Adela Maddison
Encyclopedia
Katharine Mary Adela Maddison, née Tindal (15 December 1862 – 12 June 1929), usually known as Adela Maddison, was a British
composer
of opera
s, ballet
s, instrumental music and songs. She was also a concert producer
. She composed a number of French songs in the style of mélodie
s; for some years she lived in Paris
, where she was a pupil, friend and possibly lover of Gabriel Fauré
. Subsequently living in Berlin
, she composed a German opera which was staged in Leipzig
. On returning to England
she created works for Rutland Boughton
's Glastonbury Festivals.
, London
on 15 December 1862 (rather than in 1866 as is sometimes stated), the daughter of Vice Admiral Louis Symonds Tindal (1811–76) and Henrietta Maria O'Donel Whyte (1831/2–1917). Her grandfather was the judge Nicolas Conyngham Tindal. She seems to have been raised in London. On 14 April 1883 she married barrister
and former footballer Frederick Brunning Maddison
(1849–1907), at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate
, London. They had two children, Diana Marion Adela and Noel Cecil Guy, born in 1886 and 1888 respectively. Her first published works date from 1882. Twelve Songs in 1895 marked the emergence of a distinctive style.
From around 1894, Maddison and her husband played a major part in encouraging and facilitating Fauré's entry onto the London musical scene. Her husband was now working for a music publishing company, Metzler, which obtained a contract to publish Fauré's music during 1896–1901. She provided English translations of some of his mélodies, and of his choral work La naissance de Vénus, Op. 29; Fauré used the latter translation in 1898, when he conducted a choir of 400 at the Leeds Festival
. Fauré was a friend of the family and in 1896 vacationed at their residence in Saint-Lunaire
, Brittany. She became Fauré's pupil, and he thought her a gifted composer. She composed a number of mélodies, setting the works of poets such as Sully Prudhomme
, Coppée
, Verlaine
and Samain
; in 1900 Fauré told the latter that her treatment of his poem Hiver was masterly.
During 1898 – c. 1905, she lived in Paris without her husband; Fauré's biographer Robert Orledge
believes there was a romantic liaison with Fauré, who dedicated his Nocturne
No. 7, Op. 74, to her in 1898; this piece was expressive of his feelings towards her, according to Orledge. Fauré gave her the nocturne's manuscript; it is now in the Bibliothèque nationale de France
. In Paris she was also acquainted with Delius
, Debussy
and Ravel
, and produced performances of her own works and those of others.
From Paris she moved to Berlin, where she continued to produce concerts, and composed an opera, Der Talisman, which was staged in Leipzig in 1910. While in Germany she formed a friendship with Martha Mundt, who was from Königsberg
. Music historian Sophie Fuller believes it is quite likely this was a lesbian
relationship. They left Germany for France, where Mundt obtained work with Winnaretta Singer, Princess de Polignac
, and they moved on to London when World War I
started. Their friendship continued in some form into the 1920s, with Maddison often travelling to Geneva
to visit Mundt there.
Maddison moved to Glastonbury
, Somerset
and spent a number of years in the production of works for the Glastonbury Festivals of that era. These included the ballet The Children of Lir, which was subsequently staged in 1920 at the Old Vic
.
Her piano quintet
, written in 1916, but first performed in 1920, was a success. She continued to compose opera and songs, and to produce concerts, into the 1920s.
She died in Ealing
, London in 1929. The scores for the compositions she created during her stays in Paris and Berlin, and for the music she created for the Glastonbury Festivals, seem to have been lost.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s, ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
s, instrumental music and songs. She was also a concert producer
Impresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
. She composed a number of French songs in the style of mélodie
Mélodie
Mélodie refers to French art songs of the mid-19th century to the present; it is the French equivalent of the German Lied. It is distinguished from a chanson, which is a folk or popular song.-Nature of the mélodie:...
s; for some years she lived in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where she was a pupil, friend and possibly lover of Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
. Subsequently living in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, she composed a German opera which was staged in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. On returning to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
she created works for Rutland Boughton
Rutland Boughton
Rutland Boughton was an English composer who became well known in the early 20th century as a composer of opera and choral music....
's Glastonbury Festivals.
