Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

Muriel Wakeford was a nurse from Wollongong, Australia and one of only eight women at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. From her position aboard the hospital ship, the Gascon, she was one of the people who witnessed the deadly and bloody assault that morning. As a prolific writer, her letters document many gruesome details from 1915, as well as openly opposing politics with her strong attitude against censorship and her brave refusal to guard her written words.

By Train follows Muriel's arrival in Egypt by train, and portrays the counterpoint of emotions and thoughts she was experiencing - excitement at travelling to and being in an exotic country, sadness for the coming war and inevitable loss of life, and hope that as a nurse she can be there to save as many of those lives as possible. Wakeford is now a recognized heroine, namely for her unflinching bravery during those eight months at Gallipoli, and for her many years of service that followed afterwards. Her first letters were published in the Illawarra Mercury (June 1915), 'By Train' being dated from January 1st 1915. This is the first song in a cycle of five.

All text is in the public domain.

Work Details

Year: 2014

Instrumentation: Mezzo-soprano, piano.

Duration: 4 min.

Difficulty: Advanced

Dedication note: Composed in honour of the ANZACs

First performance: by Dimity Shepherd, Caroline Almonte — 20 Feb 15. ABC Studio, Melbourne

Awarded for the Centennial Gallipoli Song Contest 2015.