Cyril Bradley Rootham (5 October 1875 – 18 March 1938) was an English composer, educator and

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational ...

. His work at

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

made him an influential figure in English music life. A Fellow of St John's College, where he was also organist, Rootham ran the Cambridge University Musical Society, whose innovative concert programming helped form English musical tastes of the time. One of his students was the younger composer

Arthur Bliss Sir Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss (2 August 189127 March 1975) was an English composer and conductor. Bliss's musical training was cut short by the First World War, in which he served with distinction in the army. In the post-war years he qu ...

, who valued his tuition in orchestration. Rootham's own compositions include two symphonies and several smaller orchestral pieces, an opera, chamber music, and many choral settings. Among his solo songs are some settings of verses by

Siegfried Sassoon Siegfried Loraine Sassoon (8 September 1886 – 1 September 1967) was an English war poet, writer, and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, he became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both describ ...

which were made in co-operation with the poet.

Biography

Rootham was born in Redland, Bristol, to Daniel Wilberforce Rootham and Mary Rootham (''née'' Gimblett Evans). His father was a well-known singing teacher whose students included

Clara Butt Dame Clara Ellen Butt, (1 February 1872 – 23 January 1936) was an English contralto and one of the most popular singers from the 1890s through to the 1920s. She had an exceptionally fine contralto voice and an agile singing technique, and im ...

Eva Turner Dame Eva Turner, (10 March 1892 – 16 June 1990) was an English dramatic soprano with an international reputation. Her strong, steady and well-trained voice was renowned for its clarion power in Italian and German operatic roles. Career Ev ...

and

Elsie Griffin Elsie Griffin (6 December 1895 – 21 December 1989) was an English opera singer, best known for her performances in the soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Beginning her career by entertaining British troops ...

, and he was also a director of the Bristol Madrigal Society.Young, Percy; Rootham, Jasper (1997). "British Composers – Cyril Rootham" (CD booklet notes).

EMI Classics EMI Classics was a record label founded by Thorn EMI in 1990 to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogues for internationally distributed European classical music, classical music releases. After Thorn EMI demerged ...

5099950592326. After attending

Bristol Grammar School Bristol Grammar School (BGS) is a 4–18 mixed, independent day school in Bristol, England. It was founded in 1532 by Royal Charter for the teaching of 'good manners and literature', endowed by wealthy Bristol merchants Robert and Nicholas Thorn ...

, Rootham initially entered

St John's College, Cambridge St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge founded by the Tudor matriarch Lady Margaret Beaufort. In constitutional terms, the college is a charitable corporation established by a charter dated 9 April 1511. Th ...

, as a

sizar At Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Cambridge, a sizar is an undergraduate who receives some form of assistance such as meals, lower fees or lodging during his or her period of study, in some cases in return for doing a defined j ...

in 1894 to study classics. Graduation in 1897 was followed by a second bachelor's degree, this time in music, which he completed in 1900. Rootham continued his musical education at the

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music is a music school, conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the Undergraduate education, undergraduate to the Doctorate, doctoral level in a ...

where he studied under Marmaduke Barton,

Walter Parratt Sir Walter Parratt (10 February 184127 March 1924) was an English organist and composer. Biography Born in Huddersfield, son of a parish organist, Parratt began to play the pipe organ from an early age, and held posts as an organist while sti ...

Hubert Parry Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 1st Baronet (27 February 18487 October 1918) was an English composer, teacher and historian of music. Born in Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, Richmond Hill in Bournemouth, Parry's first major works appeared in 18 ...

and

Charles Villiers Stanford Sir Charles Villiers Stanford (30 September 1852 – 29 March 1924) was an Anglo-Irish composer, music teacher, and conductor of the late Romantic era. Born to a well-off and highly musical family in Dublin, Stanford was educated at the Un ...

, among others. Rootham's first professional appointment was as organist of Christ Church, Hampstead, where in 1898 he succeeded the composer

Walford Davies Sir Henry Walford Davies (6 September 1869 – 11 March 1941) was an English composer, organist, and educator who held the title Master of the King's Music from 1934 until 1941. He served with the Royal Air Force during the First World War, du ...

