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Ethel Hantke [Ethel Hedwig Cowan] (1881-1970)
Recordings c1944

MSS 0237

Biographical Note

Ethel Hilda Hantke was a pupil of Frederick Bevan at the Elder Conservatorium from 1898 to 1903.

In the 1900s, she studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London, and won the Anne Lloyd Exhibition in 1906. In 1907 she was appointed sub-professor of singing at the academy, and received the certificate of Associate of the Academy.

In London she performed in many concerts at the Queen’s Hall and at Mr Henry Wood’s promenade concerts, and sang by command before the Prince of Wales.

In 1909 Ethel married the pastoralist and Norwood Redlegs football player, William James Trafford Cowan, of Naracoorte. She appears to have abandoned her singing career after her marriage.

She had 5 sons, and in 1943 was fined £5 in the Naracoorte Police Court for contravening the National Security Act by disclosing information about the disposition of troops in Australia in a letter to her son, William Trafford Cowan, who was in the AIF. Another son was a prisoner-of-war in Java.

The recordings were transferred from the Elder Music Library in 2017.

Contents Listing

Undated 78 rpm recordings under the name of Mrs Cowan. Recorded by Broadcast Exchange of Australia Pty Ltd, Melbourne, ca 1944.

1.      Wind in the trees / Still wie die Nacht (2 copies)
2.      The slave song / In Linden Lea (2 copies)
3.      He shall feed his flock / The silver ring
4.      Take thy lute / Entreat me not to leave thee
5.      Abide with me / Flight of ages
6.      Abide with me / Take thy lute
7.      Ombra mai tu / The lost chord
8.      Angas McDonald / The rose and The river

Steel master discs for:

1.      Angas MacDonald (pressing dates 12/5/1944 and 21/12/1949)
2.      The slave song (8/5/1944)
3.      The silver ring (8/5/1944)
4.      In Linden Lea (8/5/1944)
5.      The rose and The River (12/5/1944 and 21/12/1949)
6.      He shall feed his flock (8/5/1944)

 

Cheryl Hoskin
September 2018

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