A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Professor

by Charles Alan Fyffe

PROFESSOR. At Oxford, the Professorship of Music was founded by Dr. William Heather in 1626. The first Professors were college organists, not known outside the University. Crotch, who took the office in 1797, and held it till 1848 [App. p.751 "1847"], was the first musician of eminence. His successor was Bishop. The present Professor, Sir F. A. G. Ouseley, Bt., was appointed on Bishop's death in 1855. During a long period the office was a sinecure. In the reforms carried out about 25 years ago, it was attempted to restore reality to the School of Music at Oxford by requiring the Professor to lecture at least once in each term, and by instituting musical performances under the superintendence of the Choragus. [See Choragus.] The latter part of the scheme has totally failed; so that the Professor's lectures, about three a year, and the examinations for Musical degrees, are the only form in which the University advances the study of music. The terminal lectures, which are usually illustrated by an orchestra, bear rather the character of an interesting public entertainment than that of technical instruction. The more strictly academic work of the Professor consists in the examination for Musical degrees. [See Degrees.] The endowment of the chair is little more than nominal.

The Cambridge Professorship was founded by the University in 1684, and has been held by Staggins (1684), Tudway (1705), Greene (1730), Randall (1755), Hague (1799). Clarke Whitfeld (1821), Walmisley (1836), Sterndale Bennett (1856), and G. A. Macfarren (1875), [App. p.751 "Dr. C. V. Stanford (1887)"] successively. The duties, like those at Oxford, consist chiefly in examining candidates for Musical degrees, and in prescribing those objects of musical study in which changes are made from time to time. The salary of the Professor is £200 per annum.

The Edinburgh Professorship was endowed by General Reid in 1839. The Professor is appointed by the University Court. Sir Herbert Oakeley, the present occupant of the chair, was elected in 1865: his predecessors were John Thomson, 1839; Sir H. R. Bishop, 1841; H. H. Pierson, 1844; John Donaldson, 1845. Unlike the non-resident Professors at Oxford and Cambridge, the Professor at Edinburgh is a member of the educational staff of the University. He receives a salary of £420 per annum, and a further sum of £200 per annum is allowed for assistants and for class-expenses. There is a regular double course of musical instruction:—(1) Lectures by the Professor on the history and development of the art and science of music; the various schools and styles; the history and construction of the principal musical instruments; the modern orchestra, etc., or on the works of the great masters. Organ performances, with instructive remarks in programmes, are given from time to time during the session. (2) Separate and individual instruction in organ or pianoforte-playing is given to a certain number of the younger students. To these the theory of music is practically imparted. Sir Herbert Oakeley is also president and conductor of the Edinburgh University Musical Society, established in 1867.

The Dublin Professorship was dormant till 1764, when Lord Mornington was appointed. He held office for ten years, after which time the Professorship again sank into oblivion. It was revived in 1845 [App. p.751 "1847"], in the person of Dr. Smith, and a few examinations of a rudimentary character were held, and degrees given. It was, however, reserved for the present Professor, Sir Robert Stewart, elected in 1862 [App. p.751 "1861"], to raise the standard of musical science in Dublin by examining in history, counterpoint, orchestration, and all that is included in modern musical study. Although the statutory duties of the Professor are confined to examinations and to the conduct of business relating to Musical degrees, and although there exists no endowment at Dublin like that which defrays class-expenses at Edinburgh, yet the actual condition of musical study at Dublin resembles that of Edinburgh rather than the two English Universities. Sir Robert Stewart, who is resident at the University, and is the organist of Trinity College Chapel, both delivers courses of lectures and imparts practical instruction by training the University Choral Society, and conducting the orchestral concerts, which, after weekly rehearsals, are held from three to five times during the season. The important change lately made at Oxford and Cambridge, by introducing literary elements into the examination for Musical degrees, was effected at Dublin by the present Professor many years before.

[ C. A. F. ]