Edward Harold Davies
Encyclopedia
Edward Harold Davies (18 July 1867 - 1 July 1947) was professor of music at Adelaide University, Principal of the Elder Conservatorium
, and brother of Sir Walford Davies.
Harold was the third of four sons of John Whitridge Davies of Oswestry
on the English-Welsh border. He emigrated to Australia
in 1886, returned to England in 1890 where he was appointed organist at the Chapel Royal
, then returned to Australia where he founded the South Australia Orchestra (later to become the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
) and played a leading role in the teaching and examination of music.
Davies was in his time a choir leader, conductor, critic, promoter, teacher and organist. He was also a radio commentator and a noted recorder of indigenous music.
In 1933, Davies edited "The Children's Bach", a collection of 20 simple Bach pieces for piano, selected mostly from the Clavier-Book for Anna Magdalena
. Beloved by both music students and teachers, the collection is still is in print.
Elder Conservatorium
The Elder Conservatorium of Music is Australia's senior academy of music and one of the country's most distinguished institutions for comprehensive education, professional training, and research in music...
, and brother of Sir Walford Davies.
Harold was the third of four sons of John Whitridge Davies of Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
on the English-Welsh border. He emigrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1886, returned to England in 1890 where he was appointed organist at the Chapel Royal
Chapel Royal
A Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they are called upon to do so.-Austria:...
, then returned to Australia where he founded the South Australia Orchestra (later to become the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra was founded as a 17 player radio ensemble in 1936, in Adelaide, South Australia. The orchestra reformed in 1949 as the 55 member South Australian Symphony Orchestra. It reverted to its original and present title, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, in late 1974, and...
) and played a leading role in the teaching and examination of music.
Davies was in his time a choir leader, conductor, critic, promoter, teacher and organist. He was also a radio commentator and a noted recorder of indigenous music.
In 1933, Davies edited "The Children's Bach", a collection of 20 simple Bach pieces for piano, selected mostly from the Clavier-Book for Anna Magdalena
Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach
The title Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach refers to either of two manuscript notebooks that the German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach presented to his second wife Anna Magdalena...
. Beloved by both music students and teachers, the collection is still is in print.
External links
Sources
- Colles, H. C. Walford Davies, 1942
- biography at Australian Dictionary of Biography