. This was followed by a brief period as organist at St Asaph Cathedral in north Wales in 1901. In the same year, Rootham was appointed organist at St John's College, Cambridge, a post he held until the end of his life. In 1909, Rootham married Rosamond Margaret Lucas who supplied him with support and encouragement. Rosamond was put in charge of the costume making at the CUMS concerts, and the Rootham household was always filled with whatever clothes were needed for a new performance. Their son Jasper St John Rootham was born in 1910. In 1912, Rootham became conductor of the Cambridge University Musical Society (CUMS). Under his enterprising leadership and programming, the CUMS exerted a significant influence on English musical life of the time. Rootham revived

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his train ...

oratorios,

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition r ...

operas and other currently neglected works by

Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer. Purcell's style of Baroque music was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Generally considered among the greatest E ...

and others.

E. J. Dent Edward Joseph Dent (16 July 1876 – 22 August 1957), generally known as Edward J. Dent, was an English musicologist, teacher, translator and critic. A leading figure of musicology and music criticism, Dent was Professor of Music at the Univers ...

and others are usually credited with the textual preparation, but Rootham was responsible for their musical success.Hutchings, Arthur (1979; reprinted 2007, CD booklet notes). Lyrita SRCD269. The CUMS concerts also promoted modern music such as

Zoltán Kodály Zoltán Kodály (; hu, Kodály Zoltán, ; 16 December 1882 – 6 March 1967) was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is well known internationally as the creator of the Kodály method of music ed ...

's ''

Psalmus Hungaricus The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...

'',

Arthur Honegger Arthur Honegger (; 10 March 1892 – 27 November 1955) was a Swiss composer who was born in France and lived a large part of his life in Paris. A member of Les Six, his best known work is probably '' Antigone'', composed between 1924 and 1927 ...

's '' Le roi David'' and

Ildebrando Pizzetti Ildebrando Pizzetti (20 September 1880 – 13 February 1968) was an Italian composer of classical music, musicologist, and music critic. Biography Pizzetti was born in Parma in 1880. He was part of the "Generation of 1880" along with Ottor ...

's 'Mass and Piano concerto, all led by Rootham. In 1930 Rootham invited several contemporary composers to the concert;

Manuel de Falla Manuel de Falla y Matheu (, 23 November 187614 November 1946) was an Andalusian Spanish composer and pianist. Along with Isaac Albéniz, Francisco Tárrega, and Enrique Granados, he was one of Spain's most important musicians of the first ha ...

, Kodály and Honegger attended, as did

Kathleen Long Kathleen (Ida) Long CBE (7 July 189620 March 1968) was an English pianist and teacher. Life and career Long was born in Brentford, a suburb of London in the UK. McVeagh, Diana"Long, Kathleen"''Grove Music Online'', Oxford Music Online, accessed ...

. Rootham's genial manner and enviable physique (as a student he had excelled in athletics) made him highly popular amongst students. This popularity helped the success of the CUMS concerts, all of which were largely extracurricular. In 1914 Rootham had become a Fellow of St John's after taking over the post of University Lecturer in Form and Analysis of Music. In 1924 he was made Senior Lecturer in Counterpoint and Harmony. Rootham was also a much appreciated teacher of orchestration. His many students included

Arnold Cooke Arnold Atkinson Cooke (4 November 1906 – 13 August 2005) was a British composer.Biography by Eric Wetherell, British Music Society/ref> Education Cooke was born at Gomersal, West Yorkshire, into a family of carpet manufacturers. As a child ...

Christian Darnton Philip Christian Darnton (30 October 1905 – 14 April 1981), also known as Baron von Schunck, was a British composer and writer. Early life and family He was born in Leeds as Philip Christian von Schunck, the son of Mary Gertrude Illingworth (18 ...

, Armstrong Gibbs,

Patrick Hadley Patrick Arthur Sheldon Hadley (5 March 1899 – 17 December 1973) was a British composer. Biography Patrick Sheldon Hadley was born on 5 March 1899 in Cambridge. His father, William Sheldon Hadley, was at that time a fellow of Pembroke Col ...

, Walter Leigh, Basil Maine, Robin Orr, Bernard Stevens and

Percy Young Percy Marshall Young (17 May 19129 May 2004) was a British musicologist, editor, organist, composer, conductor and teacher. Young was born in Northwich, Cheshire. His father was twice mayor of Northwich. Young was educated at the local Sir ...

