| Charles Villiers Stanford |
Article Index for Charles |
Website Links For Charles Villiers |
Information AboutCharles Villiers Stanford |
|
Sir Charles Villiers Stanford ( September 30 , 1852 - 29 March 1924 ) was an Irish composer. Stanford was born in Dublin , the only son of John Stanford, examiner in the court of chancery (Dublin) and clerk of the Crown, Co. Meath . Both parents were accomplished amateur musicians; his father sang Bass and his mother was a Pianist . Charles trained under R.M. Levey (violin), Miss Meeke, Mrs Joseph Robinson, Miss Flynn and Michael Quarry (piano); and Sir Robert Stewart taught him composition and Organ . His precocious ability was recorded in an article in the ''Musical Times'' in December 1898. He came to London as a pupil of Arthur O'Leary and Ernst Pauer in 1862 , and in 1870 won a scholarship to Queens' College, Cambridge , moving to Trinity College in 1873 , and succeeding J.L. Hopkins as college organist, a post he held until 1892 . His appointment as Conductor of the Cambridge University Musical Society gave him great opportunities, and the fame which the society soon obtained was in the main due to Stanford's energies. At that time women were not allowed in the chorus, but during his tenure many interesting performances and revivals took place. In the years 1874 to 1877 he was given leave of absence for part of each year to complete his studies in Germany , where he learnt from Reinecke and Kiel . He took his B.A. Degree in 1874 and M.A. in 1878 , and was given the honorary degree of Mus. D., at Oxford in 1883 , and at Cambridge in 1888 . He first became known as a composer with his ) ''Much Ado About Nothing'' (Covent Garden, 1901 ), ''The Critic'' (Shaftesbury Theatre, London, 1916 ) and ''The Travelling Companion'' (David Lewis Theatre, Liverpool , 1925 ). He was appointed professor of composition at the Royal College Of Music in 1883 ; was conductor of the Bach Choir from 1886 to 1902 ; was professor of music at Cambridge , succeeding Sir G.A. Macfarren from 1887 ; conductor of the Leeds Philharmonic Society from 1897 to 1909 , and of the Leeds Festival from 1901 to 1910 . He was Knighted in 1902 . Stanford was particularly known in his day for his choral works, chiefly commissioned for performances at the great English provincial festivals. These include two Oratorio s, a Requiem ( 1897 ), a Stabat Mater ( 1907 ) and many secular works, often with a nautical theme, including ''The Revenge'' ( 1886 ) ''The Voyage of Maeldune'' ( 1889 ), ''Songs of the Sea'' ( 1904 ) and ''Songs of the Fleet'' ( 1910 ). His Church Music still holds a central place among Anglican compositions; and his editions of Irish and other traditional songs were well known. His instrumental works include seven Symphonies , five ''Irish Rhapsodies'' for orchestra, Concerto s for Violin , Clarinet and Piano and many Chamber compositions, including eight String Quartet s. He also composed Song s, part-songs, Madrigal s, and incidental music to the ''Eumenides'' and ''Oedipus Rex'' (as performed at Cambridge), as well as to Tennyson's ''Becket''. His music shows the influence of Brahms and Schumann , and to a lesser extent of Irish Folk Music ; he was generally unsympathetic to more modern developments. Although there has recently been a revival of interest in his larger works after a long period of neglect, his chief importance is often held to be as a teacher of many English composers of the next generation, including Holst , Vaughan Williams , Frank Bridge and Herbert Howells . He was notoriously irascible and quarrelled with many of his contemporaries, including Elgar . He published several books, including an Autobiography , ''Pages from an Unwritten Diary'' ( 1914 ). LIST OF WORKS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
|
|