Notes from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration: Gerald S. Doorly's songs of the 'morning

• Main Author: Philpott, C
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne Conservatorium of Music 2012
• Subjects: Studies in Creative Arts and Writing; Performing Arts and Creative Writing; Musicology and Ethnomusicology; Antarctic; Doorly; Morrison; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://www.conservatorium.unimelb.edu.au/context/issues; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/83209

This article explores the earliest known pieces of music composed directly in responseto Antarctica: a series of songs written by Gerald S. Doorly and John D. Morrison aboard the relief vessel Morning, which was sent from England to Antarctica to locate and re-supplyCaptain Robert Falcon Scott and company aboard the icebound Discovery in July 1902 as partof the British National Antarctic Expedition 1901-1904. These songs not only document thejourney south and the explorers Antarctic experiences; importantly, they also offer valuableinsight into a little-considered aspect of the history of Antarctic exploration - that is, what theexplorers did to entertain themselves and keep spirits high during long voyages at sea andfreezing cold, lonely nights in Antarctica.