The British Musical Biography

[E] Rockstro, William Smyth, originally
Rackstraw, organist, composer, and writer,
born at North Cheam, Surrey, January 5,
1823. Studied under John Purkis, and later
with Sterndale Bennett. At the farewell
concert of Francois Cramer, Hano\er Square
Rooms, June 27, 1844, Staudigl sang a song,
" Soon shall chilling fear," composed by Rack-
straw. An overture for orchestra,, " Twelfth
Night," was rehearsed by the Society of
British Musicians, September 21 following ;
and a duet from an opera, " Die Weldon,"
was given at a concert of that society, March
27, 1845. After that time to the middle of
1846 he studied at Leipzig Conservatorium,
and was one of the few who enjoyed the
direct tuition of Mendelssohn. On his return
he became known as Mr. Rockstro, this being
an older form of the family name. He ap-
peared at times as a pianist, and was accom-
panist at the British, and " Wednesday
Concerts" at Exeter Hall, etc. In 1847, in
conjunction with J. Wrey Mould, he began
to edit, for Boosey and Co., a series of operas
in vocal score, with memoirs, and indications
of the instrumentation. They were the first
operas published in monthly parts, at a cheap
rate. Lived for many years at Torquay, and
was, from 1867, organist and honorary' pre-
centor at All Saints', Babbicombe. In 1876
he was received into the Church of Rome.
He conducted concerts of Italian and English
sacred music of 16th and 17th centuries at
the "Inventions" Exhibition, 1885, and,
returning to London in 1891, gave lectures
at the R.A.M. and R.C.M., at the latter
taking a class for plain song. In ancient
ecclesiastical music he was a high authority.
He died in London, July 2, 1895.

[W] Works. — Sacred cantata, The Good Shep-
herd, produced at Gloucester Festival, 1886 ;
O, too cruel fair, madrigal, five voices, Bach
Choir, 1884 ; ballet. Flora's Path, Bristol
Madrigal Society, 1891 ; Queen and Huntress,
A Jewel for my Lady's Ear, and other songs ;
overture, Nieser, orchestra, 1848 ; numerous
light pieces for pf. ; Festival Psalter, adapted
to the Gregorian Tones ; Accompanying Har-
monies to the Ferial Psalter ; Harmonies for
Additional Chants and the Ambrosial Te
Deum. Literary : A History of Music for
Young Students, 1879 ; Practical Harnionv,
1881 ; The Rules of Counterpoint, 1882 ; Life
of George Frederic Handel, London, Mac-
millan, 1883 ; Mendelssohn (Great Musicians
Series). 1884 ; A General History of Music,
Sampson Low, 1886 ; Jenny Lind, the Artist
(with Canon Scott Holland), Murray, 1891 ;
Jennv Lind, her Vocal Art and Culture (with
Otto^Goldschmidt), Novello, 1894; a long
series of valuable papers in Grove's Dic-
tionary ; contributions to the Musical Times,
Musical Society, and other journals.

[+] Richard Shepherd Rockstro, his In-other,
is a professor of the flute at the Guildhall
School of Music. He was for years in or-
chestras under Costa, and principal flute in
British Orchestral Society, 1872. Author of
a Treatise on the Construction, History, and
Practice of the Flute, London, Rudall. 1891?
Also of the section relating to flutes in the
descriptive catalogue of instruments at the
Military Exhibition, London, 1890, compiled
by Captain Day iq.v.)

entry id: 350-R-50