Alan MacKenzie Rattray was a lyricist and arranger of music. Born in Concord, Sydney in 1878,[1] Rattray was the son of pioneer capitalists George Allan and Katherine[citation needed] Rattray.[2]

Allan M Rattray
Portrait of Alan Rattray
Alan Rattray
Background information
Born(1878-01-01)January 1, 1878
Sydney, Australia
DiedJune 26, 1919(1919-06-26) (aged 53)
Occupation(s)Composer, lyricist
Years active1899–1910

Rattray was a prolific lyricist and arranger, often collaborating with fellow Australian composers Edward Tyrell and Lous L Howarde.[3] Rattray is best known for the song "Boy in the Sailor Cap" which was the subject of a copyright claim [4]

He survived a shipwreck while on tour to India.[5] Rattray was critical of Australian war time rationing, writing poetical polemics in the papers of the time.[6]

He died in Paddington, Sydney, in 1919 [7]

Works

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  • Boy in the Sailor Cap
  • The Old Gum Tree[8] performed most famously by Marie Eaton.[9]
  • On the Briny[10]
  • Jack Tar[11]
  • 1908 Pansy Leaf[12]
  • Somebody's Sweetheart[13]
  • My Black Canary[14]
  • She's somebody's sweetheart still – words by Alan M. Rattray; the music by Alan M. Rattray & Clarence Vaughan
  • Oh! Angeline! – written by Alan M. Rattray; music by Clarence Vaughan
  • What would be a paradise to me – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by Alan M. Rattray and Clarence Vaughan
  • Where the moonbeams bathe the fields in silver light – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by Clarence Vaughan
  • Comic song: I'm not a long way off – written by Alan M. Rattray; composed by A.M.R., Clarence Vaughan
  • We only live just to love – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by Clarence Vaughan
  • A girl of the very best – music by Alan Rattray & Clarence Vaughan
  • My heart keeps ever calling for her, still – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by Alan M. Rattray[15]
  • The girl in the Strand – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by Clarence Vaughan
  • Sneezing song: Ah-h-did-did-did-ah-kshoo!!! – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by Clarence Vaughan
  • Only a little boy – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by Clarence Vaughan
  • My maid of Tyrol – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by AMR & Clarence Vaughan
  • Suzanne! – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by Clarence Vaughan
  • When my sweetheart answered yes – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by AMR & Clarence Vaughan
  • Comic song: Joints – written by Alan M. Rattray; music by Clarence Vaughan
  • Comic song: Kickin' up a fuss like that! – written by Alan M. Rattray; composed by Clarence Vaughan
  • The idol of Cassidy's ball – words by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by Clarence Vaughan
  • Sister! – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by Clarence Vaughan
  • Then he began to think – words by Aln M. Rattray; music by Clarence Vaughan
  • My first and only love – words by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by Clarence Vaughan
  • I wonder what they mean by that – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by AMR & Clarence Vaughan
  • That's French! – words by Alan Rattray; music by Clarence Vaughan
  • My Sunday boy – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by A.M.R. & Clarence Vaughan
  • Comic duet: Think o' that! – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by Benj. H. Burt
  • The way they love – written and composed by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by Louis L. Howarde
  • Miss Penelope – words by Alan M. Rattray; music by Clarence Vaughan
  • If your love were real – words and music by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by Louis L. Howarde
  • Comic song: What a pity – written and composed by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by L. L. Howarde
  • Love in all
  • What does it matter when two – Alan M. Rattray & Clarence Vaughan
  • Little Grey Eyes – words and music by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by L. L. Howarde
  • I'm so tired of waiting for you – words and music by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by L. L. Howarde
  • Laughing answers – written by Alan M. Rattray; composed & arranged by Alan M. Rattray & L. L. Howarde
  • Lavinia : schottische – composed by Alan M. Rattray.
  • Dear old dad – words and music by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by L.L. Howarde
  • Ambolene, ma Kaffir queen – words & music by Alan M. Rattray
  • Coster song: Sal – words and music by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by Louis L. Howarde
  • The boy in the sailor cap – words and music by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by Louis L. Howarde
  • Mabel – words and music by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by Louis L. Howarde
  • I'm such a tomboy – words and music by Alan M. Rattray; (arr. by Louis L. Howarde)
  • Eily – words and music by Alan M. Rattray (arranged by Louis L. Howarde)
  • Schottische – Comic song: I don't care – written and composed by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by L.L. Howarde
  • Jack Tar – words and music by Alan M. Rattray; arranged by Louis L. Howarde
  • Gymnastic scena: The girls from Sandow's school – written by Alan M. Rattray; composed by Alan M. Rattray and Lou. L. Howarde
  • False as accused – written and composed by Alan Rattray & Tom Donnelly
  • It only makes me love you more and more – words and music by Alan M. Rattray

Recordings

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References

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  1. ^ NSW birth registration 4009[better source needed]
  2. ^ "Death of Mr. G. A. Rattray". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 296. New South Wales, Australia. 1 February 1919. p. 7. Retrieved 4 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Musical Gossip". Evening News. No. 13, 406. New South Wales, Australia. 28 May 1910. p. 12. Retrieved 4 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "In Equity". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 21, 562. New South Wales, Australia. 26 February 1907. p. 4. Retrieved 4 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Thrilling Story of the Sea". The Daily Telegraph. No. 8837. New South Wales, Australia. 27 September 1907. p. 6. Retrieved 4 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "B-U-T-T-E-R!". Northern Star. Vol. 41. New South Wales, Australia. 13 September 1916. p. 5. Retrieved 4 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ NSW death certificate 19089[better source needed]
  8. ^ "New Music". Evening News. No. 12, 668. New South Wales, Australia. 16 January 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 4 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Papers Past". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  10. ^ "On the Briny (Oh! What a Nasty Feeling)".
  11. ^ "New Music". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LXII, no. 15, 090. Queensland, Australia. 24 May 1906. p. 4. Retrieved 4 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Literature". The Mercury. Vol. LXXXIX, no. 11, 918. Tasmania, Australia. 29 May 1908. p. 7. Retrieved 4 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "'Jack Tar'". The Australian Star. No. 5702. New South Wales, Australia. 24 May 1906. p. 5 (first edition). Retrieved 4 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ Rattray, Alan M.; Howarde, Louis L. (1908). My black canary: a trump card of society. Popular sixpenny edition. Sydney: D. Davis & Co.
  15. ^ "Concert at Dundee". The Morning Bulletin. No. 14, 87[?]. Queensland, Australia. 19 June 1912. p. 4. Retrieved 18 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Rattray, Alan M." Discography of American Historical Recordings.