Edward Taylor (music writer)
Encyclopedia
Edward Taylor was an English singer, writer on music, and Gresham Professor of Music
from 1837.
on 22 January 1784. From 1808 to 1815 Edward Taylor was in business at the corner of Rampant Horse Street, Norwich. He was sheriff of Norwich in 1819.
In 1825 he moved to London and joined his brother Philip Taylor and his cousin, John Martineau, as civil engineers at York Place, City Road. Want of success in the business led him to enter the musical profession in 1827, when he was forty-three years old. His early musical education had been somewhat desultory: he had taken lessons from John Christmas Beckwith
, organist of Norwich Cathedral
, and on the flute and oboe from William Fish
.
For the first triennial Norwich musical festival of 1824 he had trained the chorus, engaged the band and singers, and made out the programme. His early successes were as singer: he had a rich bass voice and commanding presence. He sang at the festival of 1827, and conducted those of 1839 and 1842. For the festival of 1830 he translated Louis Spohr
's ‘Last Judgment,’ which was then performed for the first time in England. He was on good terms with Spohr, who was his guest at 3 Regent Square, King's Cross, in 1839 and 1847. He visited Spohr at Cassel
in 1840. In addition to the ‘Last Judgment’ he translated Spohr's ‘Crucifixion,’ or ‘Calvary’ (1836), ‘Fall of Babylon’ (1842), and ‘Christian's Prayer,’ all of which were produced at Norwich festivals.
On 24 October 1837, on the death of Richard John Samuel Stevens, Taylor was appointed Gresham professor of music, a post which he held till his death. In January 1838 Taylor gave his first three lectures, which were published the same year. He gave lectures in different parts of the country, and one on ‘Madrigals’ which he delivered at Bristol in 1837 resulted in the formation of the Bristol Madrigal Society. From 1829 to 1843 he was musical critic of The Spectator
.
He died at his house, Gresham Cottage, Cornlands Road, Brentwood
, Essex
, on 12 March 1863, and was buried in the old dissenting burial-ground, King's Road, Brentwood.
and Eberhard von Groote's Die Sündfluth as The Deluge, the Mozart Requiem under the title of Redemption (1845), and Haydn's The Seasons
. ‘The Vocal School of Italy in the Sixteenth Century’ comprised a selection of madrigals and anthems by Italian masters, adapted to English words (1839). ‘The Cathedral Service, its Glory, its Decline, and its Designed Extinction,’ appeared (in two articles) anonymously in the British and Foreign Review for 1844, and were republished (also anonymously) in 1845.
With James Turle
he edited ‘The People's Music Book,’ and, for the Musical Antiquarian Society, Purcell's ‘King Arthur.’ Manuscripts by him are in the library of the Royal College of Music
.
Gresham Professor of Music
The Professor of Music at Gresham College, London, gives free educational lectures to the general public. The college was founded for this purpose in 1596 / 7, when it appointed seven professors; this has since increased to eight and in addition the college now has visiting professors.The Professor...
from 1837.
Life
The son of John Taylor, he was born at NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
on 22 January 1784. From 1808 to 1815 Edward Taylor was in business at the corner of Rampant Horse Street, Norwich. He was sheriff of Norwich in 1819.
In 1825 he moved to London and joined his brother Philip Taylor and his cousin, John Martineau, as civil engineers at York Place, City Road. Want of success in the business led him to enter the musical profession in 1827, when he was forty-three years old. His early musical education had been somewhat desultory: he had taken lessons from John Christmas Beckwith
John Christmas Beckwith
John Christmas Beckwith was an English organist and composer. He was the teacher of organist Zechariah Buck and composer Stephen Codman.-Career:He was an articled pupil of Dr. William and Dr...
, organist of Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral is a cathedral located in Norwich, Norfolk, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Formerly a Catholic church, it has belonged to the Church of England since the English Reformation....
, and on the flute and oboe from William Fish
William Fish
-Life:Fish was from Norwich. He commenced his musical career as violinist in the theatre orchestra there. After studying under Michael Sharp , the oboist, and Capel Bond, the pianist and organist, he took part in in local concerts and cathedral festivals. He was organist of St. Andrew's, Norwich,...
.
For the first triennial Norwich musical festival of 1824 he had trained the chorus, engaged the band and singers, and made out the programme. His early successes were as singer: he had a rich bass voice and commanding presence. He sang at the festival of 1827, and conducted those of 1839 and 1842. For the festival of 1830 he translated Louis Spohr
Louis Spohr
Louis Spohr was a German composer, violinist and conductor. Born Ludewig Spohr, he is usually known by the French form of his name. Described by Dorothy Mayer as "The Forgotten Master", Spohr was once as famous as Beethoven. As a violinist, his virtuoso playing was admired by Queen Victoria...
's ‘Last Judgment,’ which was then performed for the first time in England. He was on good terms with Spohr, who was his guest at 3 Regent Square, King's Cross, in 1839 and 1847. He visited Spohr at Cassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
in 1840. In addition to the ‘Last Judgment’ he translated Spohr's ‘Crucifixion,’ or ‘Calvary’ (1836), ‘Fall of Babylon’ (1842), and ‘Christian's Prayer,’ all of which were produced at Norwich festivals.
On 24 October 1837, on the death of Richard John Samuel Stevens, Taylor was appointed Gresham professor of music, a post which he held till his death. In January 1838 Taylor gave his first three lectures, which were published the same year. He gave lectures in different parts of the country, and one on ‘Madrigals’ which he delivered at Bristol in 1837 resulted in the formation of the Bristol Madrigal Society. From 1829 to 1843 he was musical critic of The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
.
He died at his house, Gresham Cottage, Cornlands Road, Brentwood
Brentwood, Essex
Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, on 12 March 1863, and was buried in the old dissenting burial-ground, King's Road, Brentwood.
Works
In addition to the translations already mentioned, his works include songs, words of songs, and adaptations. He translated Friedrich SchneiderFriedrich Schneider
Johann Christian Friedrich Schneider was a German composer and conductor.Schneider studied piano first with his father Johann Gottlob Schneider, and then at the Zittau Gymnasium with Schönfelder and Unger. His first published works were a set of three piano sonatas in 1804...
and Eberhard von Groote's Die Sündfluth as The Deluge, the Mozart Requiem under the title of Redemption (1845), and Haydn's The Seasons
The Seasons (Haydn)
The Seasons is an oratorio by Joseph Haydn .-Composition, premiere, and reception:Haydn was led to write The Seasons by the great success of his previous oratorio The Creation , which had become very popular and was in the course of being performed all over Europe...
. ‘The Vocal School of Italy in the Sixteenth Century’ comprised a selection of madrigals and anthems by Italian masters, adapted to English words (1839). ‘The Cathedral Service, its Glory, its Decline, and its Designed Extinction,’ appeared (in two articles) anonymously in the British and Foreign Review for 1844, and were republished (also anonymously) in 1845.
With James Turle
James Turle
James Turle was an English organist and composer.Turle was born at Taunton, Somerset, and started as a choirboy at Wells Cathedral. In 1817 he became a pupil of G. E. Williams, organist at Westminster Abbey in London, and after acting as deputy for some years he succeeded to this post himself in...
he edited ‘The People's Music Book,’ and, for the Musical Antiquarian Society, Purcell's ‘King Arthur.’ Manuscripts by him are in the library of the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
.