Biography
She was born at 42 York Terrace, Regent's ParkRegent's Park
Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 15 December 1862 (rather than in 1866 as is sometimes stated), the daughter of Vice Admiral Louis Symonds Tindal (1811–76) and Henrietta Maria O'Donel Whyte (1831/2–1917). Her grandfather was the judge Nicolas Conyngham Tindal. She seems to have been raised in London. On 14 April 1883 she married barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and former footballer Frederick Brunning Maddison
Frederick Maddison (footballer)
Frederick Brunning Maddison was an English footballer who played for England as a midfielder in the first international match against Scotland, as well as winning two FA Cup medals with Oxford University in 1874 and with The Wanderers in 1876.Later he was a music publisher and, together with his...
(1849–1907), at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate
Lancaster Gate
Lancaster Gate is a mid-19th century development in the Bayswater district of west central London, immediately to the north of Kensington Gardens. It consists of two long terraces of houses overlooking the park, with a wide gap between them opening onto a square containing a church. Further...
, London. They had two children, Diana Marion Adela and Noel Cecil Guy, born in 1886 and 1888 respectively. Her first published works date from 1882. Twelve Songs in 1895 marked the emergence of a distinctive style.
From around 1894, Maddison and her husband played a major part in encouraging and facilitating Fauré's entry onto the London musical scene. Her husband was now working for a music publishing company, Metzler, which obtained a contract to publish Fauré's music during 1896–1901. She provided English translations of some of his mélodies, and of his choral work La naissance de Vénus, Op. 29; Fauré used the latter translation in 1898, when he conducted a choir of 400 at the Leeds Festival
Leeds Festival (classical music)
The Leeds Festival was a classical music festival which took place between 1858 and 1985 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.The first festival celebrated the opening of Leeds Town Hall by Queen Victoria on 7 September 1858...
. Fauré was a friend of the family and in 1896 vacationed at their residence in Saint-Lunaire
Saint-Lunaire
Saint-Lunaire is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department and in the Brittany region in north-western France.This old fishing village is very popular for its old church, its beautiful beaches and the English-style houses on the Pointe du Décollé...
, Brittany. She became Fauré's pupil, and he thought her a gifted composer. She composed a number of mélodies, setting the works of poets such as Sully Prudhomme
Sully Prudhomme
René François Armand Prudhomme was a French poet and essayist, winner of the first Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1901....
, Coppée
François Coppée
François Edouard Joachim Coppée was a French poet and novelist.-Biography:He was born in Paris to a civil servant. After attending the Lycée Saint-Louis he became a clerk in the ministry of war, and won public favour as a poet of the Parnassian school. His first printed verses date from 1864...
, Verlaine
Paul Verlaine
Paul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry.-Early life:...
and Samain
Albert Samain
Albert Victor Samain was a French poet and writer of the Symbolist school.Born in Lille, his family were Flemish and had long lived in the town or its suburbs. At the time of the poet's birth, his father, Jean-Baptiste Samain, and his mother, Elisa-Henriette Mouquet, conducted a business in "wines...
; in 1900 Fauré told the latter that her treatment of his poem Hiver was masterly.
During 1898 – c. 1905, she lived in Paris without her husband; Fauré's biographer Robert Orledge
Robert Orledge
Robert Orledge is a leading scholar of early twentieth century French music.He was born in Bath, Somerset on 5 January 1948 and educated at the City of Bath Boys' School and at Clare College, Cambridge where he gained a BA Music degree in 1968 and an MA in 1972...
believes there was a romantic liaison with Fauré, who dedicated his Nocturne
Nocturne
A nocturne is usually a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night...
No. 7, Op. 74, to her in 1898; this piece was expressive of his feelings towards her, according to Orledge. Fauré gave her the nocturne's manuscript; it is now in the Bibliothèque nationale de France
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
. In Paris she was also acquainted with Delius
Frederick Delius
Frederick Theodore Albert Delius, CH was an English composer. Born in the north of England to a prosperous mercantile family of German extraction, he resisted attempts to recruit him to commerce...
, Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
and Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
, and produced performances of her own works and those of others.
