I love this photo of Roger Quilter, he looks every inch the artistic aristocrat !
So few lessons - so much snow !
The plumber returned today and tested the pipework in the loft and turned my hot water back on ! What a star, I can now have a shower in my own bathroom ! We take such pleasures as running hot water so much for granted. I will never underestimate the power of a hot shower and clear pipes, ever again.
One lesson happened, and I was so elated by the return of luxury to the house, I gave her one of my absolute favourite songs. 'Weep you no more Sad Fountains ' words by that well known poet, 'anonymous', and music by the inimitable Roger Quilter. It spans about one octave maximum, and it is one of those precious pieces of music which does not rely on 'fireworks' or 'showy' high notes, or flashy runs which need a technique as big as Bournemouth.
It is pure warm melody with a rich yet simple lyricism. Sorry, that makes it sound a bit pretentious, which it is not!
I love it, and my pupil did too. I recorded it for her on a tape, which is a great way to allow a learner to make rapid progress, and make it a quick study, but there comes a time when that has to stop - and we are perilously close to that 'end'. Actually I do not record very much for her nowadays, but I just wanted to sing it! Sadly, I can no longer make the sound I used to, so it is pleasurable to sing, but less than pleasurable to hear myself!!
Still, 45 years of decent singing is a good enough deal I think!
I have sung and taught so many songs by Quilter, including Fair House of Joy, Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal, Over the Mountains, and of course the fast and ecstatic Love's Philosophy. The first line of that song is 'The Fountain's mingle with the river..... and I have such a warm and funny memory of performing it as an encore in a concert and quite by accident singing 'The Mountain's fingle with the river....' and an elderly lady who had 'so enjoyed your encore' (what about the preceding 70 minutes of singing I wanted to ask!) closely questioning me afterwards 'what exactly did 'fingle' mean ?' I bluffed..........................
I have re routed some of my teaching to friday and saturday when hopefully the snow will have vanished and normal life will be resumed - well we can hope!
Roger Quilter..................Roger Quilter was known primarily as a gentle and gentlemanly composer of elegant songs. (How true!)
He was born at his parents’ home in Hove, Sussex, UK, on November 1st 1877. At that time, his father, a shrewd and extremely wealthy stockbroker and businessman, was still plain William Cuthbert Quilter, but in 1897, Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Year, he became Sir Cuthbert Quilter, Bart. Sir Cuthbert was an art collector (his collection was well-known in its day) and he owned a very substantial estate in Suffolk, England.
Roger was the third of five sons, in a large family. His mother encouraged his artistic inclinations, and he was devoted to her. He attended a preparatory school in Farnborough and in January 1892, he began at Eton College, where, though the emphasis was upon sporting achievement, he was allowed to pursue his musical studies. However, Eton’s atmosphere was not congenial for someone of his sensitivity, and in later years, he was reported to have said that he hated his time there.
Around 1896 a family friend suggested that he continue his musical studies in Frankfurt. To go abroad to study was still a common route at this time, since the English music academies were not especially well-established. So Quilter enrolled at the Hoch Conservatory at Frankfurt-am-Main; he took composition lessons with Ivan Knorr, as did Balfour Gardiner, Norman O’Neill, Cyril Scott, and the redoubtable Percy Grainger, though they were not all there at the same time. They had in common a dislike of Beethoven, and they became known as the ‘Frankfurt Group’.
On his return, he continued to write songs, having begun while at Frankfurt, and in March 1901, his Songs of the Sea were performed by Denham Price at the Crystal Palace. Gervase Elwes, one of the leading tenors of the day, began to sing Quilter’s songs, and the song-cycle To Julia - which was dedicated to Elwes - put Quilter firmly on the map as a song composer.
Over the succeeding years, Quilter continued to write songs for an appreciative audience. He also continued in poor health (his letters are peppered with references to how ill he was feeling), and consequently did not serve in the First World War. Instead, he organised concerts in various hospitals, and a series of chamber concerts that he was involved with continued after the war.
Gervase Elwes was killed in an accident at Boston railway station, Massachusetts, in 1921. The Musicians’ Benevolent Fund, in the UK, was set up in his memory, and Quilter was a founder member, serving faithfully and attending the committee meetings regularly until his death. In 1923, he met a young baritone, Mark Raphael, whom he encouraged and worked with closely. He also had a private secretary, Leslie Woodgate, during the 1920s, and both Raphael and Woodgate remained lifelong and loyal friends.
In 1911, the children’s play Where the Rainbow Ends was premièred at the Savoy Theatre, London; Quilter wrote the incidental music for it. Produced by Italia Conti, who subsequently founded the Italia Conti School (now the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts), it was immensely successful, and for many years Quilter conducted the opening matinée of the season. The parties for the cast of children, that he held at his home in Montagu Street, London, were also well-known.
Most of his best work was produced before 1923, though there are some superb songs produced after this time. He collaborated with Rodney Bennett on a number of projects, including the light opera, Julia, which was premièred at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in December 1936. For many years, his songs were broadcast frequently on radio.
He was a nervous, anxious man, cultured, well-read and well-travelled, but not happy with others of his social class unless they shared his love of the arts. His favourite nephew, Arnold Vivian, was killed in tragic circumstances during the second World War; the shock was immense, and was possibly (given Quilter’s nature, the pressures on him as a result of his homosexuality, and other events) the final straw responsible for the triggering of his severe mental illness. In his last years, he was undoubtedly extremely difficult to live with, and there are allegations of blackmail; the events of these years are however open to different interpretations.
In 1952, his 75th birthday was marked by the BBC with a celebration concert, conducted by Leslie Woodgate. He died within the year, at his home in St John’s Wood, London, on the 21st September 1953, and was buried in the family vault at Bawdsey church, Suffolk. A memorial concert in London was very well attended by family and fellow musicians, and by ordinary people who loved his music
