My name is ROD CHRISTIAN and I ran a very successful choir, the Rejoyce Choir with Perry Joyce for three years at U.W.A. I have an extensive musical background including music teaching in high schools directing bands, ensembles and choirs for over thirty years. My new choir venture is titled Simply All The Best (SATB). I have named the choir this as we will only perform classic songs from the best of the repertoire of pop jazz and musical theatre. Some of these are my personal compositions and arrangements. The repertoire will include songs from my musical theatre repertoire to be performed in concert. Choristers will need to have had some musical knowledge and should have some basic knowledge of reading choir music. Selection will be done at an informal audition. Glenda will be the administrator and will handle all queries enrolments, fees, music books and notices to go to the choir. she can be reached at glam2704@yahoo.com At this stage we will be rehearsing in the Post Newspaper building in Onslow Road Shenton Park on a Thursday evening starting at 7 pm until 9:00pm and following school terms, with breaks for the holidays. A normal term will be 10 weeks in duration at a cost of $15 per person per week. This is to be paid by the term in advance. This fee covers all music and coffee, tea and refreshments during the break. This will be an exciting choir and an opportunity to meet like minded people who love music, singing and belonging to a community choir. The Subiaco Post which is run by my brother Bret will provide all the advertising and articles for choir events. I will be calling for auditions in January so please register your interest by emailing Glenda for more details.glam2704@yahoo.com
So if you are a soprano, alto, tenor or bass we need you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Rod Christian (Director) and Glenda Prideaux (Administrator)
Dennis Bird, CEO of Abmusic Perth, Western Australia approached me to write an album for two Indigenous artists, Luke and Dan Riches who were born at One Arm Point in the Kimberley. These two brothers are such talented singers and songwriters and are already touring in their own band The Struggling Kings. I have had the pleasure of teaching them vocals for the album and also producing the entire album. I wrote nine of the original songs, the boys wrote a song each to complete the album. Musicians who played on the album are Rod Christian Bass, Keys, Guitars and Drum programs using Logic X, Mike Nelson (Keys), , Paul Millard (Saxes), Mark Underwood (Trumpet), George Janicki (Guitars), Dennis Bird (Percussion),Jenny Wrenn Nelson (Backup Vocals), Kelly Green (Backup Vocals) and Paul Reynolds (Backup Vocals.)
It is envisaged that we will be touring this album around Western Australia in 2019/2020.
Yvonne Antoine at work in Print Hall WA Newspaper House. circa 1936
Yvonne at age 98.Photo taken in 2016
This is a fascinating story about my parents, Ron and Yvonne Christian (nee Antoine) set during World War 2. They met in 1935 while both working at The West Australian Newspaper and the rest, as they say, is history.
I took mum (100 years old March 2018) to see the Print Hall and she showed me exactly where the pay window was and can remember everything very well. I decided five years ago to write my next big musical based on their story, which from that point in 1935 is so interesting.
I have been interviewing my mother in short sessions for the past 7 years, from 2012-2017. She is still very alert now at 102 years of age in 2020, and her memory is still okay. The musical “MATES” is now completed after eight years work. 18 original songs are featured in this musical set during WWII, 1939-1945.
Yvonne Antoine in the VAD Uniform 1941
Captain Ron Christian WX3093 M.C.and Bar 2/16 Battalion
Military Cross Citation
Mum was a pay clerk at the West Australian Newspaper office at 125 St Georges Terrace. Dad was lining up for his pay in Print Hall (which has recently been restored to its original condition).
I took mum (who turned100 years old March 2018) to see the Print Hall and she showed me exactly where the pay window was and can remember everything very well. I decided seven years ago to write my next big musical based on their story, which from that point in 1935 is so interesting.
Mum joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment (Dalkeith) in about 1935/1937.
Dad proposed to Mum at the Embassy Ballroom in William Street Perth in 1939 just as WW2 was declared.This is a scene from the musical where the action is down at the Embassy Ballroom in William St Perth WA.
