DescriptionEileen Joyce (1908 –1991) was an internationally acclaimed concert pianist from the 1930s through to the 1960s. Born in Tasmania, her family moved to Western Australian living in the Goldfields region where she began her musical training. Joyce moved overseas where she studied music at the renowned Hochschule für Musik and the Theater Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in Leipzig. Thus began her international career, in which she would be remembered not only for her exceptional musicianship and talent but also for the glamour and style she brought to all her performances.
This unique and important collection of the late Dr Eileen Joyce CMG reveals much about pianism in the early–mid twentieth century as well as her musical influences, values, pianistic approach, successful international career and personal life.ExtentThe collection spans 1920–1989 and includes more than 3000 items, most in print format, including nearly 1000 letters, 900 newspaper clippings and 27 scrapbooks that were collated by Joyce herself between 1936 and 1952. In addition, there are 13 diaries (from 1947–1960), more than 700 concert programs, almost 100 photographs, some personal objects as well as autobiographical essays. In addition there is her own sets of recordings – over 100 ‘78’ records, including some never-been-released recordings with one recording never known to have existed – Joyce performing Shostakovich’s Second Piano Concerto. It also includes her private collection of published music (more than 750 pieces) featuring some of the works that contributed to her global reputation.
