• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE6184

Hyde, Miriam Beatrice

  • MBE, AO
(1913 – 2005)
  • Born 1913, Adelaide South Australia Australia
  • Died 2005, SydneySydney New South Wales Australia
  • Occupation Composer, Lecturer, Musician, Pianist, Poet, Tutor, Writer

Summary

Miriam Hyde was one of the Australia’s leading pianists and composers of the twentieth century.

Details

Miriam Beatrice Hyde undertook initial studies with her mother before winning a scholarship to the Elder Conservatorium at the age of twelve, where she studied under William Silver. She gradated with a Mus. Bac. In 1931 and won the Elder Scholarship to the Royal College of Music., London. During her three years at the College, Miriam won three composition prizes and was soloist in two piano concerti with major London orchestras, including the BBC.

Miriam returned to Adelaide, South Australia, in 1931 and here she wrote orchestral music for South Australia’s Centenary pageant, Heritage, produced in the Tivoli Theatre.

In order to seek greater opportunities, Miriam moved to Sydney and taught for several years at Kambala School. During this time, she remained active as a composer, recitalist, teacher, examiner, lecturer and writer. For a period during the Second World War, whilst her husband was a prisoner of war (POW), she returned to Adelaide and taught piano and musical perception and the Elder Conservatorium.

Miriam was Patron of the Music Teachers’ Associations of New South Wales and South Australia, in addition to the Blue Mountains Eisteddfod and the Australian Musicians Academy. She was also Honorary Life Member of the Fellowship of Australian Composers, the Victorian Music Teachers’ Association, and the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra.

In 1981 Miriam was awarded an OBE and in 1991 an AO. She also received the International Woman of the Year Award (1991-92) and an Honorary Doctorate by Macquarie University. In 2002 Miriam accepted the Award for Long-Term Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music at the APRA/Australian Music Centre Classical Awards and in 2004 she received a further APRA/Australian Music Centre Award.

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Archival resources

  • National Library of Australia, Manuscript Collection
    • Papers of Miriam Hyde, 1927-1996 [manuscript]
    • Letter of Miriam Hyde 1966
    • Letters of Miriam Hyde, 1997-1999
    • Correspondence of Miriam Hyde, 1997-2004 [manuscript]
    • Works by Miriam Hyde : from the Australian Music Centre archive
    • Poem by Miriam Hyde, 1980
    • [Manuscript music of Miriam Hyde] [music]
    • Manuscript book of songs [music] / by Miriam Hyde
    • Papers of Malcolm Southwell, 1981-1982 [manuscript]
    • [Six letters from Miriam Hyde to Carmichael, 1997-2001]
    • Notes, 1970 [manuscript]
    • Music scores 1950-1973 [manuscript]
    • Papers of Beatrice Tange, 1921-1970 [manuscript]
    • Records of the Australian Musical Association, 1952-1995 [manuscript]
    • [Photocopies of letters to Wilcher from Miriam Hyde, 1972-2004]
    • Letters from composers/performers of importance to Fred Blanks (also some political leaders)
  • National Library of Australia, Oral History and Folklore Collection
    • Miriam Hyde interviewed by Larry Sitsky [sound recording]
    • Miriam Hyde interviewed by Hazel de Berg in the Hazel de Berg collection [sound recording]
  • National Library of Australia
    • [Biographical cuttings on Miriam Hyde, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
  • State Library of Western Australia
    • Records, 1910-1988 [manuscript].

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  • Colleague
    • Bainton, Helen (1909 - 1996)