Musical Allies: Christina Boughen and Percy Brier
By Dr Nicole Murphy, 2024 Christina Boughen OAM Fellow | 25 March 2025
This blog was written by 2024 Christina Boughen OAM Fellow, Dr Nicole Murphy for her project, Exploration, Celebration and Continuation: the legacy of Christina Boughen OAM.
Just as choreographers rely on dancers to realise their vision on stage, every composer needs performers to bring their music to life. It is common for composers to develop enduring musical relationships with particular performers, who have a shared understanding of style and intent. For Australian composer Percy Brier, accomplished pianist Christina Boughen was that trusted ally—a performer to whom he dedicated many works.
Percy Brier (1885-1970) was born near Caboolture and was active as an organist, educator, adjudicator and composer. Among his many contributions to musical life in Queensland, is the establishment of the the Musical Association of Queensland (a precursor to today’s Queensland Music Teachers Association), and the Queensland branch of the Guild of Australian Composers. (1)
Percy Brier. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Neg 36774.
Amongst the papers housed in the Christina Boughen OAM and Robert Boughen OBE collection, are musical manuscripts and personal correspondence that Brier sent Christina and her husband, Robert Boughen. Brier’s compositions that are dedicated to Christina Boughen include the ‘Four Short Preludes in different modes’, a Nocturne (dedicated to both Christina and Robert Boughen), and the Sonata-Ballade. (2)
A momentous occasion occurred in 1950, when Christina Boughen gave the premiere of Brier’s Piano Concerto in C Minor. The soloist took to the stage at Albert Hall alongside the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robert Boughen. (3)
Article advertising the performance. 1950 'Recital features local composers', The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), 22 May, p. 4. Trove, National Library of Australia.
Christine’s performance appears to have delighted the composer, with Brier inscribing the score:
Dedicated to Christine Whyte in memory of a thrilling first performance. June 1st 1950
Brier even penned a poem to commemorate the occasion -
I know a good pianist called Chris,
Who lives in a state of true bliss;
She played my concerto,
Under direction Roberto,
And it makes me inclined to say this: -
I’m glad of the fact,
She was able to act,
So that pleasure should none of us miss. (4)
Hand-written poem by Percy Brier about Christina Boughen. Series 25. 32654 Christina Boughen OAM and Robert Boughen OBE papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
The collaborative relationship between Percy Brier and Christina Boughen highlights the vital role of trust and shared artistic vision in the creation of music, leaving a lasting legacy of compositions inspired by the artistry of Christina Boughen.
References
- Boughen, R. K. (1979, January 1). Brier, Percy (1885–1970). Australian Dictionary of Biography. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/brier-percy-5357/text9059https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/concert-reviews-1950s-brisbane
- Boughen, C., & Boughen, R. (1856). Robert Boughen’s collection of musical compositions from Queensland composers (1924-2016?). Christina Boughen OAM and Robert Boughen OBE papers.
- Recital features local composers (1950, May 22). The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49734605
- Boughen, C., & Boughen, R. (1856). Robert Boughen’s collection of musical compositions from Queensland composers (1924-2016?). Christina Boughen OAM and Robert Boughen OBE papers.
Read other blogs by Dr Nicole Murphy:
Read other blogs about Christina Boughen OAM and her career.
Evelyn Saunders' Research Reveals talk.
Comments
Your email address will not be published.
We welcome relevant, respectful comments.