George Alexander Macfarren
Encyclopedia
Sir George Alexander Macfarren (2 March 1813 – 31 October 1887) was an English
composer
.
on 2 March 1813 to George Macfarren
, a dancing-master, dramatic author, and journalist, and Elizabeth Macfarren, née Jackson. At the age of seven, Macfarren was sent to Dr. Nicholas's school in Ealing
, where his father was dancing-master; the school numbered among its alumni John Henry, Cardinal Newman and Thomas Henry Huxley. His health was poor, however, and his eyesight weak, so much so that Macfarren was given a large-type edition of the Bible
and had to use a powerful magnifying-glass for all other reading. Macfarren was withdrawn from the school in 1823 to undergo a course of eye treatment. The treatment was unsuccessful, and Macfarren's eyesight progressively worsened until he became totally blind in 1860. He overcame the difficulties posed by his lack of sight by employing an amanuensis
in composition. The blindness had little effect on his productivity.
On 27 September 1844, Macfarren married Clarina Thalia Andrae. He "suffered from chronic bronchitis and a weak heart" but refused to abate his working schedule. He is buried in Hampstead Cemetery
.
, where he studied composition under Cipriani Potter
as well as piano under William Henry Holmes
and trombone with John Smithies. His ability to perform, however, was hindered by his poor eyesight and he soon concentrated upon composing only. In his first year at the Academy, Macfarren composed his first work, the Symphony in F Minor.
From 1834 to 1836 Macfarren taught at the Academy without a professorship; he was appointed a professor in 1837. He resigned in 1847 when his espousal of Alfred Day
's new theory of harmony became a source of dispute between him and the rest of the Academy's faculty. His eyesight had at that point deteriorated so significantly that Macfarren spent the next 18 months in New York to receive treatment from a leading oculist, but to no effect. Macfarren was re-appointed a professor at the Academy in 1851, not because the faculty had any greater love for Day's theories, but because they decided that free thought should be encouraged. He succeeded Sterndale Bennett as principal of the Academy in 1876. He was also appointed professor of music at Cambridge University in 1875, again succeeding Bennett.
Macfarren founded the Handel Society which attempted to produce a collected edition of the works of George Frideric Handel
(between 1843 and 1858).
(described as Beethoven's Grand Service in D, and published in 1854); and a textbook on counterpoint (1881).
His overture “Chevy Chace” was performed on 26 October 1843 by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
conducted by Felix Mendelssohn
. http://books.google.com/books?id=WnDcXG9XuzsC&pg=RA1-PA464&dq=%22Chevy+Chace%22+overture#v=onepage&q=%22Chevy%20Chace%22%20overture&f=false Mendelssohn had heard it performed in London and wrote the composer he “liked it very much”. After the Leipzig concert Mendelssohn wrote again to say “Your overture went very well, and was most cordially and unanimously received by the public, the orchestra playing it with true delight and enthusiasm”. Richard Wagner
also admired the peculiar and wildly passionate character of the piece (which he described as the Steeple Chase by MacFarrinc in his diary). Wagner also described the overture’s composer as “a pompous, melancholy Scotsman” (My Life, Volume 2, page 630).
The Chevy Chace overture and two of his symphonies have been recorded (his fourth and seventh, by the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Werner Andreas Albert
. It is possible that the fourth symphony is the F minor symphony that was played in 1834 by the Society of British Musicians. Among Macfarren's operas were King Charles II, produced at the Princess's Theatre in 1849 and an adaptation of Robin Hood produced in 1860.
Amongst his compositions of light music is a Romance and Barcarole for Concertina
and Fortepiano
written in 1856.
Modern commentators generally consider Macfarren to be "the most eminent representative" of conservatism in orchestration. His Ajax has been called "professionally composed if uninspiring" and his writing for trumpet singled out as "conventional ... although he does make liberal use of the out-of-tune harmonics, especially b [flat]', he rarely uses notes outside the harmonic series and rarely writes the first trumpet part above the first treble staff." Macfarren's music is "capable of graceful lyricism, [but] what may be a desire to avoid cliches in the songs leads him at times to an unexpected angularity of line that seems more awkward than fresh. However, Macfarren's St John has been praised as "an original and imaginative piece in which the shadow of Mendelssohn, so prominent since the appearance of Elijah in 1846, is only occasionally perceptible."
