Charles King Hall
Encyclopedia
Charles King Hall often credited as King Hall, was a versatile English composer of both sacred and secular music. He favored the sentimental ballad and the church anthem. He specialized in arranging for piano and voice the works of famous composers such as Gounod and Mendelssohn
. In addition, he wrote primers for the harmonium. Active in the London theatre, he contributed regularly to the popular German Reed Entertainment
s at St. George's Hall
, Langham Place.
. His father, Charles Frederick Hall, played violin in the Drury Lane Theatre
orchestra and was later musical director at the Adelphi Theatre
. King Hall's mother, Eleanor Eliza Jane Vining, came from a well-known acting family. She was cousin to George James Vining (1817-1875), the London actor and theatre manager, and Fanny Elizabeth Vining (1821-1891), the actress and mother of American actress Fanny Davenport
(1850-1898).
In 1876, King Hall married Isabel Maud Penton (1852-1932) at All Saints Church, Gordon Square. They had five children. The eldest, Edith Jane Gertrude (b.1877), wrote children's books, including Adventures in Toyland; their younger son, Ernest Vincent (1885-1941), married Hylda May Shallard, who sang in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
in the early 1900s. The only one of King Hall's children to follow in his footsteps was Lucy Harriet Greenfield (1879-1900), a student at the London Conservatory at the time of her early death.
King Hall supported his family as an organist, teacher, composer, and consultant to Chappell & Co.
, the theatre music publishers, who brought out much of King Hall's sheet music.
As church organist, King Hall served the Anglican parishes of St. Paul's, Camden Square
; St. Luke's, Oseney Crescent
; and Christ Church, Brondesbury
.
On 1 September 1895, King Hall died of throat cancer at the age of 50 at his home in Islington
. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery
.
(1 October 1895) called King Hall's German Reed music "his most popular works." He supplied the scores for librettists Frank Burnand
, Arthur Law
, Gilbert Arthur à Beckett
, and J. Comyns Carr
in the following operettas: "A Happy Bungalow" (1877), "Foster-brothers," "Doubleday's Will" (1878), "A Tremendous Mystery" (1878), "Grimstone Grange" (1879), "A Christmas Stocking" (1880), "A Strange Host" (1882), "The Automaton," "The Naturalist" (1887), "The Verger" (1889), and "Missing" (1894).
King Hall published throughout his adult life. From 1867 ("Golden Moments Gallop for the Pianoforte") to the year of his death ("An Emblem of Life; A Duet for Female Voices"), his work appeared regularly in both England and America. The key to his success was his ability to create simple, graceful melodies in a variety of musical styles.
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
. In addition, he wrote primers for the harmonium. Active in the London theatre, he contributed regularly to the popular German Reed Entertainment
German Reed Entertainment
German Reed Entertainment was founded in 1855 and operated by Thomas German Reed together with his wife, Priscilla Reed née Horton...
s at St. George's Hall
St. George's Hall
St. George’s Hall may refer to:*St George's Hall, Bradford*St. George's Hall, Liverpool*St. George's Hall, Reading*One of the state rooms at Windsor Castle*St George's Hall and Apollo Room of the Winter Palace, Saint Petersburg...
, Langham Place.
Life and career
King Hall was born 17 August 1845, St Pancras, LondonSt Pancras, London
St Pancras is an area of London. For many centuries the name has been used for various officially-designated areas, but now is used informally and rarely having been largely superseded by several other names for overlapping districts.-Ancient parish:...
. His father, Charles Frederick Hall, played violin in the Drury Lane Theatre
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
orchestra and was later musical director at the Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
. King Hall's mother, Eleanor Eliza Jane Vining, came from a well-known acting family. She was cousin to George James Vining (1817-1875), the London actor and theatre manager, and Fanny Elizabeth Vining (1821-1891), the actress and mother of American actress Fanny Davenport
Fanny Davenport
Fanny Lily Gipsy Davenport was an English-American stage actress. The daughter of Edward Loomis Davenport and Fanny Vining, she was born in London, England, but was brought to America when a child and educated in the Boston public schools...
(1850-1898).
In 1876, King Hall married Isabel Maud Penton (1852-1932) at All Saints Church, Gordon Square. They had five children. The eldest, Edith Jane Gertrude (b.1877), wrote children's books, including Adventures in Toyland; their younger son, Ernest Vincent (1885-1941), married Hylda May Shallard, who sang in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company was a professional light opera company that staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas. The company performed nearly year-round in the UK and sometimes toured in Europe, North America and elsewhere, from the 1870s until it closed in 1982. It was revived in 1988 and...
in the early 1900s. The only one of King Hall's children to follow in his footsteps was Lucy Harriet Greenfield (1879-1900), a student at the London Conservatory at the time of her early death.
King Hall supported his family as an organist, teacher, composer, and consultant to Chappell & Co.
Chappell & Co.
Chappell & Co. was an English company that published music and manufactured pianos.-History:It was founded in 1810 by Samuel Chappell in partnership with music professors Francis Tatton Latour and Johann Baptist Cramer. Cramer was also a well-known London composer, teacher and pianist...
, the theatre music publishers, who brought out much of King Hall's sheet music.
As church organist, King Hall served the Anglican parishes of St. Paul's, Camden Square
St Paul's Church, Camden Square
St Paul's Church is a church dedicated to Paul the Apostle on Camden Square in Camden, north London. It is called St Paul's because the estate was owned originally by the canons of St Paul’s Cathedral....
; St. Luke's, Oseney Crescent
St Luke's Church, Oseney Crescent
St Luke's Church, Oseney Crescent, Kentish Town, was a redundant Anglican church in the parish of Camden Town, London, under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust until April 15 2011. At that time a pastoral measure was passed naming Revd Jonathan March as the new parish priest...
; and Christ Church, Brondesbury
Brondesbury
Brondesbury is an area of Kilburn in London, England. It is shared between the boroughs of Brent and Camden.-Nearest places:* Kilburn* Willesden* Kensal Green* Cricklewood-Nearest tube stations:* Kilburn * West Hampstead...
.
On 1 September 1895, King Hall died of throat cancer at the age of 50 at his home in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a cemetery located in north London, England. It is designated Grade I on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It is divided into two parts, named the East and West cemetery....
.
Music
In its obituary, The Musical TimesThe Musical Times
The Musical Times is an academic journal of classical music edited and produced in the United Kingdom. It is currently the oldest such journal that is still publishing in the UK, having been published continuously since 1844. It was published as The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular until...
(1 October 1895) called King Hall's German Reed music "his most popular works." He supplied the scores for librettists Frank Burnand
Francis Burnand
Sir Francis Cowley Burnand , often credited as F. C. Burnand, was an English comic writer and dramatist....
, Arthur Law
Arthur Law
William Arthur Law , better known as Arthur Law, was an English playwright, actor and scenic designer.-Life and career:...
, Gilbert Arthur à Beckett
Gilbert Arthur a Beckett
Gilbert Arthur à Beckett was an English writer.-Biography:Beckett was born at Hammersmith, United Kingdom, the eldest son of Gilbert Abbott à Beckett and the brother of Arthur William à Beckett...
, and J. Comyns Carr
J. Comyns Carr
Joseph William Comyns Carr was an English drama and art critic, gallery director, author, poet, playwright and theatre manager....
in the following operettas: "A Happy Bungalow" (1877), "Foster-brothers," "Doubleday's Will" (1878), "A Tremendous Mystery" (1878), "Grimstone Grange" (1879), "A Christmas Stocking" (1880), "A Strange Host" (1882), "The Automaton," "The Naturalist" (1887), "The Verger" (1889), and "Missing" (1894).
King Hall published throughout his adult life. From 1867 ("Golden Moments Gallop for the Pianoforte") to the year of his death ("An Emblem of Life; A Duet for Female Voices"), his work appeared regularly in both England and America. The key to his success was his ability to create simple, graceful melodies in a variety of musical styles.