THE ORIGINS OF THE QUINTRELL FAMILY

Edward Quintrell, leader and father of the Quintrell family of musicians, was born in Kapunda in 1848.  As a young man he was involved in mining in the Moonta district. Later on he became a watchmaker.

The earliest professional concert I can find for this group is in 1890 when they performed in the Garner Rooms in Adelaide on the 12th, 14th and 15th of July, in Port Adelaide on the 16th and in the Adelaide Town Hall on the 17th and 18th July 1890.  They shared these concerts with the Moonta Fisk Singers, a choir from the Bible Christian Church at Moonta who performed in a similar style to the famous American Fisk Singers. At that time the Quintrell troupe consisted of 6 performers: Edward, his eldest daughter (unnamed), and his younger children  Mary, Fred, Willie and Sylvie (then only 5 years old). The instruments they played were violin, cello and double bass; Mr Quintrell also played the cornet and the eldest Miss Quintrell was piano accompaniste. They sang as well, but in these concerts handbells were not used.  Their show was one you could safely take the kids and granny to,  for the opening night's advertisement commented that the Quintrells provided "a thoroughly enjoyable and refined musical entertainment which has been patronised by and received the approval of many well-known clergymen"!

 

                          G A R N E R ' S     T H E A T R E

                                    OPENING NIGHT

                               SATURDAY,    JULY  12

 

                 QUINTRELL AND FISK COMBINATION

 

             This unrivalled Party of Musicians will include in

              their programmes

                           "JINGLE BELLS",

                                ''STEAL AWAY TO JESUS"

              and other JUBILEE SONGS which have gained

            the highest approval from the city and country Press.

                    Also CHORUSES and PART SONGS.

 

                The QUINTRELL FAMILY is now so well known

             that their performances are sure to be attractive.

 

                The CELLO and DOUBLE BASS DUET by

              Juvenile Members of the Quintrell Family must

              excite admiration and wonder, and is announced as

              a speciality.

              The VIOLIN SOLOS and DUETS by MISS and

             MASTER QUINTRELL have been always received

              most enthusiastically.

 

             A THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE and REFINED

             MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT, which has been

             patronised by and received the approval of many

              well-known clergymen.

                                                                                             (Adelaide Register, 12th July 1890)

 

The next time I can find them is over a year later when they came to Victoria (on their own, without the Fisk Singers). Between the 18th and 28th of November 1891 they performed in Horsham, Stawell, Ararat, Ballarat (2 concerts), Maryborough and Bendigo (3 concerts).  This time they used handbells. A review in the Bendigo Advertiser even mentions which make of bells they had:

This talented family gave the first of their unique and pleasing entertainments in this city at the Masonic Hall last evening. The family, who number six, comprise Mr E. Quintrell (the father), Miss Quintrell, Miss Mary and Masters Fred, Willie and Sylvie.  The latter, who is a mere child (six years old), gave evidence of becoming a very fine violinist, his fantasia on Scotch airs receiving hearty applause.  The programme included two instrumental numbers by the family, "The Bohemian Girl" and "Caliph of Bagdad", both being played with good tone and time. The jubilee camp song "Talk About Your Moses" by Master Willie and company was a good concerted piece and received commendable applause. Miss Mary, who possesses a sweet contralto voice, sang "The Better Land", with violin obligato by Master Fred, and "Old and New", both of which were very creditably given. The same young lady also assisted in an instrumental trio with Masters Fred and Willie.  The company are possessed of a complete chromatic set of Warner's Hand Bells, and the four youngest of the family showed special genius in two selections and were honoured with a recall. The buffo singing of Mr Frank Russell was very effective and gave general satisfaction. The company appear again this evening when there will no doubt be a large audience. Special mention should be made of Miss Quintrell who, in a capable manner, played the accompaniments during the evening.

                                                                                                                             (27th November 1891)

 Here is their concert ad in the Ballarat  Star of 21st November 1891:

   

Further information about the Quintrell company written by Glenys Edwards appeared in
Handbell Herald No. 18, 1993.

© Gwyn Gillard

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