From Paris she moved to Berlin, where she continued to produce concerts, and composed an opera, Der Talisman, which was staged in Leipzig in 1910. While in Germany she formed a friendship with Martha Mundt, who was from Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
. Music historian Sophie Fuller believes it is quite likely this was a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
relationship. They left Germany for France, where Mundt obtained work with Winnaretta Singer, Princess de Polignac
Winnaretta Singer
Winnaretta Singer, Princesse Edmond de Polignac was an American musical patron and heir to the Singer sewing machine fortune.-Early Life and Family:...
, and they moved on to London when World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
started. Their friendship continued in some form into the 1920s, with Maddison often travelling to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
to visit Mundt there.
Maddison moved to Glastonbury
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
and spent a number of years in the production of works for the Glastonbury Festivals of that era. These included the ballet The Children of Lir, which was subsequently staged in 1920 at the Old Vic
Old Vic
The Old Vic is a theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, it was taken over by Emma Cons in 1880 when it was known formally as the Royal Victoria Hall. In 1898, a niece of Cons, Lilian...
.
Her piano quintet
Piano quintet
In European classical music, a piano quintet is a work of chamber music written for piano and four other instruments, most commonly piano, two violins, viola, and cello . Among the most frequently performed piano quintets are those by Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, César Franck, Antonín Dvořák...
, written in 1916, but first performed in 1920, was a success. She continued to compose opera and songs, and to produce concerts, into the 1920s.
She died in Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
, London in 1929. The scores for the compositions she created during her stays in Paris and Berlin, and for the music she created for the Glastonbury Festivals, seem to have been lost.
Vocal
- Deux Mélodies (1893), text by Sully PrudhommeSully PrudhommeRené François Armand Prudhomme was a French poet and essayist, winner of the first Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1901....
and CoppéeFrançois CoppéeFrançois Edouard Joachim Coppée was a French poet and novelist.-Biography:He was born in Paris to a civil servant. After attending the Lycée Saint-Louis he became a clerk in the ministry of war, and won public favour as a poet of the Parnassian school. His first printed verses date from 1864... - Twelve Songs (1895), text by RossettiDante Gabriel RossettiDante Gabriel Rossetti was an English poet, illustrator, painter and translator. He founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848 with William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais, and was later to be the main inspiration for a second generation of artists and writers influenced by the movement,...
, ShelleyPercy Bysshe ShelleyPercy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets and is critically regarded as among the finest lyric poets in the English language. Shelley was famous for his association with John Keats and Lord Byron...
, SwinburneAlgernon Charles SwinburneAlgernon Charles Swinburne was an English poet, playwright, novelist, and critic. He invented the roundel form, wrote several novels, and contributed to the famous Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica...
, Tennyson and others - Little Fishes silver (1915), text translated from BierbaumOtto Julius BierbaumOtto Julius Bierbaum was a German writer.Bierbaum was born in Grünberg, Silesia. After studying in Leipzig, he became a journalist and editor for the journals Die freie Bühne, Pan and Die Insel. His literary work was varied...
by Maddison - Mary at Play (1915), text translated from BruchMax BruchMax Christian Friedrich Bruch , also known as Max Karl August Bruch, was a German Romantic composer and conductor who wrote over 200 works, including three violin concertos, the first of which has become a staple of the violin repertoire.-Life:Bruch was born in Cologne, Rhine Province, where he...
by Maddison - The Ballade of Fair Agneta (1915), text translated from MiegelAgnes MiegelAgnes Miegel was a German author, journalist, and poet. She received the Kleist Prize for lyric in 1913, the Herder Prize in 1936, the Goethe Prize of the City of Frankfurt in 1940, the literature prize of the Bavarian Academy of Art in 1959 and the...
by Maddison - Lament of the caged Lark (1924), text by L. N. Duddington
- Tears (1924), text translated from Wang Sen-Ju by Cranmer-Byng
- The Heart of the Wood (1924), text translated from anonymous Irish poem by Augusta, Lady GregoryAugusta, Lady GregoryIsabella Augusta, Lady Gregory , born Isabella Augusta Persse, was an Irish dramatist and folklorist. With William Butler Yeats and Edward Martyn, she co-founded the Irish Literary Theatre and the Abbey Theatre, and wrote numerous short works for both companies. Lady Gregory produced a number of...
- The Poet complains (1924), text translated from anonymous Irish poem by Augusta, Lady Gregory