Anthony Jennings (February 6, 1945 – July 30, 1995) was a New Zealand

harpsichordist A harpsichordist is a person who plays the harpsichord. Harpsichordists may play as soloists, as accompanists, as chamber musicians, or as members of an orchestra, or some combination of these roles. Solo harpsichordists may play unaccompanied son ...

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

, choral and orchestral director, and academic. A proponent of the early-music movement, he advocated for authentic performing practices. He made several recordings of baroque music on the harpsichord. Musicologist J. M. Thomson wrote, that Jennings's "musical skills were wide-ranging and supported by a charismatic personality. A virtuoso organist, his performances of Romantic and contemporary repertory are remembered for their technical brilliance and musical power, but his special contribution was in the area of Baroque performance."

Life and career

Born in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

, Jennings graduated from

Victoria University of Wellington Victoria University of Wellington ( mi, Te Herenga Waka) is a university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. The university is well know ...

with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1968. He pursued postgraduate studies at the

Royal Conservatory of Brussels The Royal Conservatory of Brussels (french: Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles, nl, Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel) is a historic conservatory in Brussels, Belgium. Starting its activities in 1813, it received its official name in 1832. Provid ...

during which time he was concurrently choirmaster of the

Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Brussels ) is an Anglican Pro-Cathedral in Ixelles, a municipality of Brussels, Belgium. It is part of the Diocese in Europe of the Church of England. The church is located at 29, /, near the Avenue Louise/Louizalaan. Origins The Pro-Cathedral of the Holy ...

. He was awarded the Pro Arte Gold Medal by

King Philippe of Belgium french: Philippe Léopold Louis Mariegerman: Philipp Leopold Ludwig Maria , house = Belgium , father = Albert II of Belgium , mother = Paola Ruffo di Calabria , birth_date = , birth_place = Belvédère Castle, Laeken, B ...

in 1972. In 1973 he graduated from the

Guildhall School of Music and Drama The Guildhall School of Music and Drama is a conservatoire and drama school located in the City of London, United Kingdom. Established in 1880, the school offers undergraduate and postgraduate training in all aspects of classical music and jazz ...

in London with a doctorate in music. While a student at the GSM he was the assistant organist and choirmaster of

St Albans Cathedral St Albans Cathedral, officially the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban but often referred to locally as "the Abbey", is a Church of England cathedral in St Albans, England. Much of its architecture dates from Normans, Norman times. It cease ...

. In 1974, Jennings returned to New Zealand to become the director of music at the

Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland Holy Trinity Cathedral is an Anglican place of worship situated in Parnell, a residential suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is the 'mother church' of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland and the cathedral of the Bishop of Auckland. The current ...

and a senior lecturer on the faculty of music at the

University of Auckland , mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work , established = 1883; years ago , endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021) , budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021) , chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant , vice_chancellor = Dawn F ...

. He remained in his post at Holy Trinity through 1985, making many professional recordings with the church's choir over his eleven year tenure. He left his post at the University of Auckland in 1991 when he took a position on the music faculty at the University of Newcastle in

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

. One of his notable pupils was

Douglas Mews Douglas Christopher Mews (born 1956), is a New Zealand classical organist and harpsichordist and he is also a composer. He holds the position of City Organist, Wellington, New Zealand. He is the brother of Constant Mews. Biography Mews was born in ...

. Along with Peter Godfrey, John Hawley, and Roy Tankersley, he was of the leading church music directors in New Zealand during the second half of the 20th century. In 1995 Jennings became the music director of the

St James' Church, Sydney St James' Church, commonly known as St James', King Street, is an Australian heritage-listed Anglican parish church located at 173 King Street, in the Sydney central business district in New South Wales. Consecrated in February 1824 and named ...

. He died soon after taking that post in Sydney, Australia on July 30, 1995.

Partial discography

*''Anthony Jennings - Fantastic Musick for the Italian Harpsichord'' (1990, Trust Records)

References

External links

Anthony Jennings
at the

New Zealand National Library The National Library of New Zealand ( mi, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa) is New Zealand's legal deposit library charged with the obligation to "enrich the cultural and economic life of New Zealand and its interchanges with other nations" (''Nat ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jennings, Anthony 1945 births 1995 deaths Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Musicians from Wellington New Zealand conductors (music) New Zealand harpsichordists New Zealand organists Royal Conservatory of Brussels alumni Academic staff of the University of Auckland Academic staff of the University of Newcastle (Australia) Victoria University of Wellington alumni