Colin McAlpin (9 April 1870 – 13 May 1942) was an English composer of songs, operas and ballet music, an organist and a writer of critical essays on music.

Life

Robin Hood Opera by Colin McAlpin at Wellingborough School cast photo

Colin McAlpin was born in 1870, at 15 Gallowtree Gate,

Leicester Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest settlement in the East Midlands. The city l ...

, England. He was the fourth child of a clothier John William McAlpin, and his German wife Marie Louise (née Gerdes). His elder siblings were Kenneth, Donal and Janet, and his younger brothers Alan and John. McAlpin published his first composition when he was only 15 and at

Wellingborough School Wellingborough School is a co-educational day independent school in the market town of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire. It was established in 1595 and is one of the oldest schools in the country. The school today consists of a Prep school ...

: a song called ''The Cuckoo'' published in the ''Midland Musical Journal''. At the age of 16 he was admitted to the Royal Academy of Music to study harmony with

Francis William Davenport Francis William Davenport (9 April 1847, Wilderslowe, near Derby - 1 April, 1925, Scarborough) was an English musician and composer. In 1879 was appointed professor, at the Royal Academy of Music. Then in 1882 he became a professor at the Gu ...

and organ playing with

Charles Steggall Charles H. Steggall (3 June 1826 in London – 7 June 1905 in London) was an English hymnodist and composer. Early life The son of R. W. Steggall (of the London-based harness and saddlery maker Whippy, Steggall and Fleming), Charles Steggal ...

, and after three years he acquired silver medals in both areas of study. In 1892 ''Robin Hood'', his first dramatic work, was performed at Wellingborough School and that year he was appointed organist and choirmaster at Kensington

Presbyterian Church Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

. In 1897, ''King Arthur'', an opera in three acts, commissioned by impresario

Herbert Marshall Herbert Brough Falcon Marshall (23 May 1890 – 22 January 1966) was an English stage, screen and radio actor who starred in many popular and well-regarded Hollywood films in the 1930s and 1940s. After a successful theatrical career in the Uni ...

, was performed by the Leicester Philharmonic Society under H. S. Ellis. In that year three of McAlpin's ''Ten Songs'' were performed in one of

Granville Bantock Sir Granville Ransome Bantock (7 August 186816 October 1946) was a British composer of classical music. Biography Granville Ransome Bantock was born in London. His father was an eminent Scottish surgeon.Hadden, J. Cuthbert, 1913, ''Modern Music ...

's concerts for British composers. The ''Ten Songs'' were published by Cary & Son, the first of dozens of his pieces to be published by this company. In his thirtieth year McAlpin was appointed organist and choirmaster of Trinity Presbyterian Church Clapham, where his sacred cantata ''The Prince of Peace'' had its first performance. He was in 1920 appointed organist and choirmaster of Ealing Presbyterian Church, and in that year his cantata ''Excalibur'' was performed in London. In 1903 ''King Arthur'' was performed at the

Royalty Theatre The Royalty Theatre was a small London theatre situated at 73 Dean Street, Soho. Established by the actress Frances Maria Kelly in 1840, it opened as Miss Kelly's Theatre and Dramatic School and finally closed to the public in 1938.

, London. In the same year his opera in four acts, ''The Cross and the Crescent'', first produced at

Covent Garden Covent Garden is a district in London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist si ...

by the Moody-Manners company, won him the

Manners Etiquette () is the set of norms of personal behaviour in polite society, usually occurring in the form of an ethical code of the expected and accepted social behaviours that accord with the conventions and norms observed and practised by a ...

Prize of £250 for the best opera by a British composer, and it was performed subsequently in Glasgow and Edinburgh. A one-act opera ''The Vow'' staged at the

Theatre Royal, Nottingham The Theatre Royal in Nottingham, England, is a theatre venue in the heart of Nottingham City Centre and is owned by Nottingham City Council as part of a complex that also includes the city's Royal Concert Hall. The Theatre Royal attracts major ...

won him the same prize twelve years later. His writings included critical essays published in journals ''The Musical Times'' and ''The Musical Quarterly'', and his book ''Hermaia: a Study in Comparative Esthetics'', which his biographer David J. Fisher describes as "a remarkable study of comparative aesthetics", has been recognised as culturally important. In 1907 McAlpin had his portrait painted by

Richard Jack Richard Jack (15 February 1866 – 30 June 1952) was a painter of portraits, figure subjects, interiors and landscapes, and prominent war artist for Canada. Biography Jack was born 15 February 1866 in Sunderland, County Durham, United K ...

RA, and a bronze bust was sculpted by W. B. Fagan FRBS. He married an artist Susette Peach (1871-1950) in 1899, and they had one son Roderic McAlpin (1907-1965). Colin McAlpin died at

Dorking Dorking () is a market town in Surrey in South East England, about south of London. It is in Mole Valley District and the council headquarters are to the east of the centre. The High Street runs roughly east–west, parallel to the Pipp Br ...

