Macfarren

Macfarren, SIR GEORGE ALEXANDER, one of the most prominent composers and writers on musical theory during the 19th century in England, was born in London, March 2, 1813, and educated at the Royal Academy of Music, at which institution he became a professor in 1834. In 1875 he was appointed Principal of the Academy, and also professor of Music at Cambridge University. Later in life he became blind, and died 31st October 1887. He was knighted in 1883. As an operatic composer Macfarren is the most characteristic representative of the national English school—his aim being to revive the old English music in modern opera. His earliest dramatic work, The Devil's Opera, was produced in 1838; Don Quixote followed in 1846, King Charles II. in 1849, Robin Hood in 1860, Jessy Lea in 1863, and She Stoops to Conquer, The Soldier's Legacy, and Helvellyn in 1864. His best cantatas were Lenore (1852), May-day (1856), Christmas (1860), and The Lady of the Lake (1877). He did not produce his first oratorio, John the Baptist, until 1873; it had for successors, The Resurrection (1876), Joseph (1877), and David (1883). Macfarren's works comprise numerous other small dramatic pieces, as well as chamber music, vocal and instrumental, and several symphonies and overtures. He stands higher, however, as a writer on the theory of music than as a composer. He was an enthusiastic advocate of the views of Alfred Day (1810-49) as laid down in that writer's Treatise on Harmony (1845), and for many years stood almost alone in his advocacy of it. As a decided conservative in music, Macfarren manifested little sympathy for such modern schools as Wagner's. He wrote Rudiments of Harmony (1860; 13th ed. 1885), Lectures on Harmony (1867; 3d ed. 1882), Counterpoint (6th ed. 1886), A Musical History (1885), and Addresses and Lectures (1888); besides editing Old English Ditties (1857-80), Moore's Irish Melodies (1859), Scottish Ditties (1861-80), and the second edition of Day's Treatise (1886). See the Life and Works of Sir G. A. Macfarren (1891).