13 Facts About Mirrie Hill

Mirrie Irma Jaffa Hill was born on 1 December 1889 in the Sydney suburb of Randwick.

Mirrie Hill was the youngest of three, born to Levien Jaffa Solomon and Kate Caroline.

Mirrie Hill had a good ear early on, detecting dissonance and running out of the room whenever her aunt would play Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words.

Mirrie Hill studied composition with Alfred Hill, who would later become her husband, at Shirley School, Edgecliff.

Mirrie Hill was unable to study in Germany because of World War I, so she instead went to the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music, where she was awarded a scholarship by the director, Henri Verbrugghen.

Mirrie Hill drew from these recordings for both her suite Three Aboriginal Dances and Arnhem Land Symphony.

Mirrie Hill created over five hundred pieces, ranging from chamber music and film scores to elementary works for children.

In 1921, she married her previous teacher, Alfred Mirrie Hill, who had three children from a previous marriage.

Mirrie Hill was described by the people around her as a shy and happy person; she put her husband's career before her own for most of her life.

Mirrie Hill received greater recognition for her works after her husband's death.

Mirrie Hill composed pieces for orchestra and chamber ensembles, as well as choral pieces, film scores, songs and solo instrumental works.

Mirrie Hill often incorporated Aboriginal themes and traditional Jewish melodies.

Mirrie Hill's works have been recorded and issued on CD, including:.