Watson Forbes
Encyclopedia
Watson Douglas Buchanan Forbes (16 November 1909 in St Andrews
– 25 June 1997 in Moreton-in-Marsh
, Gloucestershire) was a Scottish violist
and classical music arranger. From 1964 to 1974 he was Head of Music for BBC Scotland
.
He first learnt the violin from his father, who was a Scottish country fiddler. Showing promise, at the age of 16 he was sent to the Royal Academy of Music
in London, where he studied violin and viola. He gradually specialised on the viola, for both musical and pragmatic reasons.
In 1930, he went to Pisek
in Czechoslovakia to study with Otakar Ševčík
, whose intricate system of exercises revolutionised string playing; he felt he had benefited enormously from this period: "Sevcik taught me how to practise and how to tackle difficult passages." Following this concentration on technique, Forbes had lessons from Albert Sammons
. "He was marvellous. He taught me how to perform - how to put music across to an audience."
set the direction of his career. The Stratton was Elgar
's preferred quartet, and their recordings in 1933, of his String Quartet and Piano Quintet
were the music he chose to listen to on his deathbed. Forbes remained with the Stratton for the rest of its existence as such.
At the start of the Second World War, Forbes was joint leader of the London Symphony Orchestra
, but from 1940 onwards he joined the RAF Symphony Orchestra which contained a number of small groups of chamber music players. He toured the UK in a piano quintet which included Denis Matthews
, Frederick Grinke
and James Whitehead. He also made many appearances in Myra Hess
's concerts at the National Gallery.
After the war he continued with the Stratton quartet, but now, following the departure of George Stratton, renamed the Aeolian Quartet
. He also played with other groups, and as a soloist. In 1954 he became professor of viola and chamber music at the Royal Academy of Music
in London.
In 1964 Forbes moved to Glasgow
to take up the post of Head of Music for BBC Scotland
. There he safeguarded and expanded the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
, then under threat, and fostered the Scottish musical culture of the day (including traditional Scottish music, with a fiddle competition in Perth
at which Yehudi Menuhin
was chief adjudicator).
Throughout his working life, but especially in retirement he worked on one of his most enduring legacies as a musician, namely an extensive series of arrangements to expand the viola repertoire, and a series of educational collections for other instruments.
In 1970 he was made an honorary Doctor of Music
by the University of Glasgow
and in 1972 was awarded the Cobbett Memorial Prize
for services to chamber music.
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
– 25 June 1997 in Moreton-in-Marsh
Moreton-in-Marsh
Moreton-in-Marsh is a town and civil parish in northeastern Gloucestershire, England. The town is at the crossroads of the Fosse Way Roman road and the A44. The parish and environs are relatively flat and low-lying compared with the surrounding Cotswold Hills...
, Gloucestershire) was a Scottish violist
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
and classical music arranger. From 1964 to 1974 he was Head of Music for BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
.
Early life
Watson Forbes was born in St Andrews, where his parents kept a jewellers shop.He first learnt the violin from his father, who was a Scottish country fiddler. Showing promise, at the age of 16 he was sent to 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, where he studied violin and viola. He gradually specialised on the viola, for both musical and pragmatic reasons.
In 1930, he went to Pisek
Písek
Písek is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 29 909 .-About:Písek is usually called "The Athens of the South", although Athens is much more southerly, because it has many high schools and schools of higher education, e.g. the Film School in Písek...
in Czechoslovakia to study with Otakar Ševčík
Otakar Ševcík
Otakar Ševčík was a Czech violinist and influential teacher. He was known as a soloist and an ensemble player, including his occasional performances with Eugène Ysaÿe.-Biography:...
, whose intricate system of exercises revolutionised string playing; he felt he had benefited enormously from this period: "Sevcik taught me how to practise and how to tackle difficult passages." Following this concentration on technique, Forbes had lessons from Albert Sammons
Albert Sammons
Albert Edward Sammons CBE was an English violinist, composer and later violin teacher. Almost self-taught on the violin, he had a wide repertoire as both chamber musician and soloist, although his reputation rests mainly on his association with British composers, especially Elgar...
. "He was marvellous. He taught me how to perform - how to put music across to an audience."
Career
The invitation to join the Stratton QuartetStratton Quartet
The Stratton String Quartet was a well known British musical ensemble active during the 1930s and 1940s. They were specially associated with the performance of British music, of which they gave numerous premieres, and were a prominent feature in the wartime calendar of concerts at the National...
set the direction of his career. The Stratton was Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
's preferred quartet, and their recordings in 1933, of his String Quartet and Piano Quintet
Piano Quintet (Elgar)
The Quintet in A minor for Piano and String Quartet, Op. 84 is a chamber work by Edward Elgar.He worked on the Quintet and two other major chamber pieces in the summer of 1918 while staying at Brinkwells near Fittleworth in Sussex. W. H...
were the music he chose to listen to on his deathbed. Forbes remained with the Stratton for the rest of its existence as such.
At the start of the Second World War, Forbes was joint leader of the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
, but from 1940 onwards he joined the RAF Symphony Orchestra which contained a number of small groups of chamber music players. He toured the UK in a piano quintet which included Denis Matthews
Denis Matthews
Denis Matthews was an English pianist and musicologist.Denis James Matthews was born in Coventry, the son of a motor salesman. He attended Arnold Lodge School, Leamington Spa, from 1927 to 1932 and Warwick School from October 1932 to the summer of 1936, when he left to study at the Royal Academy...
, Frederick Grinke
Frederick Grinke
Frederick Grinke was a Canadian-born violinist who had an international career as soloist, chamber musician and teacher...
and James Whitehead. He also made many appearances in Myra Hess
Myra Hess
Dame Myra Hess DBE was a British pianist.She was born in London as Julia Myra Hess, but was best known by her middle name. At the age of five she began to study the piano and two years later entered the Guildhall School of Music, where she graduated as winner of the Gold Medal...
's concerts at the National Gallery.
After the war he continued with the Stratton quartet, but now, following the departure of George Stratton, renamed the Aeolian Quartet
Aeolian Quartet
The Aeolian Quartet was a highly reputed string quartet based in London , with a long international touring history and presence, an important recording and broadcasting profile. It was the successor of the pre-War Stratton Quartet...
. He also played with other groups, and as a soloist. In 1954 he became professor of viola and chamber music 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.
In 1964 Forbes moved to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
to take up the post of Head of Music for BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
. There he safeguarded and expanded the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is a broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow, Scotland. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation , it is the oldest full-time professional orchestra in Scotland...
, then under threat, and fostered the Scottish musical culture of the day (including traditional Scottish music, with a fiddle competition in Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
at which Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...
was chief adjudicator).
Throughout his working life, but especially in retirement he worked on one of his most enduring legacies as a musician, namely an extensive series of arrangements to expand the viola repertoire, and a series of educational collections for other instruments.
In 1970 he was made an honorary Doctor of Music
Doctor of Music
The Doctor of Music degree , like other doctorates, is an academic degree of the highest level. The D.Mus. is intended for musicians and composers who wish to combine the highest attainments in their area of specialization with doctoral-level academic study in music...
by the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and in 1972 was awarded the Cobbett Memorial Prize
Walter Willson Cobbett
Walter Willson Cobbett CBE was a British businessman and amateur violinist, and editor/author of Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music. He also endowed the Cobbett Medal for services to Chamber Music....
for services to chamber music.