Frederic William Beard (c. 1865 – 5 May 1912) was an English organist and choirmaster, remembered in Australia for his influence on choral and symphonic musicianship.

History

Beard was organist in Birmingham, England, and director of the city's Choral Society.

Australia

After an invitation was extended by organiser W. D. Hill, Beard adjudicated at the 1906 South Street Competitions, the annual eisteddfod in Ballarat, at which St. Augustine's Orphan Boys Band of

Geelong Geelong ( ) (Wathawurrung: ''Djilang''/''Djalang'') is a port city in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria, located at the eastern end of Corio Bay (the smaller western portion of Port Phillip Bay) and the left bank of Barwon River, ...

won the band contest, to universal acclaim, and their leader, Percy Jones, as a cornetist was considered the equal of John Paley, champion cornet player of England. Beard decided to settle in Melbourne, and following an invitation by the (Roman Catholic) Archbishop of Melbourne, Thomas Carr, he was appointed organist and choirmaster of St Patrick's Cathedral, with the remit to carry out Pope Pius X's reforms in ecclesiastical music. He succeeded Fred Clutsam, brother of

George Clutsam George Howard Clutsam (26 September 186617 November 1951) was an Australian pianist, composer and writer, best remembered as the arranger of '' Lilac Time''. Clutsam published over 150 songs. Life Clutsam was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Au ...

, as conductor of Melbourne's Orpheus Society, which became the Victorian Festival Choir during his tenure. A performance by the choir of Beethoven's Choral Symphony on 26 November 1910 with the Victorian Professional Orchestra, led by George Watson, was praised.

Death

In November 1911 Beard returned to Britain for a holiday and, following a tour of Europe, boarded the RMS '' Orsova'' intending to return to Melbourne. Concerns were raised when he failed to reply to telegrams left for him at

Fremantle Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for ...

and further enquiries revealed that he had died of

appendicitis Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these typical symptoms. Severe complications of a rup ...

''en route'' at

Colombo Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo me ...

. His loss was felt deeply by members of the Festival Choir, the National Operatic Society and the Students' Choir. Dean Phelan movingly referred to his death during a service at St Patrick's Cathedral.

Memorial

Members of the Victorian Festival Choir, and, other musical societies of Melbourne, subscribed to a memorial in the form of a Celtic cross, made of Harcourt granite, to be installed at the Colombo cemetery; it was temporarily erected in Royal Park, near the Burke and Wills' memorial. The inscription read:—

In loving memory of Frederic W. Beard, musician choirmaster, who died at Colombo, 5th May, 1912, aged 46 years. Erected by the members of the Victorian Festival Choir, St. Patrick's Choir, National Operatic Society, and other friends. 'And the tear that we shed, tho' in secret it rolls, Shall, long keep his memory green in our souls. ''Requiescat in pace''.

Accompanying the tribute were lines from Cécile Chaminade's "The Little Silver Ring", one of his favorite songs: "E'en as a ribbon placed About fair living flow'rs Still hold the self-same flow'rs When their short life is done. Frank Brennan MHR deputized for the Archbishop at the dedication, praising the work of stonemason M. P. Jageurs, mentioning that he had informed Sir

Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...

of the great loss to Melbourne's music circles. The combined choirs then concluded with

Arthur Sullivan Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (13 May 1842 – 22 November 1900) was an English composer. He is best known for 14 comic opera, operatic Gilbert and Sullivan, collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including ''H.M.S. Pinaf ...

's " The Long Day Closes", after which the gathering dispersed. Paul Beard (1901–1989), a nephew, was also a musician, a fine violinist. includes photograph

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beard, Fred 1865 births 1912 deaths English organists Australian classical organists English choral conductors Australian choral conductors People from Birmingham, West Midlands

External links

Monuments Australia article (illustrated)