. The concert concludes a commemorative tour through Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne marking the 110th anniversary of his death.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The revival reintroduces a significant Australian composer to modern audiences, filling a gap in the nation's musical heritage.
- Kelly's recovered compositions are now freely available, allowing musicians and institutions to perform works that were almost lost forever.
- The campaign highlights the immense cultural loss of World War I beyond soldiers, including artists whose potential was cut short.
Background
Frederick Septimus Kelly was born in Sydney in 1881 and educated at Eton and in Frankfurt. He was a gifted pianist and composer, performing with leading European musicians, and also an elite rower, winning Olympic gold in 1908. During WWI he served with the Royal Naval Division and continued composing until his death on the Somme in 1916. His works were largely forgotten until recent recovery efforts by Chris Latham.
What to Watch
- Sunday's concert and biography launch; the level of public and institutional interest may gauge future programming of his works.
- Whether the recovered compositions gain performances by major Australian orchestras or choirs.
- Potential recognition, such as inclusion in the Australian War Memorial's collections or national music curricula.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedKelly is being celebrated 110 years after his death and was hailed as Australia’s answer to Chopin.The Age - Latest News: “Frederick Septimus Kelly, hailed as Australia’s answer to Chopin, was killed at the Battle of the Somme in November 1916, aged just 35... is being celebrated... 110 years after his death.”
- SupportedA new biography, performances of Kelly’s piano music and a documentary screening mark the 110th anniversary of his death.The Age - Latest News: “A new biography of the Sydney-born composer will be launched at the Shrine on Sunday, alongside performances of his long-neglected piano music and a screening of an award-winning documentary”
- SupportedThe events aim to reclaim a forgotten figure in Australia’s musical history.The Age - Latest News: “in a major effort to reclaim a forgotten figure in the nation’s musical history.”
- Partly supportedThe events are happening a century after Kelly was killed.The Age - Latest News: “A century after his death on the battlefields of France... 110 years after his death.”
- SupportedLatham said Kelly was an Olympic gold-medal-winning rower, a great pianist and an even greater composer, and called for him to come home.The Age - Latest News: ““Sep, in order of his talents, was an Olympic gold medal-winning rower, a great pianist and an even greater composer,” Latham said. “It’s time for our long-lost son to come home.””
- SupportedLatham said Kelly might have become head of music at the ABC or Sydney Conservatorium if he had returned to Australia.The Age - Latest News: ““Had he returned to Australia, he would have likely risen to be the head of music at the ABC or perhaps at the Sydney Conservatorium.””
- SupportedKelly’s service in a British military unit contributed to his later neglect, in Latham’s view.The Age - Latest News: “Latham believes Kelly’s decision to serve in a British military unit rather than an Australian battalion contributed to his subsequent neglect”
- SupportedBrooke’s death inspired Kelly’s best-known composition, Elegy for Strings.The Age - Latest News: “Brooke’s death in 1915 inspired Kelly’s best-known composition, Elegy for Strings”
- SupportedKelly was killed on 13 November 1916, aged 35.The Age - Latest News: “Six months later, on November 13, he was killed on the Somme.”
- SupportedKelly delivered corrected proofs of his 12 Studies and 24 Monographs to his London publisher while on leave before deploying to France.The Age - Latest News: “In May 1916, while on leave before deploying to France, he delivered corrected proofs of his 12 Studies and 24 Monographs to his London publisher.”
- SupportedKelly’s recovered compositions are being made freely available to musicians and cultural institutions.The Age - Latest News: “with his recovered compositions being made freely available to musicians and cultural institutions.”
- SupportedSunday’s Shrine event features performances by pianists Edward and Stephanie Neeman and readings from Kelly’s diaries by Carrillo Gantner.The Age - Latest News: “Sunday’s event will feature performances by pianists Edward and Stephanie Neeman, alongside readings from Kelly’s diaries by Melbourne arts figure Carrillo Gantner.”