Robert Horne

Robert Adam Horne was born in Launceston, Tasmania. He and his first wife, Lydia, were married before both were legally able to do so, both being 18 although giving their ages as 21. The marriage was short lived and Lydia, a variety artiste, moved to Perth and tried to sue Robert for divorce. It wasn’t granted until 1895. He married again in 1897, to Rosa Hardman and the couple moved to Dunedin in 1900, where he was a piano tuner and repairer for the Dresden Piano Company before moving to Christchurch where he became the Manager of the Christchurch branch of the company, now renamed the Bristol Piano Company because of the First World War. Rosa died in 1912. He was a pianist and accompanist including for his third wife, soprano Rose Parsons. He composed mostly songs and orchestral works. His most famous song is Haere Tonu that was recorded by several singers. He was Vice-President of the Christchurch Orchestral Society for some years.