George Robertson Sinclair
Encyclopedia
George Robertson Sinclair (28 October 1863 – 7 February 1917) was an English cathedral organist, who served at Truro
and Hereford
cathedrals.
As a young man, Sinclair was destined for the Anglican priesthood, but in 1880 his father died and Sinclair needed to earn a living immediately. He became the first cathedral organist of the new diocese
of Truro
. He moved from Truro to become organist of Hereford Cathedral in 1889, where he remained for the rest of his life.
At Hereford, Sinclair was conductor of eight Three Choirs Festival
s between 1891 and 1912, working with leading British musicians of the day, including Edward Elgar
, who incorporated into his Enigma Variations
a portrait of Sinclair and his bulldog.
, the son of Dr R S Sinclair, director of public education in Bombay. The family had Irish connections, and at the age of eight, Sinclair entered the Royal Irish Academy of Music
in Dublin. In 1873, aged ten, he gained a choral scholarship at St. Michael's College, Tenbury
, under the headship of Sir Frederick Ouseley
. He remained there for six years, singing in the choir at the daily services and deputising as organist.
1879 Sinclair became assistant organist to Charles Harford Lloyd
at Gloucester Cathedral
and parish organist of St Mary-de-Crypt
, Gloucester
. It had been expected that he would become an Anglican priest, but when he was seventeen his father died, and Sinclair was obliged to earn an income at once. In 1880, Edward Benson, first Bishop of Truro
, asked Ouseley for advice on a suitable organist for the new Truro Cathedral
. Ouseley recommended Sinclair, who was appointed, aged 17. He designed a high-specification four-manual organ built by Father Willis
, and assembled and trained a choir.
, organist of Hereford Cathedral
died, and Sinclair was appointed to succeed him. In a profile of him in The Musical Times
in October 1900, the anonymous author wrote:
In 1900 Sinclair was appointed conductor of the Birmingham Festival Choral Society, one of whose members drew a caricature of Sinclair and his bulldog Dan, from whom he was inseparable, and who attended all rehearsals. Sinclair's friend Edward Elgar
depicted Dan in the Enigma Variations
. The eleventh variation, in G minor, Allegro di molto headed "G.R.S." portrays Dan falling into the River Wye
and, in Elgar's words, "paddling upstream to find a landing place; and his rejoicing bark on landing. G.R.S. said, 'Set that to music'. I did; here it is." The variation also depicts Sinclair’s impetuous character and his skilful organ pedalling.
At Hereford, Sinclair was chief conductor of the Three Choirs Festival
s of 1891, 1894, 1897, 1900, 1903, 1906, 1909 and 1912. He modernised the repertoire of the festivals, introducing music of peripheral religious relevance, including Parsifal, and of wholly secular character, such as Tchaikovsky
's Pathétique
Symphony. In a country still suspicious of Roman Catholicism, Sinclair programmed Verdi
's Requiem
, and made a considerable success with it in 1900. He, together with Elgar and Stanford
and the soloists, sent a telegram to the aged composer reporting "una recita splendida del Requiem Festival di Hereford".
Sinclair died suddenly in Birmingham, aged 53, after conducting a rehearsal.
Truro Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Truro is an Anglican cathedral located in the city of Truro, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. It was built in the Gothic Revival architectural style fashionable during much of the nineteenth century, and is one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom...
and Hereford
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
cathedrals.
As a young man, Sinclair was destined for the Anglican priesthood, but in 1880 his father died and Sinclair needed to earn a living immediately. He became the first cathedral organist of the new diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Truro
Diocese of Truro
The Diocese of Truro is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury.-Geography and history:The diocese's area is that of the county of Cornwall including the Isles of Scilly. It was formed on 15 December 1876 from the Archdeaconry of Cornwall in the Diocese of Exeter, it is thus one...
. He moved from Truro to become organist of Hereford Cathedral in 1889, where he remained for the rest of his life.
At Hereford, Sinclair was conductor of eight Three Choirs Festival
Three Choirs Festival
The Three Choirs Festival is a music festival held each August alternately at the cathedrals of the Three Counties and originally featuring their three choirs, which remain central to the week-long programme...
s between 1891 and 1912, working with leading British musicians of the day, including Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
, who incorporated into his Enigma Variations
Enigma Variations
Variations on an Original Theme for orchestra , Op. 36, commonly referred to as the Enigma Variations, is a set of a theme and its fourteen variations written for orchestra by Edward Elgar in 1898–1899. It is Elgar's best-known large-scale composition, for both the music itself and the...
a portrait of Sinclair and his bulldog.
Early years
Sinclair was born in CroydonCroydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, the son of Dr R S Sinclair, director of public education in Bombay. The family had Irish connections, and at the age of eight, Sinclair entered the Royal Irish Academy of Music
Royal Irish Academy of Music
The Royal Irish Academy of Music is a linked college of Dublin City University located in Dublin, Ireland.It was founded in 1848 by a group of music enthusiasts and moved to its present address in Westland Row in 1871. The following year it was granted the right to use the title "Royal"...
in Dublin. In 1873, aged ten, he gained a choral scholarship at St. Michael's College, Tenbury
St. Michael's College, Tenbury
The College of St. Michael and All Angels, in Tenbury Wells Worcestershire was a boys school founded by Frederick Ouseley in 1856 to provide a model for the performance of Anglican church music. Choral services were performed daily in term time, and the college possessed a library that contained...