. As much as he promoted the works of other composers, Rootham did relatively little to push his own compositions into the repertoire. He conducted the first performance of his opera ''The Two Sisters'' in 1922 and three years earlier his own setting of

Laurence Binyon Robert Laurence Binyon, CH (10 August 1869 – 10 March 1943) was an English poet, dramatist and art scholar. Born in Lancaster, England, his parents were Frederick Binyon, a clergyman, and Mary Dockray. He studied at St Paul's School, London ...

's ''For the Fallen'' (which sparked a controversy as

Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...

's setting of the same poem was published shortly after Rootham's, though neither composer was individually responsible for starting the dispute). Rootham's continued involvement with the CUMS included a performance of Handel's Semele and the revival of the tradition of triennial performances of Greek plays with newly composed music, a tradition which continued even after his death. Later in his life Rootham was plagued by illness. On developing progressive muscular atrophy following a stroke his active involvement in the CUMS was left to Boris Ord (from 1936). He completed a few works including ''City in the West'' and his three movement Second Symphony, the orchestration for which was completed by his close friend

. Rootham died in 1938, aged sixty-two, while still at the height of his creative powers.

Music

Despite his many activities outside composition, Rootham was able to produce a musical catalogue that included an opera, two symphonies, several smaller orchestral pieces, chamber music and various choral works. Rootham regarded music with the utmost seriousness but never considered it a luxury to be confined to certain people. This might explain why he never completely broke with tradition; his music has a slight influence from Stanford and especially Parry. A presence of modalism can be found in much of his music as well as, in the later works, harmonic parallelism and bitonality. His harmonies with their unexpected twists and

bitonalities Polytonality (also polyharmony) is the musical use of more than one key (music), key simultaneity (music), simultaneously. Bitonality is the use of only two different keys at the same time. Polyvalence or polyvalency is the use of more than one diat ...

, could be criticised for a lack of spontaneity and he is sometimes in danger of repeating himself but if this is the case then Rootham's masterly handling of the orchestra, of which sir Arthur Bliss praised Rootham as a brilliant teacher, certainly makes up for any constructional shortcomings. Favourite teaching examples included Mozart and

Rimsky-Korsakov Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov . At the time, his name was spelled Николай Андреевичъ Римскій-Корсаковъ. la, Nicolaus Andreae filius Rimskij-Korsakov. The composer romanized his name as ''Nicolas Rimsk ...

, and there is indeed a Russian love of primary colours in some of Rootham's work. Elsewhere the influence from Kodaly can be detected, especially in the glittering orchestral textures in Rootham's ''Psalm of Adonis'' from 1931. Rootham's later works show inspiration from both Delius and

Vaughan Williams Ralph Vaughan Williams, (; 12 October 1872– 26 August 1958) was an English composer. His works include operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine symphonies, written over ...

(whose opera ''

The Poisoned Kiss ''The Poisoned Kiss, or The Empress and the Necromancer'' is an opera in three acts by the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. The libretto, by Evelyn Sharp, is based on Richard Garnett's ''The Poison Maid'' and Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1844 ...

'' Rootham premiered), and bear evidence of a progression in his music. Though he acknowledged the English folksong revival he never directly involved himself in the movement, and he avoided many of the musical clichés identified by

Constant Lambert Leonard Constant Lambert (23 August 190521 August 1951) was a British composer, conductor, and author. He was the founder and music director of the Royal Ballet, and (alongside Ninette de Valois and Frederick Ashton) he was a major figure in t ...

in "Music Ho!". Nevertheless, the subject matter of his opera, ''The Two Sisters'', is based on a version of the well-known folk ballad "

The Twa Sisters "The Twa Sisters" ("The Two Sisters") is a traditional murder ballad, dating at least as far back as the mid 17th century. The song recounts the tale of a girl drowned by her jealous sister. At least 21 English variants exist under several names ...

" and opens with an unaccompanied rendition of six verses instead of an overture. Henry Colles recognised Rootham's style as "vigorous and genial", reflecting his personality. The ''Symphony no. 1 in C minor'' epitomises this musical vigour, especially the first and last movements which Arthur Hutchings considers to contain Rootham's most characteristic music. Another Rootham trademark evident in the symphony is his almost vocal writing for brass. His refined string writing is showcased in the Rhapsody on the old English tune Lazarus. Rootham was in his element when writing for chorus and voice. Rootham's first significant compositions were vocal. It has been said that Stanford, when Rootham studied under him at the RCM, once grunted: "You can write for voices, me boy". His talent at combining words and music in masterly choral settings led Colles to write: "The stimulus of words brings out the more delicate and poetic qualities and gives distinction to his music".''

