SIR FREDERICK
OUSELEY AND ST. MICHAEL'S, TENBURY
Edited
by Watkins Shaw
Published for The Trustees of St.
Michael's College, Tenbury 1988
The name Sir
Frederick Ouseley is probably best known today for his anthems FROM THE
RISING OF THE SUN and O SAVIOR OF THE WORLD. The name St. Michael's, Tenbury
can often be found in the source listings of modern editions of Tudor works.
Both deserve to be better known. Both are the subject of this profoundly
interesting book which was published after the closing of St. Michael's
College in 1985.
Chapter 1.
The Ouseley Family.
Chapter 2. Frederick Ouseley: the
early years 1825-50.
Chapter 3. The Foundation of St.
Michael's Church and College.
Chapter 4. The First Sixty Years,
1856-1916.
Chapter 5. The Choir Repertory under
Ouseley.
Chapter 6. Under Warden Swann,
1917-1936.
Chapter 7. Through War to the
Centenary, 1936-1956.
Chapter 8. The Latest Years, 1957-85.
Chapter 9. Reminiscences.
Chapter 10. The Music Library.
Chapter 11. The Buildings. Appendices
A Brief Summary of
Sir Frederick Ouseley's Life. Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley (1825-1889) was
born into a family that had social standing, wealth, and privilege. It was
almost unthinkable that an heir to a baronetcy would consider music a
career; and yet that is the path Sir Frederick followed. Following
completion of a BA degree from Oxford and ordination into the Church of
England, Sir Frederick became assistant curate of St. Barnabas' Church,
Pimlico. There he began a lifelong pattern of seemingly boundless generosity
in the cause of church music by presenting the church an organ and
contributing towards the cost of the choir. Unfortunately, St. Barnabas
became embroiled in controversy. The sensitive Ouseley was ill-equipped for
such events and he left St. Barnabas, but not without providing for the care
and training of the boy choristers of the disbanded choir school.
While away in
Europe Ouseley began to consider just what he was going to do with the rest
of his life and what was to be done with the boy choristers his associates
were training. Through a series of letters Shaw traces the germination of
the idea to build his own church and college to train the boy choristers to
form a "model choir." Upon his return to England, Ouseley bought
land just outside of Tenbury and erected a parish church and college
buildings. St. Michael's College was consecrated 29 September 1856.
During his years as
Warden of St. Michael's College and Vicar of St. Michael's Parish Church
continued his lifelong accumulation of antiquarian music and books and thus
amassed one of the most extraordinary collections of Reformation and Tudor
music. Some of these works found their way into musical collections Ouseley
edited. He also composed a large body of now mostly forgotten anthems and
canticle settings, some of which were included in collections of
contemporary works Ouseley edited. As Precentor of Hereford Cathedral and
Professor of Music at Oxford Sir Frederick's influence was far-reaching.
Dr. Shaw weaves
together a fascinating history of Ouseley and his unique musical and
religious foundation. Shaw's book is not a cold recitation of facts, but a
lively description of life at a small, rather remote choir school. Watkins
Shaw, a musical historian and Handel scholar, also includes a perceptive
analysis of the repertoire of the College choir.
The second half of
the book is an account of how Ouseley's successors tried to keep alive Sir
Frederick's foundation and remain true to the vision of its founder. The
remoteness of St. Michael's and the peculiar nature of Ouseley's trust made
this a monumental task. Although each succeeding generation of Wardens had
their own take on the problem, but by and large the plans involved
developing a thriving preparatory school around the choral foundation.
Unfortunately, despite valiant attempts, St. Michael's College was forced to
close in 1985. However, it's influence lives on in the human and musical
legacy of its old boys. For example, Jonathan Harvey, the distinguished
composer, and Christopher Robinson, St. John's College - Cambridge, are old
boys of the College.
I wholly commend
this book to you. It is a fascinating and moving tale of the extraordinary
lengths individuals will go in the cause of music and, in particular, church
music. It chronicles the life and times of one England's truly visionary
church musicians and unique choral foundation he founded.
The book is
available from the Ouseley Trust. There are about 140 copies left. Details
follow.
K.B. Lyndon, MBE 74
Sweet Briar Welwyn Garden City Herts. AL7 3EA
The price is £8.75
(UK).+ p & h.
Payment should be
made in sterling money order made payable to 'The Ouseley Trust'.
Reviewed by Steven
Rhode