, Surrey, on 13 May 1942.

Compositions

Operas

*''Robin Hood'', an opera, written at school, about 1885 *''King Arthur'', an opera in three acts, with words by the composer. Leipzig and London: Bosworth & Co., 1897. Premiere: Leicester Philharmonic Choir. *''Fingal'', an opera in four acts, with a cast of 9 *''The Cross and the Crescent'', his prize-winning opera, produced by Charles Manners and first performed in 1903. Words from John Davidson's translation of ''Pour la Couronne'', a tragedy by

François Coppée François Edouard Joachim Coppée (26 January 1842 – 23 May 1908) was a French poet and novelist. Biography Coppée was born in Paris to a civil servant. After attending the Lycée Saint-Louis he became a clerk in the ministry of war and won ...

. *''The Vow'', an opera in one act, libretto upon the Biblical story of

Jephtha Jephthah (pronounced ; he, יִפְתָּח, ''Yīftāḥ''), appears in the Book of Judges as a judge who presided over Israel for a period of six years (). According to Judges, he lived in Gilead. His father's name is also given as Gilead, ...

's daughter. Premiere in Nottingham, 1915, produced by Charles Manners. *''Ingomar'', an opera, performed at

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dr ...

in 1910.

Cantatas

*''The Prince of Peace''. Sacred

cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The meaning of ...

for chorus and organ, with soprano, tenor and bass soli. Cary & Co.: London First performance 17 December 1902 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Clapham, London. * ''Excalibur'', in 2 Acts, for chorus SATB and orchestra. Unpublished. First performance 1920, produced by the Fairbairn Opera, at the

Surrey Theatre The Surrey Theatre, London began life in 1782 as the Royal Circus and Equestrian Philharmonic Academy, one of the many circuses that provided entertainment of both horsemanship and drama (hippodrama). It stood in Blackfriars Road, near the jun ...

Songs

*''Ode'' for the opening of

Westminster College, Cambridge Westminster College in Cambridge, England is a theological college of the United Reformed Church. Its principal purpose is training for the ordination of ministers, but is also used more widely for training within the denomination. History T ...

, 17 October 1899 * ''The Lad with the Bonnet of Blue'' ( Alice C. MacDonell), London: Cary & Co., 1899 * ''The Doom of Knocklea'' (Alice C. MacDonell), unpublished * ''Our Heroe's welcome'' (Alice C. MacDonell), unpublished * ''The Penitent'' (John Murray), London: Weekes & Co., 1902 * ''Like as a Father'', Sacred Song, London: J. Williams, 1903 * ''Mary's Song: A Song of Bethlehem'' (Colin McAlpin), from ''The Prince of Peace'', London: Cary & Co., 1903 * ''Ten Songs'', London: Cary & Co., 1903 , also Whaley, Royce & Co. Winnipeg, Toronto (1905) **1. ''The light of love'' (

Hartley Coleridge Hartley Coleridge, possibly David Hartley Coleridge (19 September 1796 – 6 January 1849), was an English poet, biographer, essayist, and teacher. He was the eldest son of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. His sister Sara Coleridge was a poet an ...

) **2. ''She walks in beauty'' (

Byron George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), known simply as Lord Byron, was an English romantic poet and Peerage of the United Kingdom, peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and h ...

) **3. ''Elegy: Oh! snatched away in beauty's bloom'' (Byron) **4. ''A faded violet'' ( Shelley) **5. ''Slumber song'' (Colin McAlpin) - "sung by Miss

Ada Crossley Ada Jemima Crossley (3 March 1871 – 17 October 1929) was an Australian contralto notable as the first RCA Victor Red Seal, Red Seal recording artist engaged in the US by the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1903. Born at Tarraville, Gippslan ...

" **6. ''Music, when soft voices die'' (Shelley) **7. ''A widow-bird'' (Shelley) **8. ''Thou wouldst be loved'' (

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

) **9. ''A lament'' (Shelley) - two stanzas **10. ''There be none of Beauty's daughters'' (Byron) * ''Three Songs'', London: Cary & Co., 1904 ** ''As of Yore'' ** ''Spring'' ** ''A Love Song'' * ''Love's Vigil'' (W.W. Robinson), London: Boosey & Co., 1917 * ''Kent'', Ballad (J.H. Barnes, etc.), London: Francis, Day & Hunter, 1912 * ''The Vow'', song for

baritone A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...

