Historical information

The tunes in the set of sheet music are mostly marches, jaunty and bright songs from the 1910s.

The sheet music were published by W H P & Co., which was the company of William Henry Paling, Sydney. Paling was born in the Netherlands in 1825. He was a musician, composer, and violin teacher at the Academy of Rotterdam. In 1853 he arrived in Sydney where he became a piano and violin teacher and a professor of music at a ladies' college. He opened the W H Paling music warehouse around the same time, at 85 Wynyard Square in Sydney. He initiated clubs and groups, was involved in fundraising in the community, and conducted a Philharmonic Society concert. He seized the opportunity to supply the growing demand for pianos and local sheet music, becoming an agency for European manufacturers. He made several trips to Europe to supply his business. In 1875 the firm opened up premises in George Street Sydney. On his 1884-85 trip, he met Pietro Marich, an Austrian musician and businessman who then joined Piling's company and successfully expanded it into large premises with showrooms. In 1886 Piling's brother John joined the firm as partner. In 1883 it became a limited liability company, setting up in other major cities. He had many civic involvements and eventually presented his model farm at Campden for use as a hospital, along with finances to erect buildings on the land. He became ill after a trip to Europe, passing away in 1895, but the company continued in business.

Significance

The collection of sheet music represents the musical and entertainment taste of the early 20th century. Sheet music was collected from Europe and locally and played in homes and public gatherings for listening to, for dancing and for background music. It was even recorded and played on portable gramophones with wax cylinders.

Physical description

Sheet Music wet; three sheets of printed music, comprising two large sheets with two pages of music printed on each side in black ink, and one small sheet with one page of music printed on one side in red ink.
Music on the large sheets is March Music by W H P & Co. no. 1437, which is the same company as the music on the last sheet, The Music on the small sheet is Tango Music by Paling & Co. Ltd, of Sydney, and established by William Henry Paling (W H & P Co).
Music Titles on the large sheets are: -
- Parade of the Tin Soldiers
- Guard of Honour
- Irish Guards March
- Slope Arms
Music title on the small sheet is: -
- Caro Mio Tango (My Dear) by Silvo Arno

Inscriptions & markings

On the large sheets: printed "W.H.P. & CO." "1437" and handwritten in pencil "268"
On the small sheet: printed "THE LATEST SUCCESS" "Try this on your piano"
"Price 1/6 or Post Free 1/7, From all Music Stores, or direct from the Publishers"
"PALING & CO. LTD. George-st., SYDNEY."