The Stolen Child "The Stolen Child" is an 1889 poem by William Butler Yeats, published in '' The Wanderings of Oisin and Other Poems''. Overview The poem was written in 1886 and is considered to be one of Yeats's more notable early poems. The poem is based o ...

'', ''

Ode on the Morning of Christ's Nativity ''On the Morning of Christ's Nativity'' is a nativity ode written by John Milton in 1629 and published in his ''Poems of Mr. John Milton'' (1645). The poem describes Christ's Incarnation and his overthrow of earthly and pagan powers. The poem ...

'' and ''City in the West'' (a poem by his son

Jasper Jasper, an aggregate of microgranular quartz and/or cryptocrystalline chalcedony and other mineral phases,Kostov, R. I. 2010. Review on the mineralogical systematics of jasper and related rocks. – Archaeometry Workshop, 7, 3, 209-213PDF/ref> ...

) are among his finest achievements.

Selected works

Stage

*Op.55 ''The two sisters'', opera in three acts (1918–21), based on the ballad "The twa sisters o' Binnorie" – libretto by Marjory Fausset

Orchestral

*Op.8 ''Four Impressions (Killarney)'', miniatures for violin and small orchestra (1900) *Op.36 ''A Passerby'', rhapsody after

Robert Bridges Robert Seymour Bridges (23 October 1844 – 21 April 1930) was an English poet who was Poet Laureate from 1913 to 1930. A doctor by training, he achieved literary fame only late in life. His poems reflect a deep Christian faith, and he is ...

(1910) *Op.42 ''Pan'', rhapsody for orchestra (1912) *Op.57 ''The Two Sisters'', concert overture for orchestra (1918) *Op.60 ''Processional for the Chancellor's Music'', for full orchestra (1920) *Op.67 ''Rhapsody on "Lazarus",'' for double string orchestra (1922) *Op.82 ''St. John's Suite'', for small orchestra (1929–30) *Op.84 ''Psalm of Adonis'', for orchestra (1931) *Op.86 ''Symphony no. 1 in C minor'' (1932) *Op.97 ''Symphony no. 2 in D major'', for orchestra with choral finale (1936–38) ("The Revelation of St. John"; incomplete; final movement orchestrated by

)

Choral

*Op.18 ''Andromeda'', dramatic cantata (1903–05) - poem by

Charles Kingsley Charles Kingsley (12 June 1819 – 23 January 1875) was a broad church priest of the Church of England, a university professor, social reformer, historian, novelist and poet. He is particularly associated with Christian socialism, the workin ...

*Op.29 ''Coronach'', for baritone, chorus and orchestra (1908) - poem by

Sir Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European and Scottish literature, notably the novels '' Ivanhoe'', '' Rob Roy ...

*Op.33 ''

The Lady of Shalott "The Lady of Shalott" is a lyrical ballad by the 19th-century English poet Alfred Tennyson and one of his best-known works. Inspired by the 13th-century Italian short prose text '' Donna di Scalotta'', the poem tells the tragic story of Elain ...

'', for chorus and orchestra (1909) - poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson *Op.38 ''

'', chorus and orchestra (1911) - poem by

William Butler Yeats William Butler Yeats (13 June 186528 January 1939) was an Irish poet, dramatist, writer and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival and became a pillar of the Irish liter ...

*Op.44 ''Four Dramatic Songs'', tenor or soprano solo and orchestra (1913) - text by

Mary Elizabeth Coleridge Mary Elizabeth Coleridge (23 September 1861 – 25 August 1907) was a British novelist and poet who also wrote essays and reviews. She wrote poetry under the pseudonym Anodos (a name taken from George MacDonald). Other influences on her were Ri ...

*Op.51 ''

For the Fallen "For the Fallen" is a poem written by Laurence Binyon. It was first published in ''The Times'' in September 1914. Over time, the third and fourth stanzas of the poem (usually now just the fourth) have been claimed as a tribute to all casualti ...

