[Sheet music] The Appeal: song

Sheet music for the song titled 'The Appeal', with lyrics and music composed by Charles R Brooks. This is a recruitment song dedicated to the Defence Department and is described as 'a national recruiting song'. It was written by an Australian composer from the Melbourne suburb of Murrumbeena. The lyrics are a recruiting appeal to Australian men with an emphasis that they need to respond to the call to enlist.

The cover features a classical soldier on a horse below an unfurled banner. This copy of the sheet music was published by Loebel & Co music publishers, Melbourne, and sold for 2/-. The lyrics are typed in full inside the front cover and this copy has been autographed by the composer. Included in this copy are advertising previews for the song 'On the Cocos Coast' by Reginald Agrati Stoneham and 'The Charming Coat' by Sylvia Little and Reginald Agrati Stoneham.

A review of this song was published in The Winner newspaper, Melbourne, on 31 January 1917. The composer was described as possessing 'uncommon ability in his composition, and has reached from the musical point of view a high level.' The article continued to say that the criticisms of many patriotic songs could not be applied to this song as 'the melody is strong, rhythmical, tuneful and dignified.'

Towards the bottom of this page is a sound recording of this sheet music, or a parody, that was created as part of the Music and the First World War project. More information about this recording, including names of the performers, can be found on the catalogue record for the sound recording. A link to the catalogue record for the sound recording can be found at the bottom of this page, under the heading ‘Related objects’ where it can be identified with the prefix [sound recording].