ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collection

HMSS 0447 Canberra Recorded Music Society Records

Scope and content notes

The Canberra Recorded Music Society (CRMS) was formed on 20 November 1944 at a public meeting in the Albert Hall, convened by Rupert Loof. An informal music appreciation group had come together in 1941; its members later joined the CRMS but did not form it.

Its purpose was to enable music lovers in Canberra to have access to the Carnegie Music Set and other recordings that had been donated to the people of Canberra and were housed in the Music Room of the Canberra High School in Acton (later the ANU School of Art). Trustees for the Set were appointed by the Minister for the Interior.

The Carnegie Music Set was established in 1933 by the Carnegie Foundation. Sets of records were distributed, each with a record player and file of catalogue cards. Each set represented the standard repertoire together with some less familiar modern works, and was intended to provide material for small colleges in teaching music appreciation. Rupert Loof successfully made representations to the Trustees of the Carnegie Music Set, and for some years the Society held meetings at the Canberra High School to hear recitals.

Rupert Harry Colin Loof, 1900-2003, came to Canberra in January 1927 to assist with the transfer of parliamentary records from Melbourne, moving here permanently later that year. In 1929 he married Margaret, sister of Harold White, later the Parliamentary and National Librarian.

He was a Parliamentary Officer for 40 years, serving in various clerical positions before being appointed Usher of the Black Rod and clerk of committees in 1939, secretary of the Joint House Department 1945-1954, and Clerk of the Senate for 30 years until his retirement in 1965. He was instrumental in three major parliamentary reforms in the 1950s and 1960s.

Rupert was also a musician, poet, painter, potter and inventor. He was organist at Reid Methodist Church, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Forrest, and occasionally at St John’s Anglican Church, Reid.

The Society ceased operations in June 2015.

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