Flynn Collection

The Flynn Collection includes around 1,750 printed and manuscript scores, scripts and parts arranged by Melbourne conductor and musical director William Flynn for radio station 3GB. Spanning popular and light classical music, the collection reflects Flynn’s versatile career across radio, live performance, military service and studio recording.

Performing arts

Key items in the collection

The William Flynn Collection contains about 1750 musical scores and is arranged in the following series:

Musical arrangements by Flynn
Radio 3DB orchestral scores and parts, both printed and manuscript
Musical arrangements by Flynn for Radio 3DB
Radio 3DB vocal scores
Miscellaneous material
Radio 3DB radio shows, scripts and music

There are about 950 music manuscripts comprising arrangements by Flynn for light orchestras and dance bands, mostly dating from 1949-52. They have such titles as:

The composers are not usually identified, but they include:

Hoagy Carmichael
Noel Coward
Mack Gordon
Victor Herbert
Jerome Kern
Cole Porter
Richard Rodgers
Vincent Yeomans.

The printed scores and parts are mostly works of overseas composers and include:

Concerti
Symphonies
Orchestral suites
Overtures
Operetta
Waltzes
Mazurkas
Ballet music
Marches
Opera arias
Folk songs
Songs from musical comedies

Composers represented in the collection include:

Frederic Chopin
Eric Coates
Leo Delibes
Antonin Dvorak
Oscar Fetras
Rudolf Friml
Edvard Grieg
Victor Herbert
Victor Jacobi
Jerome Kern
Fritz Kreisler
Franz Lehar
Franz Liszt
Ivor Novello
Jacques Offenbach
Sigmund Romberg
Johann Strauss
Arthur Sullivan
Peter Tchaikovsky
Émile Waldteufel
Haydn Wood

There are also published works by a few Australian composers, such as:

May Brahe
Alfred Hill

The manuscript scores include arrangements by colleagues of William Flynn, particularly:

Rolf Atkinson
Sam Dunn
Isador Goodman
Robert Hughes
Elford McHonnegger
Ern Pettifer
Verdon Williams

There are also a small number of scripts and programs from 3DB radio broadcasts, including series such as:

Concerts for You
Twentieth Century Hits in Chorus

About William Flynn

William Flynn (1902-1981) was a Melbourne-born musician, conductor and musical director whose career spanned radio, live performance, military service and recording.

Early life and musical beginnings

Flynn began his musical journey playing the cornet in primary school before studying violin, clarinet and saxophone. In 1928, he formed the Billy O’Flynn Band, which performed across Melbourne and toured Tasmania.

International touring and wartime service

During the 1930s, Flynn toured with various American bands through China, Russia and Japan. He also worked with J.C. Williamson and other theatrical companies, and served as musical director of Legionnaire Records. During World War II, he enlisted in the Australian Army and became its chief musical arranger.

Radio and orchestral work

After the war, Flynn returned to Melbourne and worked with a range of ensembles. He served as musical director for Jack Davey at radio station 3AW, and in 1949 was appointed musical director and joint conductor (with Verdon Williams) of the new 3DB concert orchestra. The orchestra, which performed popular and light classical music, was disbanded in 1952.

Flynn also wrote musical scores for radio serials and arranged a weekly program, The William Flynn Show.

Later career and recordings

In later years, Flynn collaborated with many Melbourne singers and bands, conducted his own orchestras, and made numerous recordings. He also served as musical director for Spotlight Microgroove Records, contributing significantly to the city’s postwar music scene.

Background to the collection

The William Flynn collection of sheet music and musical arrangements was purchased from Flynn in 1977. Further musical arrangements were acquired from his widow, Pat Flynn, in 1984.

The William Flynn Collection is kept together as a formed collection within the Music collection. The scores are catalogued individually and the call numbers have the prefix MUS Flynn N.

A substantial collection of sound recordings, which formed part of the Flynn Collection, are now held in the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra.