Charles Herbert Kitson
Encyclopedia
Charles Herbert Kitson was an English organist
, teacher, and music educator, author of several books on harmony
and counterpoint
. He was born in Leyburn
, Yorkshire
, and attended school in Ripon
. Intending originally to take holy orders
, he took his BA (1896) and MA (1904) at Cambridge
, where he was organ scholar
of Selwyn College
. Between those dates, he also took the BMus (1897) and DMus (1902) degrees at Oxford
, as an external student
.
After teaching at Haileybury
and St Edmund's School, Canterbury, he became organist of St John the Baptist, Leicester. His first important post was as organist at Christ Church Cathedral
in Dublin, in 1913 - a post which he held until 1920. During his stay in Dublin, he became professor of music at University College, Dublin, in 1915.
In 1920, he resigned both posts, and returned to England
, settling in London
, where he joined the staff of the Royal College of Music
. The same year, he succeeded Percy Buck
as Professor of Music at Trinity College, Dublin
- a non-residential post, from which he retired in 1935. Among his notable pupils are Arwel Hughes
, Herbert Sanders
, Robert Still
, Michael Tippett
, and S. Drummond Wolff
.
He died in London in 1944.
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...
, teacher, and music educator, author of several books on harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
and counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
. He was born in Leyburn
Leyburn
Leyburn is a busy market town and civil parish in the borough of Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, England sitting above the northern bank of the River Ure in Wensleydale. Historically within the North Riding of Yorkshire, the name was derived from 'Ley' or 'Le' , and 'burn' , meaning clearing by the...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, and attended school in Ripon
Ripon
Ripon is a cathedral city, market town and successor parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located at the confluence of two streams of the River Ure in the form of the Laver and Skell. The city is noted for its main feature the Ripon Cathedral which is architecturally...
. Intending originally to take holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
, he took his BA (1896) and MA (1904) at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he was organ scholar
Organ scholar
An organ scholar is a young musician employed as a part-time assistant organist at an institution where regular choral services are held. The idea of an organ scholarship is to provide the holder with playing, directing and administrative experience....
of Selwyn College
Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College is a constituent college in the University of Cambridge in England, United Kingdom.The college was founded by the Selwyn Memorial Committee in memory of the Rt Reverend George Selwyn , who rowed on the Cambridge crew in the first Varsity Boat Race in 1829, and went on to become the...
. Between those dates, he also took the BMus (1897) and DMus (1902) degrees at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, as an external student
External degree
An external degree is a degree offered by a university to students who have not been required to be physically present within the geographic territory of the institution. These undergraduates may be called external students and may study at classes unconnected with the university, or independently,...
.
After teaching at Haileybury
Haileybury and Imperial Service College
Haileybury and Imperial Service College, , is a prestigious British independent school founded in 1862. The school is located at Hertford Heath, near Hertford, from central London, on of parkland occupied until 1858 by the East India College...
and St Edmund's School, Canterbury, he became organist of St John the Baptist, Leicester. His first important post was as organist at Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
in Dublin, in 1913 - a post which he held until 1920. During his stay in Dublin, he became professor of music at University College, Dublin, in 1915.
In 1920, he resigned both posts, and returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, settling in 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...
, where he joined the staff of the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
. The same year, he succeeded Percy Buck
Percy Buck
Sir Percy Carter Buck was an English music educator, writer, organist, and composer. He was born in London, and studied at Merchant Taylors' School and the Royal College of Music. He was the church organist at Worcester College, Oxford , Wells Cathedral , and Bristol Cathedral...
as Professor of Music at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
- a non-residential post, from which he retired in 1935. Among his notable pupils are Arwel Hughes
Arwel Hughes
Arwel Hughes OBE , was a Welsh orchestral conductor and composer.Hughes was born in Rhosllannerchrugog near Wrexham and was educated at Ruabon Grammar School and at the Royal College of Music, where he studied with Ralph Vaughan Williams and C. H. Kitson...
, Herbert Sanders
Herbert Sanders
Herbert Sanders was a Canadian organist, pianist, conductor, composer, writer on music, and music educator of English birth. His compositional outpust includes numerous sacred songs, anthems, and works for organ. He won the American Guild of Organists's Clemson Gold Medal for composition twice...
, Robert Still
Robert Still
Robert Still was an English composer, educator and amateur tennis player.Robert Still was born in London on 10 June 1910...
, Michael Tippett
Michael Tippett
Sir Michael Kemp Tippett OM CH CBE was an English composer.In his long career he produced a large body of work, including five operas, three large-scale choral works, four symphonies, five string quartets, four piano sonatas, concertos and concertante works, song cycles and incidental music...
, and S. Drummond Wolff
S. Drummond Wolff
Stanley Drummond Wolff was an English organist, choirmaster, composer, and music educator who was primarily active in North America. His compositional output primarily consists of anthems for choir and works for solo organ. In the 1980s he completed and published four volumes of hymns...
.
He died in London in 1944.
Writings
- The Art of Counterpoint, and its Application as a Decorative Principle (1907)
- The Evolution of Harmony (1914)
- Elementary Harmony (three volumes, 1920–26)
- Additional Exercises to Elementary Harmony (1926)
- Contrapuntal harmony for beginners (1931)
Sources and external links
- Shaw, Watkins. "Kitson, Charles Herbert". Grove Music Online (subscription access)
- Entry for Kitson at Christ Church Cathedral website
- AIM25 entry for Kitson