, under the headship of Sir Frederick Ouseley
Frederick Ouseley
Sir Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, 2nd Baronet was an English composer, organist, and musicologist.He was born in London, the son of Sir Gore Ouseley, and manifested an extraordinary precocity in music, composing an opera at the age of eight years. In 1844, having succeeded to the baronetcy, he...
. He remained there for six years, singing in the choir at the daily services and deputising as organist.
1879 Sinclair became assistant organist to Charles Harford Lloyd
Charles Harford Lloyd
Charles Harford Lloyd was an English composer and organist.While studying at Magdalen Hall Lloyd was founder, with his friend Hubert Parry, and first president of the Oxford University musical club...
at Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the river. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter .-Foundations:The foundations of the present...
and parish organist of St Mary-de-Crypt
St Mary de Crypt Church
St Mary de Crypt Church, Southgate Street, Gloucester GL1, is an Anglican house of worship, which was first recorded in 1140 as The Church of the Blessed Mary within Southgate. It is in the Diocese of Gloucester and is located adjacent to the ruins of Greyfriars. It has also been known as Christ...
, Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
. It had been expected that he would become an Anglican priest, but when he was seventeen his father died, and Sinclair was obliged to earn an income at once. In 1880, Edward Benson, first Bishop of Truro
Bishop of Truro
The Bishop of Truro is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Truro in the Province of Canterbury.The present diocese covers the county of Cornwall and it is one of the most recently created dioceses of the Church of England...
, asked Ouseley for advice on a suitable organist for the new Truro Cathedral
Truro Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Truro is an Anglican cathedral located in the city of Truro, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. It was built in the Gothic Revival architectural style fashionable during much of the nineteenth century, and is one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom...
. Ouseley recommended Sinclair, who was appointed, aged 17. He designed a high-specification four-manual organ built by Father Willis
Henry Willis
Henry Willis was a British organ player and builder, who is regarded as the foremost organ builder of the Victorian era.-Early Life and work:...
, and assembled and trained a choir.
Hereford and the Three Choirs Festival
In 1889, Langdon ColborneLangdon Colborne
Langdon Colbourne was an cathedral organist, who served at Hereford Cathedral.-Background:Langdon Colbourne was born on 15 September 1835 in Hackney London.He studied organ under George Cooper.-Career:Organist of:*St...
, organist of Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
died, and Sinclair was appointed to succeed him. In a profile of him in The Musical Times
The 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...
in October 1900, the anonymous author wrote:
In 1900 Sinclair was appointed conductor of the Birmingham Festival Choral Society, one of whose members drew a caricature of Sinclair and his bulldog Dan, from whom he was inseparable, and who attended all rehearsals. Sinclair's friend Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
depicted Dan in the Enigma Variations
Enigma Variations
Variations on an Original Theme for orchestra , Op. 36, commonly referred to as the Enigma Variations, is a set of a theme and its fourteen variations written for orchestra by Edward Elgar in 1898–1899. It is Elgar's best-known large-scale composition, for both the music itself and the...
. The eleventh variation, in G minor, Allegro di molto headed "G.R.S." portrays Dan falling into the River Wye
River Wye
The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
and, in Elgar's words, "paddling upstream to find a landing place; and his rejoicing bark on landing. G.R.S. said, 'Set that to music'. I did; here it is." The variation also depicts Sinclair’s impetuous character and his skilful organ pedalling.
At Hereford, Sinclair was chief conductor of the Three Choirs Festival
Three Choirs Festival
The Three Choirs Festival is a music festival held each August alternately at the cathedrals of the Three Counties and originally featuring their three choirs, which remain central to the week-long programme...
s of 1891, 1894, 1897, 1900, 1903, 1906, 1909 and 1912. He modernised the repertoire of the festivals, introducing music of peripheral religious relevance, including Parsifal, and of wholly secular character, such as Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
's Pathétique
Symphony No. 6 (Tchaikovsky)
The Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, Pathétique is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's final completed symphony, written between February and the end of August 1893. The composer led the first performance in Saint Petersburg on 16/28 October of that year, nine days before his death...
Symphony. In a country still suspicious of Roman Catholicism, Sinclair programmed Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
's Requiem
Requiem (Verdi)
The Messa da Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi is a musical setting of the Roman Catholic funeral mass for four soloists, double choir and orchestra. It was composed in memory of Alessandro Manzoni, an Italian poet and novelist much admired by Verdi. The first performance in San Marco in Milan on 22 May...
, and made a considerable success with it in 1900. He, together with Elgar and Stanford
Charles Villiers Stanford
Sir Charles Villiers Stanford was an Irish composer who was particularly notable for his choral music. He was professor at the Royal College of Music and University of Cambridge.- Life :...
and the soloists, sent a telegram to the aged composer reporting "una recita splendida del Requiem Festival di Hereford".
Sinclair died suddenly in Birmingham, aged 53, after conducting a rehearsal.