'', chorus and orchestra (1915) - poems by

*Op.65 ''Brown Earth'', chorus, semi-chorus and orchestra (1921–22) - poem by

Thomas Moult Thomas Moult (1893–1974) was a versatile English journalist and writer, and one of the Georgian poets. He is known for his annual anthologies ''Best Poems of the Year'', 1922 to 1943, which were popular verse selections taken from periodicals on ...

*Op.81 ''

'', soloists, chorus, semi-chorus and orchestra (1927–28) - poem by

John Milton John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an English poet and intellectual. His 1667 epic poem ''Paradise Lost'', written in blank verse and including over ten chapters, was written in a time of immense religious flux and polit ...

*Op.93 ''City in the West'', chorus and orchestra (1936) - poem by the composer's son Jasper Rootham

Chamber

*Op.2 ''String Quartet in A major'' (1899) *Op.10 ''String quartet in G minor'' (1902) *Op.20 ''Capriccio for string quartett in D minor'' (1905) *Op.27 ''String quintet in D major'' (1908) *Op.49 ''String quartet in C major'' (1914) *Op.61 ''Miniature suite for piano quintet'' (or piano and string orchestra) (1920) *Op.64 ''Suite in three movements'' for flute and piano (1921) *Op.75 ''Sonata in G minor for violin and piano'' (1925) *Op.83 ''Septet for viola, wind quintet and harp'' (1930) *Op.85 ''Trio for violin, cello and piano'' (1932)

Organ

*Op.14 ''Fantasia Overture for Organ in D minor'' (1902) *Op.28 ''Epinikion'' "Song of Victory" (1907) *Op.37 ''Elegiac Rhapsody on an Old Church Melody'', variations on the hymn tune "Iste Confessor"

Piano

*Op.88 ''Suite for Pianoforte'' (1933)

Songs

settings: *Op.58 ''Three Song-Pictures by Siegfried Sassoon'' (1919–20) - "Butterflies", "Idyll", "Everyone Sang" *Op.62 Four songs by Siegfried Sassoon (1921) - "A Child’s Prayer", "Morning Glory", "A Poplar and the Moon", "South Wind" *Four unpublished songs by Siegfried Sassoon (1926) - "Before Day", "Morning-Land", "Noah", "Tree and Sky"

Selected writings

* ''The modern orchestra and its combination with the singing voice; especially with regard to conductors and composers'', Journal of the Royal Music Association, 1910 * ''Voice Training for Choirs and Schools'', Cambridge University Press, 1912

References

Bibliography

* Harold Watkins Shaw: ''The succession of organists of the Chapel Royal and the cathedrals of England and Wales from c1538 - Also of the organists of the collegiate churches of Westminster and Windsor, certain academic choral foundations, and the cathedrals of Armagh and Dublin'', Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1991. 475 p. * Enid Bird: ''20th century English cathedral organists'', E.Bird (Aug 1990) 96 p., * Wolfgang Suppan, Armin Suppan: ''Das Neue Lexikon des Blasmusikwesens'', 4. Auflage, Freiburg-Tiengen, Blasmusikverlag Schulz GmbH, 1994, * Kenneth Shenton: ''Cyril Bradley Rootham'', in: Journal of the British Music Society. 7 (1985), pp 30–37. * W.J. Smith: ''Five centuries of Cambridge musicians 1464-1964'', Cambridge: W. Heffer, 1964, 75 p. * Percy A. Scholes: ''The mirror of music 1844-1944 - A century of musical life in Britain as reflected in the pages of The Musical Times'', Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1948, 2 vols * A. J. B. Hutchings: ''The Music of Cyril Bradley Rootham'', in: The Musical Times, Vol. 79, No. 1139 (Jan. 1938), pp 17–22 * Frederick W. Thornsby, John Henry Burn: ''Dictionary of organs and organists'', Second edition, London: Geo. Aug. Mate, 1921, 476 p.

External links

Cyril Rootham website
- catalogue of works with opus numbers, reviews of CDs, recent concerts, playlist, articles

and a
article
by John France on musicweb-international.com
Papers of Cyril Bradley Rootham
– a list by the Janus Project * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rootham, Cyril 1875 births 1938 deaths British male organists English composers English classical organists Alumni of the Royal College of Music Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge Fellows of St John's College, Cambridge People educated at Bristol Grammar School Musicians from Bristol Male classical organists