Heinrich Schrader, sons Herman, Charles, Otto, Heinrich and daughter Anna, musical force in 19th Century Adelaide
Heinrich Schrader's Brunswick Bank, playing at Leschen's Deutsche Schule im Walkefield Street, Adelaide city, in 1862, and (at right) the music for his son Otto's 1900 patriotic march composition “Beneath the Southern Cross”.
Heinrich Schrader was patriarch of one of Adelaide’s most remarkable families, with five of his six children also making their mark musically.
Heinrich Schrader was born in 1832 in Brunswick, Germany, where he learned to play cornet, cornopean and contrabass plus music theory and composition. He joined the Brunswick military artillery band and saw service against the Danes. He sailed for the Victorian goldfields in 1857 but was convinced by fellow passengers Adolf Leschen and Theo Niehuus to get off the ship at Adelaide.
He became singing teacher at Leschen’s Deutsche Schule in Wakefield Street, Adelaide, as well as conducting the military band and his own Brunswick Band. His cornet playing saw him in demand by theatre orchestras and the philharmonic society.
Heinrich’s second son Herman became a full-time musician. Educated at the Deutsche Schule and Whinham College, he left around 1878 to study music under Hans von Bülow at Königliche Musikschule in Munich, as a pianist, violinist, cellist and composer. He returned just after his father’s death, making his South Australian debut at a Liedertafel concert in Kapunda. In 1881-82, he performed with Adelaide String Quartet and, in 1883, became examiner in music at Adelaide University. In 1884, he returned to Germany for two years’ study in Leipzig. He became music professor at Melbourne University Conservatorium in 1889.
Anna, Heinrich’s eldest daughter, a classically trained singer, featured in many concerts in Adelaide and Sydney, sometimes with brother Herman playing piano.
Fifth son Charles, educated at Whinham College, became one of South Australia’s leading cornet soloists by 1885, playing for choral societies and bands, often as bandmaster. He also judged musical competitions. During the visit of the Duke of Cornwall and York (later King Edward VII), he was trumpeter at the St Peter’s Cathedral service.
Heinrich Schrader’s eldest son, Heinrich, led Concordia, one of Adelaide’s most popular brass bands.
Otto Schrader, pianist and composer, was born in 1874. His main claim to fame output was his march “Beneath the Southern Cross”, marking the birth of the commonwealth of Australia. It was widely admired and played by bands and on the piano. Bandmasters of the Royal Marines and the Coldstream Guards both requested scores.