The ORVIETO Waltz

Composer Seymour A Middleton

Date1909-1930

Object number00027131

NameSheet music

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 342 x 264 mm, 0.07 kg

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

Description'The Orvieto Waltz' was dedicated to Commander J F Ruthven and printed in Germany for an Australian printing office. This booklet features a photographic image of the vessel ORVIETO shown from its portside. The ORVIETO was an English steam passenger ship active on the Australian trade route between 1909 and 1930.HistorySheet music offers an insight into popular culture and social values at the time of their production. The widely distributed pieces were fairly cheap to buy, making them popular with the general public. Music was an integral part of people's social life in the home and at public events such as balls, recitals, concerts and theatre shows. The ORVIETO was built by Workman Clark at Belfast in 1909. It was chartered by the Steam Navigation Co until 1919 when it was taken over by the P&O Line. The passenger ship of 12,133 tons could accommodate 1117 people. Its maiden voyage in 1909 was from London to Sydney and Melbourne via the Suez Canal. During World War I the ship was used a minelayer and converted into an armed American cruiser. In 1919 under the P&O line the ORVIETO resumed the passenger run between England and Australia, operating until 1930 when it was scrapped. SignificanceThis sheet music highlights the presence of the passenger steamship ORVIETO on the Australian trade run. The commemoration and promotion of ships on sheet music was commonly occurred in Australia from the mid-19th century.