Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

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EOYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC EOYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC 173
by Sir Frederick Bridge, who still fills the post
with distinction. The great number of voices
required to produce a tone adequate to the size
of the building makes it unwise to attempt anyvery
complicated choral music or delicate effects
of vocal writing ; this cause, added to the
indifference of the musical amateurs in London
to new choral works, is responsible for the lack
of interest which is sometimes complained of
in the Society's repertory. But, although the
institution has relied for its chief successes
upon the hackneyed oratorios, the list of its
achievements is a long and honourable one.
Fourteen performances took place, in the earlier
years, of Bach's St. Matthew Passion ; three have
been given of Beethoven's Choral Symphony,
while his Mass in D has been attempted.
'
Gounod's Redemption ' was for many years a
regular attraction, and other choral works of
the composer's were frequently given. In
addition to the more hackneyed oratorios of
Handel, 'Judas Maccabieus,'
' Belshazzar,'
'Theodora,' 'Samson,' ' Jephtha,' ' L' Allegro,'
and 'Alexander's Feast' have been performed ;
and certain notable foreign compositions have
been introduced to England by the Society, such
as Verdi's famous 'Requiem, 'Wagner's 'Parsifal'
(in concert form), and Benoit's ' Lucifer.' The
English, works given by the Society have been,
for the most part, repetitions of oratorios, etc.
written for the provincial festivals, and therefore
only new as regards London. Parry's War and
'
Peace ' (1903), and the third part of Coleridge-
Taylor's
' Hiawatha, ' completing the work,
were given by the Society for the first time,
as well as Bridge's 'Flag of England' (1897)
and ' Ballad of the Clampherdown ' (1899). M.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC. For information
as to the commencement of this
institution see NatioKal Training School,
vol. iii. p. 354. The new institution was
founded by the Prince of Wales at a meeting
held at St. James's Palace, Feb. 28, 1882, and
was opened by H.R.H. on May 7 of the following
year. Negotiations took place with the
Royal Academy of Music with the object of
a union with the two bodies ; but these unfortunately
came to nothing. Like its predecessor,
the College rests on the basis of
endowed scholarships lasting not less than
three years ; but the funds for these are in
this case provided by the interest of money
subscribed throughout the country and permanently
invested. The College opened with
fifty Scholars elected by competition, of whom
fifteen received maintenance in addition, and
forty-two paying students. It was incorporated
by Royal Charter on May 23, 1883, and is
governed by a Council, presided over by the
Prince of Wales (the present King), and divided
into a Finance Committee, and an Executive
Committee. The staff was as follows :—Director,
Sir George Grove, D.C.L. ;
Principal Teachers,
forming the board of Professors, J. F. Bridge,
Mus.D. ; H.C. Deacon; Henry Holmes; Mme.
Lind-Goldschmidt ; Walter Parratt ; C. Hubert
H. Parry, Mus.D. ; Ernst Pauer; C.V. Stanford,
Mus.D. ; Franklin Taylor ; A. Visetti. Other
principal teachers were Mme. A. Goddard ; John
F. Barnett ; G. C. Martin, Mus.D. ; R. Gompertz
; 0. H. Howell ; F. E. Gladstone, Mus.D.
J. Higgs, Mus.B. ; G. Garcia, etc. Registrar,
G. Watson, jun. At the dissolution of the
Sacred, Harmonic Society (1882) the valuable
library was acquired for the College through
the exertions of Sir P. Cunliffe Owen, and the
library of the Concerts of Antient Music was
given by Queen Victoria. In 1 8 8 7 the Alexandra
House was opened, containing a beautiful concert
hall, where the students' concerts were regularly
held, as well as accommodation for 100 ladies,
some of whom are pupils of the College.
When the accommodation in the old building
was found insufiicient for the needs of the
College, a new site was granted in Piince Consort
Road, and the first stone of the new building
was laid on July 8, 1890. The structure, erected
by the generosity of the late Mr. Samson Fox,
M.I.C.E., was foi-mally opened on May 2, 1894,
and the fine concert-room connected with it was
opened on June 13, 1901. In 1894, on the
resignation of Sir George Grove, Sir Hubert
Parry was appointed director of the institution,
and has filled the post with great distinction
till the present time. The Council
consists (1907) of the following:—H.R.H. The
Prince of Wales, H.R.H. Prince Christian, the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Marquis of
Northampton, the Earls of Cawdor, Pembroke,
Plymouth, Shaftesbmy ; Lords Revelstoke,
Althorp, Farquhar, The Lord Mayor ; Messrs.
C. B. Stuart Wortley, Herbert J. Gladstone,
G. W. Spencer Lyttelton, Robert H. Lyttelton,
Robert T. O'Neill, Sir J. Whittaker Ellis, Sir
Edward W. Hamilton ; Messrs. Lionel Benson,
Jacques Blumenthal, Eaton Faning, A. W. Fox,
Rev. Canon F. A. J. Hervey ; Messrs. William
H. Leslie, Alfred H. Littleton, C. Harford Lloyd,
R. F. M'Ewen, George A. Macmillan, Charles
Morley, Howard Morley, S. Ernest Palmer,
Edward H. Pember ; and J. W. SidebOtham, Esq.
The Board of Professors includes the following
names : for singing, Messrs. Randeggcr and
Visetti ;
piano, Mr. Franklin Taylor ; organ,
Sir Walter Parratt ; violin, Senor Arbos and
Mr. Rivarde ; composition. Sir C. V. Stanford ;
harmony, etc.. Sir J. F. Bridge. A large
number of professors in addition to these are
on the staff. At the present time, the number
of scholars is 67, and of paying students 352.
In 1889 the College of Music and the Royal
Academy joined in forming the 'Associated
Board, ' intended to bring the local examinations
of the two schools into line with each other.
Both institutions have benefited by the new
undertaking, and the standard of musical educa-