9^th and 10^th

GREAT MUSICAL ATTRACTION

Return of the ever-popular Favourites the

Talented Ballarat Musicians,

THE        PAYNE      FAMILY

Vocalists,  Violinists,  Pianistes, and Bell-

Ringers. Two Grand Drawing-room

Entertainments.

Change Programme Tuesday.   Tickets,

A.P.Miller’s, Chemist

Hobart Mercury March 10, 1891:

TOWN   HALL   CONCERT

There was no mistaking the welcome accorded the Payne Family at the Town Hall last evening. Every part of the building was crowded, and nearly all the 2s. seats had been secured at Miller’s before the doors opened. This in itself speaks well for the popularity of the singers, and was sufficient to reassure them before they came out to sing the first number.  Since they were last here they have not in any way deteriorated; on the contrary, we noticed improvements in some of the instrumental items, and there were also some additions. The hand bells which last evening formed such a prominent feature of the entertainment have been studied, and the way they were handled showed that diligence has been the companion of skill ever since they were obtained.  It is some time since bellringers have been heard here, but the Payne Family gave a capital demonstration of the music that can be got out of them, and pleased their hearers very much indeed.  First of all the company sang Hart’s part song, “The Bells”, in excellent imitation of distant reverberations of the sounds that float on gentle zephyrs from many a stately tower. Mr Ralph Steele followed with “Bonnie Scotland”, and apart from his success in this song one could not help but apply to him the all-meaning words, age cannot wither nor custom stale his infinite variety.  He is in reality the life and soul of the company, and never seems to be wrongly placed.  Besides taking a hand in the campanological selections he produced some sweet music from a number of glasses , and had to respond to a vociferous encore for it. Some say the company are better instrumentalists than vocalists, whilst others would give an entirely opposite opinion, but as soloists we prefer the violins.  Their part singing, whether sad or lively, sentimental or humorous, is excellent, everything being harmonious, tuneful, correct, and well modulated.  Miss Maud Payne is a very good contralto, and Miss Alice Saunders a capital soprano.  We liked Miss Lizzie Payne’s “Old folks at home” better on her last visit than this.  Miss Maud’s song, “Fair fa the gloamin’ ”, was the best item of the evening from the ladies, and her response, a violin solo, “The mocking bird”, also carried the verdict.  The first violin solo, “Yankee Doodle”, gave her an opportunity of displaying a complete mastery of the bow, and when recalled she played “We won’t go home till morning” in a variety of styles which fairly brought down the house.  The first encore was for the hand-bell selections, “Kentucky Home” and “Carnival de Venice”, which were both excellently performed, especially when it is known that the company have only been playing bells about nine months.  “Home sweet home” was their response, and after Mr Steele had played “The harp that once thro’ Tara’s halls” and the “Last rose of summer” on the glasses, he gave “Annie Laurie” equally well.  The company appear again to-night.

By April 1891 they were back in Ballarat.

Ballarat Star, Tuesday April 7, 1891:

The talented Payne Family gave an entertainment last evening at the Neil street Wesleyan schoolroom. The building was crowded to its fullest capacity, and the audience showed themselves most appreciative.  The programme included part songs by the company, solos, &c., by the Misses Lizzie and Maud Payne, Miss Alice Saunders, and Mr R. Steele, instrumental pieces by the Misses Lizzie and Maud Payne, selections (musical glasses) by Mr R. Steele, and selections on the hand bells by the company.  The various items on the programme were received with the most enthusiastic applause.  The whole of the receipts were donated by Mr Payne and family to the new church building fund, which will benefit  considerably.  At the conclusion, a very hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Payne Family for their generous donation.

Later that month they commenced a tour of South Australia beginning in Adelaide on 23^rd and 24^th April. Just over a week later tragedy struck when Nellie Payne died at Moonta:

Ballarat Star 5^th June 1891:

By telegram we learn that Miss Nellie Payne died at Moonta (South Australia) yesterday morning.  Both of her parents were present.  Mr Payne has arranged to have the corpse brought to Ballarat by the express train, reaching the city tomorrow morning. The remains will then be taken to the Old Cemetery for burial.

