Read more
This study investigates the music of the Anglican Church in South Australia from 1836 to 2003. The title refers to the Book of Common Prayer Evening Prayer Service, 'In Quires and Places where they sing, here followeth the Anthem'. The migrants to South Australia had religious traditions which supported rich musical cultures and after the Wesleyan-Methodists and the Roman Catholics the Anglicans have had the third largest attendance at services.
An historical musicological method is adopted in this study, and interviews form a valuable primary source and link between past and present in the life of the church and the practice of music. The 120 interviews within provide insight into the liturgical and musical traditions of Anglican parish churches and of St Peter's Cathedral, complementing the study of documents and other printed sources.
This method of study produced an historical narrative of significant events, personalities and circumstances that contributed to the development of Anglican church music in South Australia. From this flowed a consideration of the inherited musical traditions from the English church, the liturgical framework, performance practices, and the development of a repertoire of church music particular to the needs of the Anglican community in South Australia. The changing character of music in the Anglican parishes is considered, and a principal objective is to assess how music has become an integral part of the worship.
About the author
Dr Helena Raymond Lauer was born in Adelaide (1945). Dr H.R. Lauer attended PGC for her primary and secondary education, with her first round of tertiary education occurring at University of Adelaide and Elder Conservatorium where Bachelor of Arts and Music I, II, III were completed, respectively. Helena began piano lessons at aged four and began organ lessons aged sixteen; the latter with James Govenlock at St Francis Xavier Cathedral.
In 1972 Helena married German anthropologist Dr Peter K. P. Lauer, and lived in Brisbane, Queensland for 22 years, where her three sons were born. Helena earned a Teaching Diploma from Trinity College London in 1983 and taught piano in a private studio, both in Queensland and upon returning to Adelaide, South Australia from 1991. Helena became an organist at St David's Anglican Church, Burnside South Australia in 1994 and still holds that position at the time of publication in 2020. In 2000, Helena earned a Licentiate in Organ Performance from Trinity College London.
Since returning to Adelaide, Helena has continued her tertiary education at University of Adelaide and Elder Conservatorium, completing Master of Educational Studies, Master of Arts (thesis explored the role of the Elder Professors of Music in South Australia) and a Master of Music (thesis on the history of Anglican church music in South Australia). Following the conferral of these degrees, Helena attended University of South Australia where she was awarded a Master of Education prior to a Doctor of Philosophy (thesis exploring women music educators, as presented by this publication).
