George Torrance

George William Torrance (25 July 1835 – 20 August 1907) was an Irish composer, mainly of church music, who was resident in Australia for many years.

Early life Torrance was born in Rathmines, Dublin, and became a choirboy at Christ Church Cathedral (1847–1851). Before reaching the age of 20, he had already worked as a parish organist in the Dublin area and composed his first oratorio Abraham (1855). He continued his musical education in Leipzig, Germany (1856–1857), before beginning his studies at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated B.A. in 1864, M.A. in 1867, and later (by examination only) MusB and MusD (1879).

Before his decision to become a clergyman, he tried his hand at a number of secular compositions including the opera William of Normandy (1858) and a number of songs. He was ordained by the Bishop of Lichfield in 1865 for the curacy of St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury, and remained there till 1867, when he became curate of St. Ann's, Dublin.

Australia, 1869–1898 Torrance went to Victoria (Australia) in December 1869, and in the following February accepted the curacy of Christ Church, South Yarra, being from 1871 to 1876 in charge of St. John's, Melbourne.

Selected compositions Opera William of Normandy (William Henry Craig), 2 acts (Dublin, 1858)

Oratorios Abraham (William Henry Craig) (1855) The Captivity (after Oliver Goldsmith), 1864 The Revelation, or Vision of St. John in the Isle of Patmos (bibl.), 1882

Church music Festival Service, Cantate Domino, Deus misereatur (1881) And the Lord Said (1888) and other anthems (publ. London & New York, 1881–1902) Magnificat and nunc dimittis in A major (1889) Magnificat and nunc dimittis in F major (1906) Magnificat and nunc dimittis in D major (1906) Sacred Songs (ed., works by Handel and Mendelssohn) for voice and piano (Melbourne, 1885)

Other vocal music My Native Land (S.L. Elrington), song (1857) The Bride ("L.C.L."), song (1857) Songs of Faith and Hope (1889), for voice and piano with obligato flute, violin, cello A Welcome to the Queen in Ireland (J. Vance), song (1901) Dry be that Tear (Richard Brinsley Sheridan), partsong (1904) A Dream within a Dream (Edgar Allan Poe), partsong (1904) The Land Beyond the Sea A Matin Song