Despite this the company continued with the tour, giving another performance in Adelaide on 8^th June, only four days after Nellie died, and playing in suburban venues up until 19^th June. The death notice did not appear in the Ballarat Star until 27^th June 1891:

According to a later report, Nellie died of consumption.

Continuing a busy year the company performed in Ararat on 13^th July and in Bendigo on 13^th and 14^th August 1891.

1892 started with a happy family event. On 4^th January Lizzie Payne and Ralph Steele-Warehan were married at Trinity Wesleyan Church, Dunedin, New Zealand. The marriage notice appeared in the Ballarat Star on 6^th February 1892. Ralph Steele was described as the youngest son of the late James Warehan, Lancashire, England.  Lizzie retained her maiden name after the marriage and was still referred to as Miss Lizzie Payne – very confusing !!

The company reappeared in Ballarat on 5^th and 6^th May 1892.  One month later a second tragedy occurred with the sudden death of Mr Payne senior. He was only 45.

Ballarat Star, 20^th June 1892:

  We regret to have to record the death of Mr William Payne, senior, of the well-known Payne family of musicians, which took place on Saturday morning, at his residence, in Brougham street, Soldier’s Hill.  Mr Payne did not complain of ill health until a little over a week since, when he was in Geelong.  Feeling unwell, he decided to return to Ballarat with Mrs Payne. Medical assistance was at once called in, but he gradually became worse, and inflammation and brain fever following on an affection of the throat resulted in his death on Saturday morning at about half-past 8 o’clock.  The family had been sent for from Seymour when Mr Payne’s condition became serious, but they did not arrive in Ballarat until after he had expired. The deceased arrived in Ballarat with his parents in 1853, being then a lad of four years of age. He showed an early talent for music, and during his early years, until his voice broke, he took the alto part in church singing. By trade he was a coach painter, and among the work executed by him was some heraldic painting for the Marquis of Normanby, the King of Siam, and also for H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh during the latter’s visit to Australia. Mr Payne’s family were all blessed with a taste for music, and they carried off the prizes at the Welsh Eisteddfod in 1884, 1885 and 1886. Subsequently the family began to give public concerts, and have since met with a phenomenal success in their tours through the various colonies. Some time ago, during a tour in South Australia, his daughter, Miss Nellie Payne, died of consumption. The deceased leaves his widow and family, a son and two daughters, well provided for.  The funeral will take place this afternoon, at 3 o’clock.
 

The Ballarat Courier,  20^th June 1892:

  General regret was expressed in Ballarat on Saturday morning at the announcement posted in front of The Courier office that Mr Payne senior, of the well-known Payne family of musicians had died somewhat suddenly. The deceased was comparatively a young man and a few years back he followed his trade, that of a coach-painter, at a leading establishment in the city. Mr Payne and his three daughters and son were very successful in winning prizes at the Eisteddfod and other competitions, and they met with great success in the entertainments given by them in this and the other Australian colonies and also in New Zealand and Tasmania. It was whilst touring in South Australia a short time back that Miss Nellie Payne the second daughter succumbed to an attack of consumption. Last week the family were performing in Geelong when Mr Payne became indisposed and he returned to his home in Ballarat in company with his wife for rest. He was treated for an abscess in the throat, and inflammation setting in this resulted in his death. The deceased gentleman leaves a widow and grown up family comfortably provided for. He was largely interested in the Mercantile Bank which recently closed its doors, and the failure depressed him very much. The funeral takes place this afternoon.

But the show must go on and exactly a month after Mr Payne's untimely death the company gave two concerts in Ballarat prior to departing on a tour of Victoria and Tasmania. A new member of the group was the pianist Miss Bella Handrick.

