Edith Best (11 July 1865 – 9 March 1950) was an Irish musician and one of the founding members of the

Feis Ceoil Feis Ceoil ( ; "Festival of Music") is an Irish music organisation which holds an annual competitive festival of classical music. It was first organised in Dublin in 1897 by Dr. Annie Patterson and Edward Martyn for the purpose of stimulating musi ...

Early life and family

Edith Best was born in Dublin on 11 July 1865. She was the youngest of 14 children of Dublin merchant, Eldred Oldham, and Annie (née Alker). Two of her siblings were

Alice Oldham Alice Oldham (1850–1907) was one of the '' Nine Graces'', the first nine women to graduate from University with a degree in either Great Britain or Ireland. Oldham was a leader of the campaign for higher education of women in Ireland and in p ...

, the first of nine women to graduate from university with a degree in either Great Britain or Ireland, and

Charles Hubert Oldham Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was "f ...

, first professor of national economics at

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

. She attended the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM), studying under Margaret O'Hea and

Robert Prescott Stewart Sir Robert Prescott Stewart (16 December 1825 – 24 March 1894) was an Irish composer, organist, conductor, and teacher – one of the most influential (classical) musicians in 19th-century Ireland. Biography Stewart was born in Dublin; his gr ...

. She won the Lord O'Hagan's prize in 1883. Best was one of the first three candidates to win a scholarship to the

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music is a music school, conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the Undergraduate education, undergraduate to the Doctorate, doctoral level in a ...

, London, in 1883, becoming an associate of the College by competitive examination in 1887. She was a close friend and confidante of the College's director, Sir George Grove, to which his 514 letters to her from 1883 to 1899, now housed in the RCM library, testify. In 1906, she married

Richard Irvine Best Richard Irvine Best (17 January 1872 – 25 September 1959), often known as R. I. Best, was an Irish scholar who specialised in Celtic Studies. Best was born into a Protestant family in Derry and educated at Foyle College before working for a ...

. At the time of their marriage, she was 41, and he was 34. He stated that "neither he nor his wife had any illusions about each other." She died at her home in Dublin aged 84. She is buried in Deans Grange Cemetery.

Career

She returned to the RIAM as a piano teacher in 1887, remaining in that post until 1932. She was the first female teacher in the RIAM listed as holding a diploma in music. She was also an assistant to

Michele Esposito Michele Esposito (29 September 1855 – 19 November 1929) was an Italian composer, conductor and pianist who spent most of his professional life in Dublin, Ireland. Training Esposito was born at Castellamare di Stabia, near Sorrento. As a boy ...

as a local centre examiner. Best was a founding member of the

, undertaking large responsibility for its organisation, and it became an annual event under her leadership. In 1898, she described the foundation of the Feis in a paper to the ''Incorporated Society of Musicians'' as being inspired to "ultimately do more for the art of music in Ireland than anything which has yet been attempted." Along with

Joseph Seymour Joseph M. "Mike" Seymour (born April 15, 1959) is an American politician who has served in the Mississippi State Senate from the 47th district since 2016. References 1959 births Living people Republican Party Mississippi state senators ...

and Edward Fournier she visited the Welsh Eisteddfod to compare it with the Feis, and hoped it would become as influential as the Welsh festival. She worked with Eoin MacNeill and the Gaelic League to promote the Feis, and to organise prizes. Under her influence, the festival broadened its scope beyond purely Irish music. She served as the honorary secretary of the Feis Ceoil Association from 1896 to 1905, and vice-president from 1905 to 1950. In 1897, Esposito dedicated his cantata ''Deirdre'' to her. Best was a founding member of the

Dublin Orchestral Society The Dublin Orchestral Society was an orchestra based in Dublin, Ireland, which was mainly active between 1898 and 1914, with a brief revival in 1927. Unique among orchestras in the British Isles, it was organised as a cooperative society. History ...

in 1899, and she succeeded Esposito as the director of music at Alexandra College, Dublin, in 1927. She was made an associate of the

Royal Dublin Society The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) ( ga, Cumann Ríoga Bhaile Átha Cliath) is an Irish philanthropic organisation and members club which was founded as the 'Dublin Society' on 25 June 1731 with the aim to see Ireland thrive culturally and economi ...

in 1892, and fellow of the RIAM in 1938.

References

External links

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Listing for Best's letters to Sir George Grove and her sister, AnnePortrait of Best held in the National Gallery of Ireland
{{DEFAULTSORT:Best, Edith 1865 births 1950 deaths 19th-century Irish musicians 19th-century Irish women 19th-century women musicians 20th-century Irish musicians 20th-century Irish women 20th-century women musicians Alumni of the Royal Irish Academy of Music Burials at Deans Grange Cemetery Irish Anglicans Irish classical musicians Irish women musicians Musicians from Dublin (city)