The British Musical Biography

[E] Macfarren, Walter Cecil, pianist and
composer, brother of Sir George, was born in
London, August 28, 1826. Chorister at West-
minster Abbey, 1836-41, under James Turle ;
and pupil of R.A.M., 1842-6, studying piano-
forte under W. H. Holmes, and composition
under his brother, and Cipriani Potter.
During his student days he played a duet
with W. H. Holmes at one of H. J. Banister's
quartet concerts, March 30, 1844 ; and on the
26th of x\pril following was introduced as a
composer by a Pf. trio, at the G. A. Macfarren
and Davidson concerts. In 1845 other works
were produced by the Society of British
Musicians. In 1846, he was appointed a
professor at the R.A.M., and his 50th year in
that office was marked, in 1896, by a present-
ation from past and present pupils. He
conducted the Academy concerts, 1873-80.
F. R.A.M. For many years he was connected
with the Philharmonic Society as director
and treasurer, having been elected an Associate
in 1849. He gave a series of orchestral con-
certs in 1882, conducting the whole from
memory. His pianoforte recitals and lectures
have been numerous, and have been given in
London, Bristol, and other places ; and many
of his pupils have attained high positions.

[W] Works. — Symphony in B flat, composed,
1879, produced, Brighton Festival, 1880.
Overtures: A Winter's Tale (1844); Taming
of the Shrew (1845) ; Beppo (1847) : Pastoral
(1878) ; Hero and Leander, composed, 1878,
produced, Brighton Festival, 1879, Crystal
Palace and Philharmonic, 1880; Henry V.,
Norwich Festival, 1881 ; Othello, composed,
1895, performed. Queen's Hall, February 16,
and at Bristol Festival, October 14, 1896.
Concertstiick in E, pf. and orchestra, Brighton
Festival, 1881. Three trios, pf., violin and
'cello ; Two sonatas, ]3f . and violin ; Sonata,
pf. and 'cello ; four Romances, pf. and violin.
Pianoforte : 24 Studies in Style and Tech-
nique ; 40 Preludes, in all keys, as studies in
the art of Improvisation ; two sets, 12 studies.
Comprehensive Scale and Arpeggio manual,
Ashdown ; Pf. Method, R. Cocks. Three
Suites de Pieces, in D niinor, E flat, and C.
Allegro appassionato ; Toccata in C minor ;
and an immense number of pieces as Taran-
tsllas. Mazurkas, Valses, Nocturnes, Im-
promptias, etc. Vocal : Cantata for female
voices. The Song of the Sunbeam. Morning
and Evening service in A ; Evening Service
in C ; anthem, Praise ye the Lord ; Tunes in
Hymns Ancient and Modern, and other Col-
lections. Daybreak ; An emigrant's song ;
Autumn ; You stole my love ; Bells across
the sea ; Who is Sylvia ? ; and other partr
songs. Six sacred songs ; A widow bird sat
mourning ; Awake, O heart ; Ah ! sweet, thou
little knowest ; and other songs. Editor of
Mozart's Pf. Works ; Beethoven's Sonatas ;
Popular Classics ; Morceaux Classiqi;es, etc.

entry id: 261-L-59