© Robin S Stevens 2017
Arthur Stedman Loam (1892-1976) - Composer and
Piano Teacher
Overview
Arthur Loam was a highly respected piano teacher and composer of choral
music and piano music, the latter being mainly for pedagogical purposes as list
pieces of public music examinations conducted by the Australian Music
Examinations Board. Much of this music was published by Allans Music
Australia Ltd. Aside from publishing under his own name, he used the following
pseudonyms: Felix Darrell, Henri Delsaux, Julia Clayton, Philip Dale and
Vernon Stratton.
Born at Weymouth, Dorset in the United Kingdom, Loam emigrated to Australia
in 1914. After military service as a Bandsman in the 38th Battalion of the
Australia Imperial Forces in Northern France. On returning to Australia, Loam
spent most of his professional life in rural New South Wales and Victoria, living
at Narrandera, Wagga Wagga and Bendigo.
His biography, a catalogue of his compositions and a scholarly assessment of
his contribution to Australian music and music education was completed by Sue
Ciantar as a Professional Research Project for the degree of Master of Music
Studies at The University of Melbourne in 2011. Her research report, entitled
“Arthur Stedman Loam (1892-1976), Australian Composer: His contribution to
musical culture and music teaching” represents a fine work of scholarship and
with her permission, this research report may be accessed as a PDF file by
clicking on the PDF icon opposite:
Other References
“Loam, Arthur Stedman” (biographical entry) in The Oxford Companion to Australian Music, ed. by Warren Bebbington (Melbourne: Oxford
University Press, 1997), p. 347.
Australian Music Centre’s listing of Loam’s compositions (incomplete) -
http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/search?type=work&sort=alphaTitleSort&wfc[]=Arthur+S.+Loam
Video sample of one of Loam’s composition “A passing storm” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wstQALvHmE8