Bernarr Rainbow
Encyclopedia
Bernarr Joseph George Rainbow (October 2, 1914 - March 17, 1998) was a historian of music education, organist, and choir master from the United Kingdom
.
, London
, United Kingdom
, he was the son of James Rainbow, a cabinet-maker at Buckingham Palace
, who later became the Curator of pictures at Hampton Court. Rainbow first became a church chorister when his family moved to Clapham
, and he was intrigued by watching the organist play. After another move he attended Rutlish School
in Merton
. Even though he still at school, Bernarr was appointed the organist and choirmaster at St James's, Merton, later holding similar posts at St. Mary's, East Molesey and St. Andrew's, Wimbledon.
After his family moved to Hampton Court, Bernarr attended Trinity College of Music
between 1933-1939, where he was a pupil of Dr William Lovelock
. His 21st birthday was marked by a reception and dance at Hampton Court attended by 80 guests. While studying at Trinity he earned a living in the Map Branch of the Land Registry near Lincoln's Inn. Rainbow's studies were interrupted by World War II
and he served with the Army in North Africa and Italy, until he was invalided out in 1944. In 1941 Rainbow married Olive Grace Still (1915–1996), at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Merton; composing the music for the service himself.
In September 1944 he became Organist of the Parish Church of All Saints, High Wycombe and, a few months later, the Senior Music Master at Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
. He made a considerable public impact at High Wycombe. He produced Gilbert and Sullivan
operettas at the Royal Grammar School, put on concerts at the Parish Church, and started a week-long annual Festival there in 1946. Bernarr's pupils won awards and scholarships and in 1947 representatives from 30 local choirs joined in Handel's Messiah. Bernarr conducted the High Wycombe String Orchestra and was the soloist in his own Piano Concerto. In 1951 the High Wycombe Parish Church Choir was chosen to sing Evensong in the Festival Church on the new South Bank site. He turned the Royal Grammar School at High Wycombe into a singing school. Bemarr realised that the quality of music teaching in schools was paramount. This meant focussing on the teachers themselves. So in 1952 he became Director of Music at The College of S. Mark and S. John, Chelsea, the Church of England College for teachers, a remarkable community whose members have stayed friends. Later he became Head of Music at Gypsy Hill College, now Kingston University, and retired in 1978.
His distinguished record was acknowledged when he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1994 and an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College in the following year. He was President of the Campaign for the Defence of the Traditional Cathedral Choir and in 1996 he established the Bernarr Rainbow Award for School Music Teachers.
Bernarr Rainbow died in Esher, Surrey on 17 March 1998 at the age of 83.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Biography
Born on 2 October 1914 in BatterseaBattersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, he was the son of James Rainbow, a cabinet-maker at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
, who later became the Curator of pictures at Hampton Court. Rainbow first became a church chorister when his family moved to Clapham
Clapham
Clapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...
, and he was intrigued by watching the organist play. After another move he attended Rutlish School
Rutlish School
Rutlish School is a comprehensive school for boys. It is on Watery Lane, Merton Park, south-west London. It was formerly a grammar school.It is noted for caning its most famous alumnus politician, British Prime Minister Sir John Major in its grammar school period.-History:The school is named after...
in Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
. Even though he still at school, Bernarr was appointed the organist and choirmaster at St James's, Merton, later holding similar posts at St. Mary's, East Molesey and St. Andrew's, Wimbledon.
After his family moved to Hampton Court, Bernarr attended Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
between 1933-1939, where he was a pupil of Dr William Lovelock
William Lovelock
William Lovelock was an English classical composer and pedagogue who spent many years in Australia. He was the first Director of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane, and later became the chief music critic for The Courier-Mail newspaper.He is not to be confused with the...
. His 21st birthday was marked by a reception and dance at Hampton Court attended by 80 guests. While studying at Trinity he earned a living in the Map Branch of the Land Registry near Lincoln's Inn. Rainbow's studies were interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and he served with the Army in North Africa and Italy, until he was invalided out in 1944. In 1941 Rainbow married Olive Grace Still (1915–1996), at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Merton; composing the music for the service himself.
In September 1944 he became Organist of the Parish Church of All Saints, High Wycombe and, a few months later, the Senior Music Master at Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
See Royal Grammar School for the other schools with the name RGS.The Royal Grammar School High Wycombe is a selective grammar school situated in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. As a state school it does not charge fees for students to attend, but they must pass an entrance exam...
. He made a considerable public impact at High Wycombe. He produced Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
operettas at the Royal Grammar School, put on concerts at the Parish Church, and started a week-long annual Festival there in 1946. Bernarr's pupils won awards and scholarships and in 1947 representatives from 30 local choirs joined in Handel's Messiah. Bernarr conducted the High Wycombe String Orchestra and was the soloist in his own Piano Concerto. In 1951 the High Wycombe Parish Church Choir was chosen to sing Evensong in the Festival Church on the new South Bank site. He turned the Royal Grammar School at High Wycombe into a singing school. Bemarr realised that the quality of music teaching in schools was paramount. This meant focussing on the teachers themselves. So in 1952 he became Director of Music at The College of S. Mark and S. John, Chelsea, the Church of England College for teachers, a remarkable community whose members have stayed friends. Later he became Head of Music at Gypsy Hill College, now Kingston University, and retired in 1978.
His distinguished record was acknowledged when he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1994 and an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College in the following year. He was President of the Campaign for the Defence of the Traditional Cathedral Choir and in 1996 he established the Bernarr Rainbow Award for School Music Teachers.
Bernarr Rainbow died in Esher, Surrey on 17 March 1998 at the age of 83.
Bernarr Rainbow Trust
The Bernarr Rainbow Trust was set up by Rainbow in 1996 to support projects connected with music education. The Trust now runs an annual award for school music teachers in conjunction with Institute of Education, University of London.Writings
- Music in the classroom, Heinemann (London, 1956).
- Handbook for music teachers, Novello (London, 1964).
- The land without music: musical education in England 1800-1860 and its continental antecedents, Novello (London, 1967).
- The choral revival in the Anglican church, 1839-1872, Oxford University Press (New York, 1970).
- John Curwen: a short critical biography, Novello (London, 1980).
- English psalmody prefaces: popular methods of teaching, 1562-1835, Boethius Press (London, 1982).
- Onward from Butler: school music 1945-1985, Curwen Institute (London, 1985).
- Music and the English public school, Boethius Press (London, 1990).
Primary Sources
The personal papers of Bernarr Rainbow are held in the Archives of the Institute of Education, University of London http://www.ioe.ac.uk/services/703.html, and the catalogue of his papers can be accessed through the online catalogue.External links
- 'An appreciation of our Founder President', address by Professor Peter Dickinson, accessed 31 August 2007 http://www.ctcc.org.uk/address.htm.
- Institute of Education Press Office 'Educational philosopher launches music education lecture series', accessed 31 August 2007, http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/cms/get.asp?cid=1397&1397_1=2031.
- Papers of Bernarr Rainbow at the Institute of Education, University of London http://www.ioe.ac.uk/services/703.html.