William Hayman Cummings
Encyclopedia
William Hayman Cummings (August 22, 1831 – June 10, 1915), born in Sidbury (near Sidmouth
) in Devon
, was an English
musician, tenor
and organist at Waltham Abbey
.
He was educated at St Paul's Cathedral Choir School
and the City of London School
, becoming a pupil of Dr E.J. Hopkins, J.W Hobbs and Alberto Randegger
, and was for many years a chorister in St Paul's Cathedral
and the Temple Church
.
In 1847, as a teenager, he was one of the choristers when Felix Mendelssohn
conducted the first London performance of his Elijah
at Exeter Hall
. Cummings also sang at numerous festivals and concerts throughout Great Britain and twice toured in the United States. He is credited in 1855 with linking Mendelssohn's tune to Charles Wesley
's words Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
, which are now universally inextricably linked. At the Birmingham Festival
he was the last-minute tenor soloist at the premiere of The Masque at Kenilworth
(1866) by Arthur Sullivan
, taking Mario's
place (with only half-an-hour's notice to prepare).
Cummings founded the Purcell Society
in 1876. He served as singing professor at the Royal Academy of Music
for 15 years beginning in 1879, then became a professor and later the principal of the Guildhall School of Music. One of his notable pupils at the school was conductor Bruce Carey
. He received an honorary Doctorate in Music from Dublin University
in 1900 and was made a gentleman of the Chapel Royal
. In 1902, he published a book on the origins of God Save the King.
Cummings' other appointments included:
Cummings married Clara Anne Hobbs, a daughter of his teacher, the well-known singer John William Hobbs (1799-1877).
He died in London
and is buried in West Norwood Cemetery
, South London
.
Sidmouth
Sidmouth is a small town on the English Channel coast in Devon, South West England. The town lies at the mouth of the River Sid in the East Devon district, south east of Exeter. It has a population of about 15,000, of whom 40% are over 65....
) in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
musician, tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
and organist at Waltham Abbey
Waltham Abbey (abbey)
The Abbey Church of Waltham Abbey has been a place of worship since at least 1030, and is in the town of Waltham Abbey, Essex, England. The Prime Meridian passes through its grounds. Harold Godwinson is said to be buried just outside the present abbey...
.
He was educated at St Paul's Cathedral Choir School
St Paul's Cathedral School
St. Paul's Cathedral School is a school associated with St Paul's Cathedral in London and is located in New Change in the City of London.The School has around 220 pupils, most of whom are day pupils, both boys and girls, including up to 40 boy choristers who are all boarders and who singing the...
and the City of London School
City of London School
The City of London School is a boys' independent day school on the banks of the River Thames in the City of London, England. It is the brother school of the City of London School for Girls and the co-educational City of London Freemen's School...
, becoming a pupil of Dr E.J. Hopkins, J.W Hobbs and Alberto Randegger
Alberto Randegger
Alberto Randegger was an Italian-born composer, conductor and singing teacher, best known for promoting opera and new works of British music in England during the Victorian era and for his widely-used textbook on singing technique.-Life and career:Randegger was born in Trieste, Italy, the son of...
, and was for many years a chorister in St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
and the Temple Church
Temple Church
The Temple Church is a late-12th-century church in London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built for and by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. In modern times, two Inns of Court both use the church. It is famous for its effigy tombs and for being a round church...
.
In 1847, as a teenager, he was one of the choristers when 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...
conducted the first London performance of his Elijah
Elijah (oratorio)
Elijah, in German: Elias, is an oratorio written by Felix Mendelssohn in 1846 for the Birmingham Festival. It depicts various events in the life of the Biblical prophet Elijah, taken from the books 1 Kings and 2 Kings in the Old Testament....
at Exeter Hall
Exeter Hall
Exeter Hall was a hall on the north side of The Strand, London, England. It was erected between 1829 and 1831 on the site of Exeter Exchange, to designs by John Peter Gandy, the brother of the visionary architect Joseph Michael Gandy...
. Cummings also sang at numerous festivals and concerts throughout Great Britain and twice toured in the United States. He is credited in 1855 with linking Mendelssohn's tune to Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley , and father of musician Samuel Wesley, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley...
's words Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is a Christmas carol that first appeared in 1739 in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems, having been written by Charles Wesley. This is not the version widely known today. A sombre man, Wesley had requested and received slow and solemn music for his lyrics, not the...
, which are now universally inextricably linked. At the Birmingham Festival
Birmingham Triennial Music Festival
The Birmingham Triennial Musical Festival, in Birmingham, England, founded in 1784, was the longest-running classical music festival of its kind. Its last performance was in 1912.-History:...
he was the last-minute tenor soloist at the premiere of The Masque at Kenilworth
The Masque at Kenilworth
Kenilworth, A Masque of the Days of Queen Elizabeth , is a cantata with music by Arthur Sullivan and words by Henry Fothergill Chorley that premiered at the Birmingham Festival on 8 September 1864.In 1575, Queen Elizabeth visited Robert Dudley at Kenilworth Castle, where he presented her with...
(1866) by Arthur Sullivan
Arthur Sullivan
Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan MVO was an English composer of Irish and Italian ancestry. He is best known for his series of 14 operatic collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including such enduring works as H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado...
, taking Mario's
Mario (tenor)
Giovanni Matteo "Mario" was an Italian opera singer. The most celebrated tenor of his era, he was lionized by audiences in Paris and London.-Early life:...
place (with only half-an-hour's notice to prepare).
Cummings founded the Purcell Society
Purcell Society
The Purcell Society, founded in 1876 is an organization dedicated to making the complete musical works of Henry Purcell available. Between 1876 and 1965, scores of all the known works of Purcell were published, in 32 volumes...
in 1876. He served as singing professor 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...
for 15 years beginning in 1879, then became a professor and later the principal of the Guildhall School of Music. One of his notable pupils at the school was conductor Bruce Carey
Bruce Carey
Bruce Anderson Carey was a Canadian choir conductor, baritone, and music educator. He began his career in Hamilton, Ontario where he notably founded the Bach-Elgar Choir in 1905...
. He received an honorary Doctorate in Music from Dublin University
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
in 1900 and was made a gentleman of the Chapel Royal
Chapel Royal
A Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they are called upon to do so.-Austria:...
. In 1902, he published a book on the origins of God Save the King.
Cummings' other appointments included:
- Professor - The Royal Normal College and Academy for the Blind
- Council Member, Incorporated Society of MusiciansIncorporated Society of MusiciansIncorporated 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...
- Vice-President, Royal College of OrganistsRoyal College of OrganistsThe Royal College of Organists or RCO, is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, but with members around the world...
- Vice-President, Royal Musical AssociationRoyal Musical AssociationThe 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...
- Hon. Treasurer, Royal Society of MusiciansRoyal Society of MusiciansThe Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain is a charity in the United Kingdom that supports musicians. It is the oldest music-related charity in Great Britain, founded in 1738 as the "Fund for Decay'd Musicians" by a declaration of trust signed by 228 musicians, including Edward Purcell ,...
- Hon. Treasurer, Philharmonic SocietyRoyal Philharmonic SocietyThe Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...
- President, Incorporated Staff Sight Singing College
Cummings married Clara Anne Hobbs, a daughter of his teacher, the well-known singer John William Hobbs (1799-1877).
He died in 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...
and is buried in West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...
, South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
.
External links
- Biography at the Cyber Hymnal
- Obituary, The Times, 7 June 1915