Ballarat Star, Thursday August 18, 1892:

 The entertainment given by the talented Payne family of musicians and bellringers at the Benevolent Asylum last night was very largely attended by the public in addition to the inmates of the institution, the funds of which will be considerably augmented. The following programme was carried out in an unusually entertaining manner, much to the delight of those present, who greeted each item with raptuous applause, and in many instances demanded a repetition:

Part song, “Come Dorothy, come”, company;

Song, “Home boys, home”, Mr W.J.Payne;

Violin solo, “The harp that once”, Miss Maude;

Hand bells, “Signal march”, company;

Part song (humorous), “The merry little fat grey man”, company;

Song (with violin obligato), “The cuckoo”, Miss Alice;

Selections, musical glasses, Mr R. Steele;

Quartette (vocal and instrumental), “Little Sailors”, company;

Hand bells, “Sweet Chiming Bells”, company;

Trio (humorous), “The Fortune Tellers”, Misses Alice, Bella and Maude;

Quartette (instrumental), “Flambeaux”, company;

Trio (hand bells), “Blue Bells of Scotland”, company;

Song, “Tired Mother”, Miss Maude;

Trio (humorous), serenade, “Maiden Fair”, company;

Violin duet, (A) “Flowers o‘ the Forest”,  (B) “Comin’ thro’ the Rye”, Misses Bella and Maude;

Song (humorous), “The Shop Walker”, Mr R. Steele;

Hand bells, “Schottische”, company;

Part song (humorous), “Three Doughty Men”, company.

  The company was assisted by Miss Bella Handrick (pianist). At the conclusion of the performance Mr Roache, on behalf of the inmates, and Mr Lessells, on behalf of the committee, thanked the company for their kindness in providing such a rare treat.  Mr Steele, in acknowledging the compliment, said that the efforts to amuse and assist the inmates were in pursuance of an expressed wish by the late Mr W. Payne, who had taken a deep interest in the local charitable institutions.  The programme will be repeated at the Orphan Asylum on Friday night. Next week the company leave Ballarat on a tour through Victoria and Tasmania.  

 Christmas 1892 found them in Launceston where they performed from 26^th December to 2^nd January 1893.On the 9^th and 10^th February they played in the Hobart town hall.

Hobart Mercury, February 10, 1893:

 After an absence of nearly two years the Payne Family renewed their acquaintance with Hobart last night, giving one of their clever entertainments at the Town Hall.  The boisterous weather had no apparent effect on the attendance, for scarcely a vacant seat was visible.  Large and appreciative audiences, by the way, are what the Paynes  are accustomed to face from one end of the Australian colonies to the other.  Since their previous visit the family has been reduced in numbers by the death of Mr Payne and Miss Nelly, but though the loss of the services of these members was of course a severe blow, the powers of the company  as entertainers do not appear to have suffered appreciably.  Indeed, their performance last night was quite equal to any previous effort.  The programme was lengthy and varied enough to satisfy the most fastidious, even in these days when the popular taste demands so much in the way of light amusement.  There is no attempt to wander into the higher flights of classical music on the part of the Paynes; they hold hard and fast to the popular, and their ability to touch the sentiments of large audiences by charmingly rendering the most simple airs was demonstrated last night, when many found themselves involuntarily accompanying the performers.  From the opening chorus, performers and listeners were on good terms with each other, and the bright, vivacious entertainment sparkled merrily along to the end. It was the music of the bells that captivated, however.  In the manipulation of a hundred or more bells the company are very clever. Each selection was encored vociferously, though four appeared in the programme.  The best item in campanology was the “Signal March”, the ringing of which with a muffled refrain, producing the effect of chimes in the distance, for graduation of tone and other qualities was excellent.  Mr Ralph Steele, who now manages, is a host in himself. He was in splendid voice, and whether amusing the audience with humorous tenor songs, or skilfully engaging in the more serious business of drawing music from glasses, was extremely popular. Miss Maude won golden opinions for her contralto songs and violin solo.  The audience were delighted with Miss Alice Saunders’ soprano song and pianoforte playing.  Miss Bella Handricks was not less favourably rewarded for her violin solo, while Mr W.J.Payne’s powerful baritone voice has rarely been heard to greater advantage.  A humorous trio by the Misses Alice, Bella and Maude to the air of the irrepressible “Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay” greatly tickled the fancy of the audience, who were equally pleased with a quartette of a similar character given by the company.  Among the noticeable individual performances were a song (with violin obbligato), by Miss Alice, “Little birds, they chip, chip”, and another by Miss Maude, “I couldn’t, could I?”  An extravaganza, heard before, but never more appreciated, was “Johnny Schmoker”, and this made a capital concluding number to a really delightful entertainment.

   The Payne Family give another entertainment at the Town Hall to-night.

  In May 1894 the company advertised for a new member.

Ballarat Star, Monday, May 28, 1894:           

 The successful applicant was presumably Miss Kate Maher because her name appeared in the programmes of 7 concerts given in Ballarat during September and October 1894. I   presume that Kate was a replacement for Maud Payne whose name was missing from the list of performers. On 14^th October 1894 the company gave a Farewell Sacred Concert in the Ballarat Academy of Music prior to departing for Western Australia.       

Kate Maher was still with them when they returned to Ballarat in1898  after a four year(!!) tour through Europe and South Africa. This is when they started re-naming their group the Steele-Payne Family as we can see from this advertisement in the Ballarat Star of 21st March 1898:

A L F R E D     H A L L

GRAND POPULAR CONCERT

Friday, 25^th March

Re-appearance of the Famous

STEELE -PAYNE

(Payne Family)

Of Part-singers, Soloists, Violinists, Mandolinists,

Banjoists, Sleigh Bells and

BELLRINGERS,

After a most successful tour of 4 years through

Europe and South Africa

  _____________

The company is comprised of the following artists:-

Miss Lizzie Payne                 Mr James Williams

Miss Kate Maher                     (Chapel Royal, Kew,

Miss Sophie Jungheen               and London concerts)

Mr Ralph Steele

By then Lizzie was the only Payne family member left in the group.  Additional instruments had been introduced into the performance: banjo, mandolin and two sets of sleigh bells. It was Lizzie who played the sleigh bells and she and Kate Maher played a mandolin/banjo duet.

On Good Friday night (8^th April 1898) the company gave a Grand Sacred Concert in the Mechanics' Hall, Ballarat. The final item on the programme was "The Old Hundredth" on the handbells.  Secular concerts were given on Easter Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

  Lizzie must have anticipated settling in Ballarat for a while because on 13^th May 1898 she put the following ad. in the Ballarat Star:  

A busy schedule of concerts continued for the remainder of 1898 in Ballarat:

22^nd May: a Great Scotch Programme in combination with pipers and highlanders

24^th May(Queen's Birthday): a Grand Promenade Concert in aid of the Queen's Statue Fund. The programme commenced with the handbells playing "God Save the Queen". There were two intervals for the audience to go promenading while a local orchestra played patriotic selections.

10^th June: here's a concert with a difference!:

At the Alfred Hall tonight a Grand Promenade Concert will be given by the Steele-Payne family of bell-ringers, vocalists and instrumentalists. During an interval an Irish Song Contest will take place between Mr J.P.Heffernan and Mr Alf Rose for a trophy and the championship of Ballarat. Each gentleman will sing 2 comic songs in character. The audience will select twelve of their number to act as judges. The proceeds are to be given in aid of the Town Mission poor fund. The missionary will be at the door to receive any gifts of articles of clothing. The charge for admission is sixpence to all parts of the house.                                (Ballarat Star, 10^th June, 1898)

The saga of the Steele-Payne company rolls on and on. For later happenings refer to Handbell Herald No.18 (1993), p.18 and 19.

© Gwyn Gillard

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