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...
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...
.
Life
George Alexander Macfarren was born in LondonLondon
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 2 March 1813 to George Macfarren
George Macfarren
George Macfarren was a playwright and the father of composer George Alexander Macfarren. Macfarren's first play, Ah! What a Pity, or, The Dark Knight and the Fair Lady, was produced on 28 September 1818 at the English Opera House; for the next several decades, a Macfarren play was produced...
, a dancing-master, dramatic author, and journalist, and Elizabeth Macfarren, née Jackson. At the age of seven, Macfarren was sent to Dr. Nicholas's school 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...
, where his father was dancing-master; the school numbered among its alumni John Henry, Cardinal Newman and Thomas Henry Huxley. His health was poor, however, and his eyesight weak, so much so that Macfarren was given a large-type edition of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and had to use a powerful magnifying-glass for all other reading. Macfarren was withdrawn from the school in 1823 to undergo a course of eye treatment. The treatment was unsuccessful, and Macfarren's eyesight progressively worsened until he became totally blind in 1860. He overcame the difficulties posed by his lack of sight by employing an amanuensis
Amanuensis
Amanuensis is a Latin word adopted in various languages, including English, for certain persons performing a function by hand, either writing down the words of another or performing manual labour...
in composition. The blindness had little effect on his productivity.
On 27 September 1844, Macfarren married Clarina Thalia Andrae. He "suffered from chronic bronchitis and a weak heart" but refused to abate his working schedule. He is buried in Hampstead Cemetery
Hampstead Cemetery
Hampstead Cemetery is a historic cemetery in West Hampstead, London, located at the upper extremity of the NW6 district. Despite the name, the cemetery is three-quarters of a mile from Hampstead Village, and bears a different postcode...
.
Musical career
Macfarren began to study music when he was fourteen, under Charles Lucas. In 1829, at the age of sixteen, Macfarren entered the Royal Academy of MusicRoyal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, where he studied composition under Cipriani Potter
Cipriani Potter
Philip Cipriani Hambly Potter was a British composer, pianist and educator.-Life and career:Born in London, the son of a piano teacher named Richard Huddleston Potter, Cipriani was named after his godmother...
as well as piano under William Henry Holmes
William Henry Holmes
William Henry Holmes was an American anthropologist, archaeologist, geologist and museum director.-Life:...
and trombone with John Smithies. His ability to perform, however, was hindered by his poor eyesight and he soon concentrated upon composing only. In his first year at the Academy, Macfarren composed his first work, the Symphony in F Minor.
From 1834 to 1836 Macfarren taught at the Academy without a professorship; he was appointed a professor in 1837. He resigned in 1847 when his espousal of Alfred Day
Alfred Day
Alfred "Alf" Day was a Welsh professional footballer who played at wing half for Tottenham Hotspur, Millwall, Southampton, Tranmere Rovers, Swindon Town in the 1930s and represented Wales at international level on one occasion....
's new theory of harmony became a source of dispute between him and the rest of the Academy's faculty. His eyesight had at that point deteriorated so significantly that Macfarren spent the next 18 months in New York to receive treatment from a leading oculist, but to no effect. Macfarren was re-appointed a professor at the Academy in 1851, not because the faculty had any greater love for Day's theories, but because they decided that free thought should be encouraged. He succeeded Sterndale Bennett as principal of the Academy in 1876. He was also appointed professor of music at Cambridge University in 1875, again succeeding Bennett.
Macfarren founded the Handel Society which attempted to produce a collected edition of the works of George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
(between 1843 and 1858).
Works
Among his theoretical works was an analysis of Beethoven's Missa SolemnisMissa Solemnis (Beethoven)
The Missa solemnis in D Major, Op. 123 was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven from 1819-1823. It was first performed on April 7, 1824 in St. Petersburg, under the auspices of Beethoven's patron Prince Nikolai Galitzin; an incomplete performance was given in Vienna on 7 May 1824, when the Kyrie,...