This is the song “Saturday Night.” The Embassy Ballroom is packed with people who are out for a good time trying to forget about the impending war ahead. Ron, Yvonne and Bret Langridge are there along with their friends enjoying the music and dancing. There are three girls out front of a big dance band and they are singing the song.
Dad’s best mate, Bret Langridge, was also keen on mum.
Dad and Bret joined the 2/16th Battalion when war broke out and went to train at Northam Army Barracks. They were subsequently sent to Syria in the Middle East in 1941.
In 1941 Mum was was one of those from her VAD detachment who volunteered for service in the Middle East. She was attached to the 7th AGH and travelled on the Queen Mary. She was later also attached to the 6th AGH.
Dad heard she was there and came down from the battlefields to the makeshift hospital where mum was stationed. They spent their “day off” together in Palestine. Bret Langridge was also there.
It was then they began planning a wedding, and Dad was keen to have it at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Dad’s Battalion was then brought home by Curtin to defend Australia. He went to Queensland where he trained with the 2/16 Batallion for New Guinea.
Mum stayed in the Middle East until February 1943 when her detachment returned to Perth. Dad returned briefly from New Guinea where he had been an integral part of the Kokoda Campaign as a Captain of the 7th Division 2/16 Battalion. He won his first Military Cross for bravery at Isurava/Abuwari when he helped plan the attack on Shaggy Ridge north of Kokoda and defeated a Japanese advancing party “with only the remnants of his platoon.”
“BRIGADE HILL on Kokoda” c. Rod Christian 2017.
This is the music that accompanies the scene in the musical.
Bret Langridge was killed at Kokoda – he and Dad had been close friends. They both became Captains and both contributed a lot to the successes of the campaign.
Bret had intimated to mum that if anything ever happened to Dad, he would look after Mum.
The irony is that Bret was killed in new Guinea and dad never got over it.
”
WHY SO YOUNG” copyright Rod Christian 2016
This is a song featured in my new WW2 musical, “MATES!” based on my parents’ life experiences during WW2. The song is about a father longing for his son, Bret Langridge to return from war. He has been called to duty on the Kokoda Track in New Guinea in the 2/16th Battalion. The father is writing a letter to Bret asking the question “Why So Young”- my only son! Bret is sitting on his stretcher bed and replies to his father’s letter. Bret’s sister Joan also joins in the song. The trio captures a moment in the musical where we question whether Bret will indeed make it home.
This is a video extract of the song which featured in a recent showcase of MATES.
Bret is killed in action on Kokoda the very next day! The REQUIEM scene in the musical is where he is formally buried in Port Moresby New Guinea.
I have set “THE ODE” by Laurence Binyon to a SATB chorale.
This is from Scene 12 in Act 2. Vocalist Perry Joyce.
When the Kokoda Campaign had finished, he returned home briefly to Perth where he married mum at Star Of The Sea Church in Cottesloe on 26 February 1943. See AWM website reference here: AWM website.
This is the wedding song my father sings to my mother at the wedding ceremony. It is titled “Another Chapter, Another Page.” The artists on the recording are West Australian vocalists Louise Anton Miller and Perry Joyce.
She had brought Egyptian lace home from the Middle East, and her boss at WAN got last-minute permission from the Minister for the Army to be married out of uniform. This story was carried by the West Australian Newspaper and she had many offers from dressmakers to make her wedding dress in time for her wedding.
After the gruelling Kokoda Campaign, the Battalion was sent to Borneo to further stop the Japanese at Balikpapan, and Dad won his second Militay Cross for bravery.
Mum went back to work and transferred to the commercial staff as Secretary to the CO of Hollywood Hospital.
This is a very telling story about my parents’ early lives together. Recently the family came across some actual footage of the events at Kokoda on an ATN Channel 7 film made back in the 50s. Dad is actually interviewed on this programme which I have restored to DVD. It is a fascinating account from various people who served in the Middle East and in New Guinea. Please view this here. We Were Anzacs 1956.