Choral Songs

* ''The Cuckoo'', choral song, pub. in the Midland Musical Journal, 1885

Piano

*''Three Sketches'', London: Willcocks & Co., 1893 *''Graceful Dance'', London: Willcocks & Co., 1900 *''Fantastic Dance'', London: Cary & Co., 1903

Organ

*''The Organist's Library of Original Pieces for Organ, Harmonium or American Organ', Book 6. London: Cary & Co., 1898 **1.''March in D'' **2. ''Prayer'' **3. ''Meditation'' **4. ''Pastorale'' **5. ''Adagio in A'' **6. ''Rêverie'' **7. ''Theme in A'' **8. ''Melody'' **9. ''Minuet & Trio'' **10. ''Andante in F'' **11. ''Postlude'' *''Grand March'', pub. in ''The Organist'' September 1902, The Lorenz Publishing Co., Dayton, Ohio *''The Organist's Library of Original Pieces for Organ, Harmonium or American Organ'', Book 8. London: Cary & Co., 1903 **1. ''Processional March'' **2. ''Meditation'' **3. ''Rest'' **4. ''Recessional March'' **5. ''Melody'' **6. ''Contemplation'' **7. ''Festal March'' **8. ''Interlude'' **9. ''Pastorale'' **10. ''Minuet'' **11. ''Postlude''

Orchestral

*''Ballet, " Pluto and Persephone"'', unpublished ms. (1921). Performed at the Bournemouth Winter Gardens.

Writings

Books

* "Hermaia: a Study in Comparative Esthetics", London: J. M. Dent & Sons, 1915.Review by L.H. in ''The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs'', Vol.29, No.162 (Sep., 1916). pp. 259-260 Many reprints including

Articles

* "Germany: Her Music" ''

The Musical Times ''The Musical Times'' is an academic journal of classical music edited and produced in the United Kingdom and currently the oldest such journal still being published in the country. It was originally created by Joseph Mainzer in 1842 as ''Mainze ...

'', Vol. 57, No. 882. (1 August 1916), pp. 363–364 * "Britain: Her Music" ''The Musical Times'', Vol. 57, No. 884. (1 October 1916), pp. 445–447 * "Carlyle and the Opera" ''The Musical Times'', Vol. 58, No. 888. (1 February 1917), pp. 58–60 * "The Reality of the Opera", Part I ''The Musical Times'', Vol. 58, No. 891. (1 May 1917), pp. 201–203 * "The Reality of the Opera", Part II ''The Musical Times'', Vol. 58, No. 892. (1 June 1917), pp. 247–249 * "Musical Criticism" ''The Musical Times'', Vol. 58, No. 895, (1 September 1917), pp. 397–399 * "Musical Appreciation: A Plea for Catholicity" ''

The Musical Quarterly ''The Musical Quarterly'' is the oldest academic journal on music in America. Originally established in 1915 by Oscar Sonneck, the journal was edited by Sonneck until his death in 1928. Sonneck was succeeded by a number of editors, including Car ...

'', Vol. 6, No. 3. (July 1920), pp. 403–416,

OUP Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...

. * "On Hearing Music" ''The Musical Quarterly'', Vol. 8, No. 3. (July 1922), pp. 419–434, OUP. * "Is Music the Language of the Emotions?" ''The Musical Quarterly'', Vol. 11, No. 3. (July 1925), pp. 427–443, OUP. * "Concerning Form in Music" ''The Musical Quarterly'', Vol 15, No. 1 (1929), pp. 55–71, OUP. * "Musical Modernism: Some Random Reflections" ''The Musical Quarterly'', Vol 16, No. 1 (January 1930), pp. 1–20, New York:

G. Schirmer Inc. G. Schirmer, Inc. is an American classical music publishing company based in New York City, founded in 1861. The oldest active music publisher in the United States, Schirmer publishes sheet music for sale and rental, and represents some well-know ...

Bibliography

* Fisher, David J., ''Colin McAlpin: his music to 1903''. Thesis (M.Mus), University of Sheffield, Dept. of Music, 1989

Notes

References

* *Elson, Arthur. ''Modern Composers of Europe'' L.C. Page & Co., Boston, USA (1904) *Howey, Ann F. and Reimer, Stephen R. ''A Bibliography of Modern Arthuriana (1500-2000)'' D. S. Brewer, Cambridge (2006) *Hubbard, W.L. and H.E. Krehbiel. ''The American History and Encyclopedia of Music: Operas Part II'', Squire-Cooley Co., Toledo, Ohio, USA (1924)

External links

* *
Texts to vocal music by Colin McAlpin
at the LiederNet Archive
Art UK
Painting of Colin McAlpin by

in the collection of th
Leicester Arts and Museums ServiceBritish Music Society Records - Catalogue
**BMS recording ENV001 Choral Music by Leicester Composers: ''The Cuckoo'' by Colin McAlpin **BMS Newsletter Vol. 2 No.35 September 1987, Stephen Draper, "Colin McAlpin and ''The Prince of Peace''" {{DEFAULTSORT:McAlpin, Colin 20th-century classical composers English opera composers Male opera composers People from Leicester English Romantic composers British ballet composers English classical composers Composers for pipe organ Composers for piano 1870 births 1942 deaths People educated at Wellingborough School Musicians from Leicestershire English male classical composers 20th-century English composers 20th-century British male musicians 19th-century British male musicians