Michael Finlay Robinson (born 3 March 1933) is an English composer,

musicologist Musicology (from Greek μουσική ''mousikē'' 'music' and -λογια ''-logia'', 'domain of study') is the scholarly analysis and research-based study of music. Musicology departments traditionally belong to the humanities, although some m ...

, and

academic An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, f ...

. His scholarly work focuses on

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libre ...

of the 17th and 18th centuries; and in particular the development of Italian opera during the 1700s. His publications include the books ''Naples and Neapolitan Opera'' (

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print book ...

, 1972), ''Opera Before Mozart'' ( Hutchinson, 1966), and ''A Thematic Catalogue of the Works of Giovanni Paisiello'' (Pendragon, vol 1. published in 1991 and vol. 2 in 1994). He also contributed to several collaborative works, including ''Research Chronicle of the Royal Musical Association'' (1972), ''

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language ''Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart'', it is one of the largest reference works on the history and the ...

'' (1980) and ''Opera buffa in Mozart's Vienna'' (

Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press is the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII of England, King Henry VIII in 1534, it is the oldest university press in the world. It is also the King's Printer. Cambr ...

, 1997), and to several music journals like ''

Music & Letters ''Music & Letters'' is an academic journal published quarterly by Oxford University Press with a focus on musicology. The journal sponsors the Music & Letters Trust, twice-yearly cash awards of variable amounts to support research in the music fi ...

'' and '' Soundings''.''International who's who in music and musicians' directory: (in the classical and light classical fields)'', edited by David M. Cummings, Psychology Press, 2000, pg. 545-545 Robinson was born in

Gloucester Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west, east of Monmouth and east of t ...

. He earned

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four yea ...

Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Music (BM or BMus) is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of a program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree, and the majority of work consists of presc ...

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. ...

, and

Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

degrees from

New College, Oxford New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as its feeder school, New College is one of the oldest colleges at ...

. In October 2009 he obtained the Oxford

Doctor of Music The Doctor of Music degree (D.Mus., D.M., Mus.D. or occasionally Mus.Doc.) is a higher doctorate awarded on the basis of a substantial portfolio of compositions and/or scholarly publications on music. Like other higher doctorates, it is granted ...

degree by examination. He began his teaching career at the

Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland ( gd, Conservatoire Rìoghail na h-Alba), formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama ( gd, Acadamaidh Rìoghail Ciùil is Dràma na h-Alba) is a conservatoire of dance, drama, music, production, and ...

in 1960-1961 where he was a lecturer in the subjects of

harmony In music, harmony is the process by which individual sounds are joined together or composed into whole units or compositions. Often, the term harmony refers to simultaneously occurring frequencies, pitches ( tones, notes), or chords. Howev ...

and counterpoint. He has since served on the music faculties of Durham University (1961–1965),

McGill University McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Universit ...

, and

Cardiff University , latin_name = , image_name = Shield of the University of Cardiff.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms of Cardiff University , motto = cy, Gwirionedd, Undod a Chytgord , mottoeng = Truth, Unity and Concord , established = 1 ...

. In 1989 he was a visiting professor at the

University of Naples The University of Naples Federico II ( it, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II) is a public university in Naples, Italy. Founded in 1224, it is the oldest public non-sectarian university in the world, and is now organized into 26 depar ...

. Upon his retirement in 1994 he was named a

professor emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

of Cardiff University.''Opera buffa in Mozart's Vienna'', edited by Mary Kathleen Hunter and James Webster, Cambridge University Press, 1997, pg viii

Music compositions

*''Sonata Movement'' for viola d'amore and pianoforte (originally 1960; later rearranged for viola and pianoforte) *''A Child's Vision of Night'' for soprano and pianoforte (1964) *''Six Fugues'' for harpsichord (1967–68) *''Credo and Gloria'' for 4-pt choir and organ (1968) *''String Quartet No 1'' (1972) *''String Quartet No 2'' (1974) *''Three Settings of Thomas Hardy'' for baritone and pianoforte (1975) *''Duo for Violin and Pianoforte'' (1975) *''Three Settings of W.B. Yeats'' for tenor and pianoforte (1979) *''Duo for Two Pianos'' (1982–83) *''A Pretty How Town'' (words by E.E. Cummings) for baritone and eight instrumentalists (1984) *''Phoenix'' for oboe and pianoforte (1988, revised 1993) *''Three Songs about Love'' for baritone and pianoforte (1985–94) *''Two Songs for Cherry Willingham'' for children's voices and pianoforte (1994–96) *''Fantasy for Solo Violoncello'' (1997) *''Blessed Art Thou, O God'', anthem for unaccompanied 8-pt choir (2001) *''The House of Bernarda Alba'', opera in 2 acts (1997–2004) *''A Welsh Garland'', suite for wind band (2005–06) *''The Bells of Leud for pianoforte solo'' (2007) *''Four Sonnets for soprano and pianoforte'' (2008)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Michael F 1933 births Living people Academics of Cardiff University Academics of Durham University Alumni of New College, Oxford English classical composers English musicologists Academic staff of McGill University English opera composers Male opera composers Musicians from Gloucester Academics of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Musicians from Gloucestershire English male classical composers