Jack Westrup
Encyclopedia
Sir Jack Westrup was an English musicologist
, writer, teacher and occasional composer.
, and his wife, Harriet Sophia née Allan. He was educated at Dulwich College
, London
1917-22, and at Balliol College
, Oxford
. He first read classics in which he gained first class honours in moderations (1924) and second class honours in literae humaniores (1926). He gained his B.Mus. degree in 1926, and a Master of Arts in 1929. He took an active part in music in the university as a keyboard and brass player. With an Italian expatriate Arundel del Re, he co-founded the Oxford University Opera Club while still an undergraduate, and was later its conductor. The club had a policy of producing works in English and used its funds to hire professional singers and conductors. In 1925, with William Henry Harris
, he staged the first complete performance in modern times of Claudio Monteverdi
's opera L'Orfeo (but only over certain obstacles presented by Sir Hugh Allen
), and in 1927 he produced the first British performance of Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea
. (In February 1975 he was present at a new production of Orfeo to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the University Opera Club.)
He was a music critic for The Daily Telegraph
1934-39, and from also editor of the Monthly Musical Record 1933-45.
He gave classes at the Royal Academy of Music
in London 1938-40. He was lecturer in music at King's College, Newcastle upon Tyne
1941-44, the Peyton and Barber Professor of Music at the University of Birmingham
1944-47, and Wadham College, Oxford
1947-71, where he held the Heather professorship. His students there included Joseph Horowitz
, Alan Blyth
and many others.
In 1947 he was named chairman of the editorial board of The New Oxford History of Music. In 1950 Oxford University allowed music to become an honours course for the first time, and Westrup was mainly instrumental in designing a new syllabus which demanded a wider knowledge of musical scholarship than the old B.Mus. That same year he conducted an edited version of Hector Berlioz
's The Trojans
with the Oxford University Opera Club, some passages from which were (non-commercially) recorded. In 1951 he was a co-founder and trustee of Musica Britannica
, an authoritative national collection of British music. In 1952 he revised Ernest Walker's History of Music in England. In 1959 he succeeded Eric Blom
as editor of Music & Letters
. He was president of the Royal Musical Association
1958-63, the Incorporated Society of Musicians
1963, and the Royal College of Organists
1964-66.
He conducted the Oxford Opera Club 1947-62, the Oxford University Orchestra 1954-63, and the Oxford Bach Choir
and Oxford Orchestra Society 1970-71.
In 1966 he was one of the first advisers to Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale
(RILM).
As late as 1968, he rejected an application by a student to undertake doctoral research on recordings of music, considering it not an appropriate topic for research.
Sir Jack Westrup died in 1975. His wife Solweig Maria née Rösell died in 1984.
s by Johann Sebastian Bach
for two pianos.
ed in 1961. His collection of 4,500 books on music history and musicology became the basis of the Westrup Library at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
.
Oxford University Press
now awards a Jack Westrup Prize in Musicology.
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
, writer, teacher and occasional composer.
Biography
Jack Allan Westrup was the second of the three sons of George Westrup, insurance clerk, of DulwichDulwich
Dulwich is an area of South London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth...
, and his wife, Harriet Sophia née Allan. He was educated at Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
, 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...
1917-22, and at Balliol College
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He first read classics in which he gained first class honours in moderations (1924) and second class honours in literae humaniores (1926). He gained his B.Mus. degree in 1926, and a Master of Arts in 1929. He took an active part in music in the university as a keyboard and brass player. With an Italian expatriate Arundel del Re, he co-founded the Oxford University Opera Club while still an undergraduate, and was later its conductor. The club had a policy of producing works in English and used its funds to hire professional singers and conductors. In 1925, with William Henry Harris
William Henry Harris
Sir William Henry Harris was an English organist and composer, affectionately nicknamed 'Doc H' by his choristers.Harris was born in Fulham, London and died in Petersfield. He was a chorister of Holy Trinity, Tulse Hill...
, he staged the first complete performance in modern times of Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, gambist, and singer.Monteverdi's work, often regarded as revolutionary, marked the transition from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque period. He developed two individual styles of composition – the...
's opera L'Orfeo (but only over certain obstacles presented by Sir Hugh Allen
Hugh Allen (conductor)
Sir Hugh Percy Allen was an English musician, academic and administrator. He was a leading influence on British musical life in the first half of the 20th century.-Early years:...
), and in 1927 he produced the first British performance of Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea
L'incoronazione di Poppea
L'incoronazione di Poppea is an Italian baroque opera comprising a prologue and three acts, first performed in Venice during the 1642–43 carnival season. The music, attributed to Claudio Monteverdi, is a setting of a libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello...
. (In February 1975 he was present at a new production of Orfeo to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the University Opera Club.)
He was a music critic for The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
1934-39, and from also editor of the Monthly Musical Record 1933-45.
He gave classes at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal 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...
in London 1938-40. He was lecturer in music at King's College, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
1941-44, the Peyton and Barber Professor of Music at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
1944-47, and Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
1947-71, where he held the Heather professorship. His students there included Joseph Horowitz
Joseph Horowitz
Joseph Horowitz is an American cultural historian whose seven books mainly deal with the institutional history of classical music in the United States. As a producer of concerts, he has played a pioneering role in promoting thematic programming and new concert formats...
, Alan Blyth
Alan Blyth
Geoffrey Alan Blyth was an English music critic, author, and musicologist who was particularly known for his writings within the field of opera. He graduated from the Rugby School before attending the University of Oxford where he studied with Jack Westrup...
and many others.
In 1947 he was named chairman of the editorial board of The New Oxford History of Music. In 1950 Oxford University allowed music to become an honours course for the first time, and Westrup was mainly instrumental in designing a new syllabus which demanded a wider knowledge of musical scholarship than the old B.Mus. That same year he conducted an edited version of Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
's The Trojans
Les Troyens
Les Troyens is a French opera in five acts by Hector Berlioz. The libretto was written by Berlioz himself, based on Virgil's epic poem The Aeneid...
with the Oxford University Opera Club, some passages from which were (non-commercially) recorded. In 1951 he was a co-founder and trustee of Musica Britannica
Musica Britannica
Musica Britannica was founded in 1951 as an authoritative national collection of British music. It is designed to stand alongside existing library editions, and to explore the vast heritage of material still largely untouched by them, thus making available a representative survey of the British...
, an authoritative national collection of British music. In 1952 he revised Ernest Walker's History of Music in England. In 1959 he succeeded Eric Blom
Eric Blom
Eric Walter Blom CBE was a Swiss-born British-naturalised music lexicographer, musicologist, music critic, music biographer and translator. He is best known as the editor of the 5th edition of Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians .-Biography:Blom was born in Berne, Switzerland...
as editor of Music & Letters
Music & Letters
Music & Letters, also known as Music and Letters, is an international journal published quarterly by Oxford University Press with a focus on musicology. Its ISSN is 00274224...
. He was president of the Royal Musical Association
Royal Musical Association
The Royal Musical Association is a British scholarly society and charity. Founded in 1874, the Association claims to be the second oldest musicological society in the world, after that of the Netherlands...
1958-63, the Incorporated Society of Musicians
Incorporated Society of Musicians
Incorporated Society of Musicians is the UK's professional body for musicians. It champions the importance of music and protects the rights of those working within music through a range of services, campaigns, support and practical advice...
1963, and the Royal College of Organists
Royal College of Organists
The Royal College of Organists or RCO, is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, but with members around the world...
1964-66.
He conducted the Oxford Opera Club 1947-62, the Oxford University Orchestra 1954-63, and the Oxford Bach Choir
Oxford Bach Choir
The Oxford Bach Choir is one of the UK's best-known amateur choirs. It was founded by Basil Harwood in 1896 and is based in Oxford, England.There are around 200 voices in the choir...
and Oxford Orchestra Society 1970-71.
In 1966 he was one of the first advisers to Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale
Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale
Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale , commonly known as , is an international bibliography of writings on music covering scholarly publications on all kinds of music and published in any language...
(RILM).
As late as 1968, he rejected an application by a student to undertake doctoral research on recordings of music, considering it not an appropriate topic for research.
Sir Jack Westrup died in 1975. His wife Solweig Maria née Rösell died in 1984.
Compositions
He wrote a Divertimento in three short movements, for tenor saxophone, cello and piano. He also arranged a number of choraleChorale
A chorale was originally a hymn sung by a Christian congregation. In certain modern usage, this term may also include classical settings of such hymns and works of a similar character....
s by Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
for two pianos.
Honours
In 1946 Jack Westrup received an honorary degree of D.Mus. from Oxford University. He was knightKnight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in 1961. His collection of 4,500 books on music history and musicology became the basis of the Westrup Library at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
.
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
now awards a Jack Westrup Prize in Musicology.
Writings
- Purcell (1937; part of the Master Musicians series; 4th edition, revised, 1980)
- Handel (1938)
- Liszt (1940)
- Sharps and Flats (1940)
- British Music (1943; 3rd edition, 1949)
- The Meaning of Musical History (1946)
- An Introduction to Musical History (1955)
- Music: Its Past and Its Present (Washington, D.C., 1964)
- Bach Cantatas (1966)
- Schubert Chamber Music (1969)
- Musical Interpretation (1971)