Allan Wilfred Rule (Allan in electoral roll; Alan in printed material) was born in Melbourne on the 22nd July 1907 to Albert Carlos (1873 – 1955) and Gertrude Mary (nee Samblebe 1880 – 1961) Rule.
In 1929 he married divorcee Beryl Jean Brook (nee Brandon) who died in Melbourne in 1982.
Allan Rule enlisted 23rd February 1942 in the Royal Australian Navy as a Seaman (#25683) and a member of the Marine Corps Band in Melbourne (N.O.K. Beryl Rule). He was a huge man whose naval career ended when he suffered a back injury as a result of a fall down the metal stairs of a ship. He was discharged on 14th March 1946.
Allan Rule came to Perth from Melbourne in 1947 and played Principal Clarinet with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra until 1966 when he stepped down to second clarinet due to ill health, retiring in 1971 and Jack Harrison moved to the Principal Clarinet position.
Allan Rule was taught clarinet by his father who was in one of the theatre orchestras.
Weston, Pamela, Clarinet Virtuosi of Today, (Egon,1989). p.305
Pen Points on Perth By Harry Bluck
IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Music is an integral part of the Harrison family, as veteran pianist Bill Harrison is Jack Harrison‘s proud poppa, a sister plays piano in Jack’s outfit while a brother wields the drumsticks. Jack is being ably coached in his sax work by Ken Murdoch, while he is also studying “legit” clarinet with A.B.C. woodwindist Alan Rule. Apart from these few activities, plus his harmonica appearances, plus his home rehearsals, plus his rehearsals with the A.B.C. Amateur Symphony Group, plus his private practice – Jack still finds time to be a modest 15 year old Aussie. All his many friends in local musical circles predict quite a musical future for young Jack – so we wish him the best of luck!!
Music Maker July 21 1947
MUSIC and THEATRE By “FIDELIO”
Noted for listening: Tomorrow, 8.45 p.m.: Perth String Quartet and Allan Rule in Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet. At this afternoon’s meeting of the Kylie Club the Moongana Singers will be heard, and Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet will be played.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 19 July 1947, page 5
CHILDREN HEAR ORCHESTRA
Children from State and private schools filled the Midland Junction Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon and the Fremantle Town Hall yesterday afternoon to listen to music. On each occasion the Perth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Henry Krips, played a programme comprising the “Fingal’s Cave” overture (Mendelssohn), “Finlandia” (Sibelius). Scherzo and Finale from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, and Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra (Weber), in which Alan Rule was soloist. The Superintendent of Music in State Schools (Mr. O. G. Campbell Egan) spoke to the children about the orchestra and led them in songs. The concerts were given by the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Friday 4 June 1948, page 12
RECITAL BY SOPRANO (By “Fidelio.”)
At her best, Betty Hatfield achieved some musical effects of prettiness and charm in the vocal recital she gave last night, conspicuously so in Schubert’s “The Shepherd on the Rock” (Alan Rule‘s clarinet part contributing to the success). In the early part of Mozart’s “Non Mi Dir” also she was happily effective. On the other hand there was evident rather often in her ambitious programme the need for sustained firmness and “body” in tones and phrases, for the want of which her performances were apt to lack convincing character. Miss Hatfield sang opera excerpts from Gluck (two), Mozart and Leoncavallo, Caccini’s “Amarilli,” three Schubert songs and two each by Armstrong Gibbs and Roger Quilter. She was accompanied by Keith Carter, who also played solos by Schumann and Scriabin. The recital was given in the rooms of the Women’s Service Guilds, Sherwood Court.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 27 November 1948, page 11
Works to be heard at tomorrow’s meeting of the Minnawarra Chamber Music Club are Beethoven’s Trio, Op. 11, for piano (Nora Coalstad), ‘cello (Zlata Kalmikoff) and clarinet (Alan Rule); Debussy’s “Fetes Galantes” sung by Merle Arundale, and Goossens’s “Five Impressions of a Holiday,” for piano, ‘cello and flute (Douglas Whittaker).
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 6 August 1949, page 19
MUSIC AND THEATRE – By T.C.M.
At this afternoon’s meeting of the Kylie Music Club the approach of Christmas will be heralded by the Ladies’ Odeon Choir, conducted by Mrs. N. E. Moran, which has included carols and other Christmas songs in its programme. Allan Rule and Robert Trew will be heard in clarinet duets by A. Frank and Poulenc. The programme has been arranged by Vaughan Hanly.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 17 December 1949, page 19
Music Club Resuming
The beautiful music room of “Minnawarra,” lovely old Peppermint Grove home, will be decorated with roses and poinsettias picked from the spacious gardens tonight when the Minnawarra Music Club hold the first of four winter meetings. Members will be welcomed in the entrance hall by the honorary organiser, Mr. Marshall Sumner and charming Club patroness, Mrs. Helen Watson-Williams. Guest artists will be Elisabeth Munro-George (pianist), Alice Malton (soprano), Kathleen Moore (oboe), Alan Rule and Robert Trew (clarinets), William Cathcart (bassoon) and Harold Thornton, (French horn).
Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 – 1955), Sunday 11 June 1950, page 9
1950
When Allan’s student Jack Harrison was asked to fill the second clarinet position in the South Australian Symphony Orchestra in October 1950, Allan gave him these:
1951
The Chamber Music Society of W.A. will hold an open air concert for members and guests in the garden of Mr. and Mrs. W. Evans, 3a View-street, Peppermint Grove, tomorrow evening. The programme will be presented by Alan Rule (clarinet), Don Cartwright (oboe), John Cran (bassoon), Stephanie James (piano). The works performed will be trios for oboe, clarinet and bassoon by Ibert, Milhaud and Flegier; a piano and bassoon sonata by Hurlstone; and a clarinet and bassoon sonata by Poulenc.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 21 March 1953, page 21
PEOPLE YOU LISTEN TO – ALAN RULE
Alan Rule has done very little teaching since he began work with the W.A. Symphony Orchestra. Before he taught at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. He has three pupils in W.A.. They are Jack Harrison, Peter Clinch and Don Westlake. Of Jack Harrison, Alan says “he’s the best pupil I’ve ever taught and ever hope to teach. He’s the cleverist and the slickest.” Alan said he was quite proud of all three pupils. with PHOTO
The Broadcaster 1953 page 16 – from Jack Harrison’s scrap book
MELBOURNE – ON THE GRAPEVINE – With Geoff Brooke
BOON WILL BOOM WITH HIS BOOP-BOOP-A-DOO
One night last week I had the pleasure of working with a young musician who has just arrived here from Perth, and I have no hesitation in naming him as one of the most promising clarinettists in town today. He is 19 year old Neil Boon and his very easy style (which shows a distinct Goodman influence) and excellent tone, had the boys in the Joe Marchesani trio very enthusiastic indeed concerning his future prospects in the music game. The boy’s playing was full of ideas and his technique is a tribute to the thorough teaching of Alan Rule in Perth. Rule was well known to Melbourne theatre audiences as a member of the Regent orchestra for years and built an excellent reputation here as a teacher, before returning to home in the West. He is a big husky fellow and a fine player himself. Another of his prize pupils who is frequently mentioned when swing musicians are discussing the country’s top clarinet men is Jack Harrison of Perth, whose sister Jill was recently appointed to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in the bassoon chair.
The Argus Melbourne Saturday March 31 1956
Allan Rule retired in 1971.
Allan Rule died on 2nd February 1990.
Sad Loss for WA music
W.A. lost a much loved elder statesman of music last week with the death at age 82 of clarinettist Alan Rule.
Alan Rule came to Perth from Melbourne in 1949 to serve as Principal Clarinet with a W.A. Symphony Orchestra a position he held until 1967 when he was replaced by Jack Harrison.
He remained a member of the Orchestra until 1971.
Throughout his career, Alan Rule was a dedicated teacher – he continued to teach up to his death – and was regarded as a “father figure” in the Orchestra. His pupils have gone onto principal positions elsewhere: Don Westlake with the Sydney Symphony and Duncan Abercrombie with the Tasmanian Symphony.
W.A. Symphony spokesperson Lyn Schwan said yesterday Mr. Rule was highly praised in 1954 by Sir John Barbarolli and one of the many highlights of his career was performing Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock with American Negro soprano Leotyne Price.
The West Australian Wednesday February 14 1990
“The last of the outstanding teachers was Alan Rule. He was taught by his father, who played in one of Melbourne’s theatre orchestras. Alan was Principal in the West Australian Symphony Orchestra at Perth from 1947 to 1967. He was the teacher in their early formative years of Peter Clinch, Jack Harrison and Don Westlake.”
“Don was born in Perth on 5 June 1931…Don’s first teacher was Percy Newton, then followed with lessons from Alan Rule, Stockigt and Simson”.
“Having almost identical beginnings with Don Westlake is Jack Harrison. Like Don, he was born at Perth in 1931 and like him was taught first by Percy Newton and then Alan Rule. Unlike Don, he has spent practically all his life in Perth and since 1951 has been a member (Principal since 1967) of the ABCs West Australian Symphony Orchestra.
Weston, Pamela, Clarinet Virtuosi of Today, (Egon,1989), p. 305
Notable students of Allan Rule include:
Grant Rickman