(described as Beethoven's Grand Service in D, and published in 1854); and a textbook on counterpoint (1881).
His overture “Chevy Chace” was performed on 26 October 1843 by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra is one of the the oldest symphony orchestras in the world...
conducted by Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
. http://books.google.com/books?id=WnDcXG9XuzsC&pg=RA1-PA464&dq=%22Chevy+Chace%22+overture#v=onepage&q=%22Chevy%20Chace%22%20overture&f=false Mendelssohn had heard it performed in London and wrote the composer he “liked it very much”. After the Leipzig concert Mendelssohn wrote again to say “Your overture went very well, and was most cordially and unanimously received by the public, the orchestra playing it with true delight and enthusiasm”. Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
also admired the peculiar and wildly passionate character of the piece (which he described as the Steeple Chase by MacFarrinc in his diary). Wagner also described the overture’s composer as “a pompous, melancholy Scotsman” (My Life, Volume 2, page 630).
The Chevy Chace overture and two of his symphonies have been recorded (his fourth and seventh, by the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Werner Andreas Albert
Werner Andreas Albert
Werner Andreas Albert is a German conductor.He began his studies in musicology and history, and later studying conducting with Herbert von Karajan and Hans Rosbaud. After his 1961 debut with the Heidelberg Chamber Orchestra, he became chief conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie...
. It is possible that the fourth symphony is the F minor symphony that was played in 1834 by the Society of British Musicians. Among Macfarren's operas were King Charles II, produced at the Princess's Theatre in 1849 and an adaptation of Robin Hood produced in 1860.
Amongst his compositions of light music is a Romance and Barcarole for Concertina
Concertina
A concertina is a free-reed musical instrument, like the various accordions and the harmonica. It has a bellows and buttons typically on both ends of it. When pressed, the buttons travel in the same direction as the bellows, unlike accordion buttons which travel perpendicularly to it...
and Fortepiano
Fortepiano
Fortepiano designates the early version of the piano, from its invention by the Italian instrument maker Bartolomeo Cristofori around 1700 up to the early 19th century. It was the instrument for which Haydn, Mozart, and the early Beethoven wrote their piano music...
written in 1856.
Reputation
During his lifetime, Macfarren's music met with a mixed reception; "his views were often considered dogmatic and reactionary, but, unlike Grove, his theoretical and analytical expertise was indisputable.". One contemporary called Macfarren "essentially a musical grammarian, engaged all his life long in settling the doctrine of the enclitic de." Those who thought highly of his work praised its originality and its tastefulness. According to a contemporary commentator, Macfarren "had great originality of thought and, as a composer, would probably have had still greater success if his early composition studies had been formed on the more modern lines to which he afterwards became so devotedly attached." Salome's dance in St John the Baptist was praised for its avoidance of the salacious: "The whole of the scene is very cleverly worked out, and the composer has avoided anything inappropriate in the music descriptive of the dance, that might be considered out of place in an oratorio." Others, however, criticized the oratorio, arguing that "with all its very great and solid merit, can be said to be original in style only in virtue of the logical results of certain theories of harmony held by its composer." By the early twentieth century, Macfarren's works were no longer performed, a fact which the Worshipful Company of Musicians attributed to a lack of genius on Macfarren's part: "Never was more earnest composer, more prolific writer; never did man strive more zealously for the art of his country; yet Heaven had endowed him only with talent and not genius."Modern commentators generally consider Macfarren to be "the most eminent representative" of conservatism in orchestration. His Ajax has been called "professionally composed if uninspiring" and his writing for trumpet singled out as "conventional ... although he does make liberal use of the out-of-tune harmonics, especially b [flat]', he rarely uses notes outside the harmonic series and rarely writes the first trumpet part above the first treble staff." Macfarren's music is "capable of graceful lyricism, [but] what may be a desire to avoid cliches in the songs leads him at times to an unexpected angularity of line that seems more awkward than fresh. However, Macfarren's St John has been praised as "an original and imaginative piece in which the shadow of Mendelssohn, so prominent since the appearance of Elijah in 1846, is only occasionally perceptible."