The Typewriter Steals the Show at Canberra's National Capital Orchestra Concert

Canberra’s National Capital Orchestra performed Leroy Anderson’s 1950 composition “The Typewriter” during a concert under the direction of conductor Leonard Weiss at the John Lingard Hall, Canberra Grammar School, yesterday. Percussionist Veronica Bailey (née Walshaw, seen at the typewriter below) "played" my poppy red 1971 Adler Gabriele 25 portable typewriter. It was brilliant!

The hall was packed for the concert, called "Melodies for Kids: A Musical Tour of Favourite Melodies". Although the children were held spellbound by the performances  - which included pieces by Tchaikovsky, Grieg and Sibelius - they were even more greatly appreciated by the hundreds of adults in the audience.  Apart from "The Typewriter", the pieces included "March" and "Dance of the Reed Flutes" from The Nutcracker, "Dance of the Swans" from Swan Lake and "In the Hall of the Mountain King" from Peer Gynt. Charles Hudson (seen seated bottom left below) narrated a traditional-style children's tale which, according to his story, was written on a typewriter by "Miss Scribble" (Veronica Bailey).

At the end of the concert, children interested in music were encouraged to meet orchestra members and take a close look at their instruments - in some cases even to play them. However, by far and away the greatest drawcard for the youngsters was the typewriter, and even long after the musical instruments had been packed away, children were still milling around Veronica Bailey as she explained the workings of the typewriter to them. The typewriter literally "stole the show"!