Please also see photos taken by Yvonne Antoine in the Middle East on the AWM website.
I am working on a piece called the Karri Valley/Margaret River Suite which I started way back in 1990. This was inspired by a number of visits to these places including wineries such as Voyage (see picture),and my impressions musically of certain landmarks (Karri Forest Pemberton WA).The second movement of six movements is scored for piano, strings and oboe. The genre is contemporary Jazz and the influences are from my rock/jazz days as a performer on guitar, bass, piano/keyboards and percussion. The medium I use for the sequenced backing is Logic Pro X as well as live performers, namely Roger Garrood, Paul Millard and Mike Collinson to name a few. Featured is the Second Movement titled “Tranquillo” which reflects the tranquility and beauty of the Karri Valley near Pemberton Western Australia.
[mp3j track=”KV.mp3″ title=”Click to play track here:”]
I compose music from a variety of genres including pop, r&b, rock, jazz, contemporary, dance, classical, film, documentaries and commercials. There are two main sites where you can log in.
Press play to hear my latest additions at Soundcloud
Search Reverbnation artist – Rod Christian. I publish songs under my own label Rodmusic Publishing. Contact me direct through this website or on Facebook.
I am currently writing/producing/ recording/ maketing my songs and pitching them to major movie and advertising clients all over the world.
At present two of my songs, “Just In Time” and “Tranquillo”, an instrumental composition for oboe, piano and strings are being considered for an advertising campaign and a major motion picture in the US.”Just In Time” has just been selected by WOA records on thier No 1 hits CD Volume 4 which will be distributed to radio networks and played all over the world.
These compositions can be heard on my reverbnation website here. reverbnation website
Flashback Rock ‘n Roll Showband was formed in 1988 with fellow musician and friend Peter Waterman. Peter and Rod were already discussing writing a musical Cruisin’ at this stage of their respective teaching careers. This became a reality in 1995 with the first production at the Dolphin Theatre University of Western Australia. The band Flashback was very popular as a corporate band and provided backing for much of the development of Cruisin’ the Musical in the early stages. Regular appearances at the Parmelia Hotel Christmas shows and New Years Eve were highlights of the band’s success.Members of the band: Rod Christian Lead Guitar/Vocals, Peter Waterman Lead Vocals/Guitar, Trevor Cooksley (dec.) Piano/Keyboards/Vocals, Paul Millard Saxes/Flute, Norman Buchanan Drums/Vocals.
I record artists at my studio Hotel Sorrento and feature them on Reverbnation under the title Pure Magic. This is the playlist where you can listen to my compositions sung by various artists.
Click here: reverbnation website
I am now officially a member of the Perth band Purple Haze. The band is becoming very popular with our new mix of Rock’n Roll, Latin, Swing, Rockabilly and Country songs. The collective experience of all of the members includes Blue Brass, Rock’n Roll Show, Motivation, Tony Tyler and the Purple Haze to name a few. Tight harmonies and an extensive repertoire are features of this exciting band. The band leader is Nigel Ridgway (Vocals and Drums),Greg (Bazz) Clarke, (Vocals, Sax and Trumpet), Robbie Jones (Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitars) and Rod Christian (Vocals, Bass, Guitar and Keyboards). Purple Haze perform regularly at the Kingsley Tavern and various dance clubs and venues around the city and country. Bookings Nige 0419921131 or Rod 0411441044. See and hear the band here:
Rod is married to Glenda Prideaux, an Authorised Commonwealth Marriage Celebrant in Perth Western Australia. Glenda performs wedding ceremonies in the Perth metropolitan area and beyond. She is very experienced in this field and takes great care in preparing each ceremony with a personal touch.
My role is to provide the sound and microphones for the occasion as well as any music edits required on the day. I can also play guitar or piano for the ceremony.
All information can be found on Glenda’s website here:
