Ernest Newlandsmith
Encyclopedia
Ernest Newlandsmith, born 1875, was a musicologist with strong Christian belief who formed the Laresol Society to promote artistic vocation of a religious nature. Together with Dr. Ragheb Muftah he was instrumental in noting down and audio recording traditional Coptic church music in the years 1927 to 1936.
in West Sussex
called Brownings, but renamed "Kirdford Priory", where a chapel had recently been constructed for use by another fringe Christian sect. This was used for quiet religious retreats. In 1910 Brownings was no longer available and a mission hall was established in north Devon
, attracting considerable crowds. By 1911 however Newlandsmith had moved on to Felpham
near Bognor Regis
, putting on concerts, a mystery play and lectures, with the stress of work leading to ill health in 1912. In 1914 another base was established at Seaford
Priory near Newhaven
in East Sussex
. The beginning of the First World War caused 30,000 soldiers to be camped nearby, spoiling the tranquility and causing Newlandsmith to abandon Seaford. In 1917 he was working in conjunction with the Anglican National Mission in the Portsmouth area where he formed a ladies' Angelus Choir. After the war he preached in London and the Midlands
, including Birmingham Cathedral. He expressed astonishment when his concerts and orations failed to spark a national religious revival.
and henceforth dressed in a friar's cassock
. On his way back from Palestine he visited Egypt
where he soon became interested in the music of the Coptic Orthodox Church. He met Dr Raghib Muftah, a young agricultural engineer who shared his musical interest and wished to learn western musical notation to record the oral Coptic tradition. Living on Muftah's houseboat on the River Nile in front of El-Dobara palace Newlandsmith, sitting crosslegged on the floor, noted down the music performed by singers while Muftah used paper tape recording equipment brought by Newlandsmith from England. They soon decided to work exclusively with the blind cantor
Mualim Mikhail Girgis El Batanouny
, and through nine winters until 1936 they compiled sixteen volumes of music which are now in the United States Library of Congress
. In 1931 Newlandsmith gave a series of lectures at Oxford and Cambridge universities and in London
. He claimed that when what he called the " appalling debris of Arabic ornamentation" was stripped away the music was not Turkish, Arab or Greek, but ancient Egyptian music handed down by oral tradition from the temples of pharaonic Egypt.
The Laresol Society
Ernest Newlandsmith founded the society in 1906 "to promote the higher realisation of the artistic vocation, looking at the matter from the standpoint of the religious life, and the definitely directed love and service of God and humanity". In 1908, financed by some two hundred followers he rented a farm near KirdfordKirdford
Kirdford is a village and civil parish in the District of Chichester in West Sussex, England located north east of Petworth. The parish has a land area of . In the 2001 census 912 people lived in 373 households, of whom 448 were economically active....
in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
called Brownings, but renamed "Kirdford Priory", where a chapel had recently been constructed for use by another fringe Christian sect. This was used for quiet religious retreats. In 1910 Brownings was no longer available and a mission hall was established in north Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, attracting considerable crowds. By 1911 however Newlandsmith had moved on to Felpham
Felpham
Felpham is a village and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England. Although sometimes considered part of the greater Bognor Regis habitation it is a village and civil parish in its own right, having an area of 4.26 km² with a population of 9611 people and still growing .The...
near Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the...
, putting on concerts, a mystery play and lectures, with the stress of work leading to ill health in 1912. In 1914 another base was established at Seaford
Seaford, East Sussex
Seaford is a coastal town in the county of East Sussex, on the south coast of England. Lying east of Newhaven and Brighton and west of Eastbourne, it is the largest town in Lewes district, with a population of about 23,000....
Priory near Newhaven
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
. The beginning of the First World War caused 30,000 soldiers to be camped nearby, spoiling the tranquility and causing Newlandsmith to abandon Seaford. In 1917 he was working in conjunction with the Anglican National Mission in the Portsmouth area where he formed a ladies' Angelus Choir. After the war he preached in London and the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
, including Birmingham Cathedral. He expressed astonishment when his concerts and orations failed to spark a national religious revival.
Friar
In 1908 Newlandsmith took vows as a friarFriar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
and henceforth dressed in a friar's cassock
Cassock
The cassock, an item of clerical clothing, is an ankle-length robe worn by clerics of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglican Church, Lutheran Church and some ministers and ordained officers of Presbyterian and Reformed churches. Ankle-length garment is the meaning of the...
The Holy Land
In 1926 Brother Ernest, as he was known, took a new course when he travelled to the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. On his way back from Palestine he visited Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
where he soon became interested in the music of the Coptic Orthodox Church. He met Dr Raghib Muftah, a young agricultural engineer who shared his musical interest and wished to learn western musical notation to record the oral Coptic tradition. Living on Muftah's houseboat on the River Nile in front of El-Dobara palace Newlandsmith, sitting crosslegged on the floor, noted down the music performed by singers while Muftah used paper tape recording equipment brought by Newlandsmith from England. They soon decided to work exclusively with the blind cantor
Cantor (church)
A cantor is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor....
Mualim Mikhail Girgis El Batanouny
Mikhail Girgis El Batanouny
Cantor Mikhail Girgis El Batanouny was an expert in Coptic music, and knowledgeable in church rites, in addition to being skilled in the languages of Coptic and Arabic....
, and through nine winters until 1936 they compiled sixteen volumes of music which are now in the United States Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
. In 1931 Newlandsmith gave a series of lectures at Oxford and Cambridge universities and 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...
. He claimed that when what he called the " appalling debris of Arabic ornamentation" was stripped away the music was not Turkish, Arab or Greek, but ancient Egyptian music handed down by oral tradition from the temples of pharaonic Egypt.
Literary works
Published works include;- The Temple of Love. London The Laresol Society 1906 (very rare).
- Art Ideals. 1906.
- In Light and Shade. Poems. With a portrait. by Helen Coulthard and Ernest Newlandsmith 1913.
- The Temple of Art. A Plea for the Higher Realisation of the Artistic Vocation. London: Longmans, Green & Co, 1919.
- The New Humanity- a Study of the World, the Church, the Gospel and the Mysteries. 1925.
- Interior Prayer (Little Books on Religion. no. 35.) 1925.
- The Ministry of Music. 1925.
- The World, the Flesh and the Devil. With particular reference to the stage. 1926.
- Three Blessed Beasts. A book for babes, etc. 1926.
- The Man of God. A study in Christology and the mysteries of the spiritual life. 1926.
- A Minstrel Friar. 1927.
- The New Life. 1928.
- The Ancient Music of the Coptic Church. A lecture, etc 1931.
- Christ or Chaos? message from Mount Carmel. 1931.
- A musician's pilgrimage: The story of my life, work and philosophy. 1932.
- My Message. (SI) The New Life Movement 1941.
- Art, Love and Life. London: Longmans, Green 1944.
- The New Reformation. 1946.
- The Awakening of Christendom. 1948.
- Modern Babylon and the way out. New Life Publishing House (1952)
- The Temple of Life: An Outline of the True Mission of Art Re-published 2007 ISBN 054821607X ISBN 978-0548216071
Published music
- Ballade. Romance in D for Violin and piano. Houghton & Co (1898)
- Nocturne pour Instruments aÌ. Schott & Co (1900)