Sir Herbert Stanley Oakeley (22 July 1830 – 26 October 1903) was an English composer, best known for his role as Professor of Music at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

. Prior to his appointment to this role in 1865 he established his reputation as an organist, composer, and musician. During his tenure at the University of Edinburgh he founded a number of university musical societies across Scotland, most notably the

Edinburgh University Music Society The Edinburgh University Music Society (EUMS) is a student-run musical organisation based in Edinburgh. Since its founding in 1867, the EUMS has been based within the University of Edinburgh. The society performs in three concert series through ...

, and successfully resolved the university's Reid School of Music into a Faculty able to award degrees to its graduates. He socialized with and mentored contralto, composer, and festival organizer

Mary Augusta Wakefield Mary Augusta Wakefield (19 August 1853 – 16 September 1910) was a British composer, contralto, festival organiser, and writer. Biography Early life Wakefield was born in Kendal, where her paternal ancestors had been members of the Quakers, ...

Life

He was born at

Ealing Ealing () is a district in west London (sub-region), west London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Pl ...

on 22 July 1830. He was second son of

Sir Herbert Oakeley, 3rd Baronet Sir Herbert Oakeley, 3rd Baronet (1791–1845) was an English churchman, archdeacon of Colchester from 1841. Life The third son of Sir Charles Oakeley, 1st Baronet, he was born in Madras on 10 February 1791, and brought to England in 1794 by his ...

. He was educated at

Rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby union: 15 players per side *** American flag rugby *** Beach rugby *** Mini rugby *** Rugby sevens, 7 players per side *** Rugby tens, 10 players per side *** Snow rugby *** Tou ...

and at

Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church (, the temple or house, ''wikt:aedes, ædes'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by Henry V ...

, he graduated B.A. in 1853 and proceeded M.A. studies in 1856. He studied with

Stephen Elvey Stephen Elvey (1805–1860) was an organist and composer. Life Stephen Elvey was the elder brother, and for some time the teacher, of Sir George Elvey. He was born in Canterbury in June 1805, and received his training as a chorister of the cathe ...

. In 1865, he was elected

Reid Professor of Music The Reid Professorship in Music was a position founded within the University of Edinburgh in 1839 using funds provided in a bequest from General John Reid. History On his death in 1807 General John Reid left a fortune of more than £50,000. Subj ...

Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the town council under the authority of a royal charter from King James VI in 1582 and offi ...

. He was knighted in 1876, and in 1881 was appointed "Composer of Music to Queen Victoria in Scotland". In June 1901, he received an honorary doctorate (

LL.D A Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) is a doctoral degree in legal studies. The abbreviation LL.D. stands for ''Legum Doctor'', with the double “L” in the abbreviation referring to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both canon law ...

) from the

University of Glasgow The University of Glasgow (abbreviated as ''Glas.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals; ) is a Public university, public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded by papal bull in , it is the List of oldest universities in continuous ...

during celebrations for the university's 450th jubilee. He retired from his professorship in 1891. His address in

Eastbourne Eastbourne () is a town and seaside resort in East Sussex, on the south coast of England, east of Brighton and south of London. It is also a non-metropolitan district, local government district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, bor ...

was 53, Grand Parade, where he died unmarried on 26 October 1903.

Music

As a composer, Oakeley mostly produced church music, including anthems, hymn tunes (most notable 'Edina' and 'Abends,') and settings of the morning and evening service. His ''Jubilee Cantata'' was written for the Cheltenham Festival in 1887. His orchestral works include the ''Edinburgh March'' and the ''Suite in Olden Style''. Oakeley also produced songs, a piano sonata and preludes and fugues for organ.'Herbert Oakeley'
in ''Our History'', University of Edinburgh wiki

Notes

References

* * *

External links

*
Music Collection of Professor Sir Herbert Stanley Oakley
(Details of Sir Herbert Oakeley's Music Collection, held by the University of Edinburgh Library's Special Collections Division.)
Website of the Edinburgh University Music Society

Website of the current Reid School of Music

''Prelude on the Hymn Tune 'Abends
played by Wayne Warren {{DEFAULTSORT:Oakeley, Herbert 1830 births 1903 deaths 19th-century English classical composers Composers awarded knighthoods Younger sons of baronets English conductors (music) English male conductors (music) People of the Victorian era English classical composers of church music Academics of the University of Edinburgh 19th-century English musicians 19th-century English male musicians

Life

Music

See also

Notes

References

External links