Henry David Leslie
Encyclopedia
Henry David Leslie was an English composer and conductor. Leslie was a leader in supporting amateur choral musicians in Britain, founding prize-winning amateur choral societies. He was also a supporter of musical higher education, helping to found national music schools.
player, and Mary Taylor Leslie. He had eight brothers and sisters. He attended the Palace School in Enfield
and worked with his father. As a teenager, he studied the cello
with Charles Lucas
and later played that instrument in concerts at the Sacred Harmonic Society for several years.
Leslie's dramatic overture, The Templar (1852), was followed by and his well-regarded oratorio
s Immanuel (1854) and Judith (1858), and some chamber music. In 1855 he founded a madrigal society which grew to 200 voices and became known as Henry Leslie's Choir. He was its conductor until 1880. The choir introduced many important choral works to English audiences, including J. S. Bach's 18-part motets. According to The Times
, this choir "held the palm among London societies for finished singing of unaccompanied music, both ancient and modern".
In 1857 Leslie married Mary Betsy, one of his pupils, the daughter of physician William Henry Perry. The couple moved to Mary's family home, now known as Bryn Tanat Hall, at Llansanffraid, near Oswestry
on the Welsh border. They produced four sons and one daughter. Their son William became a master of the Musicians' Company, and Charles
became a cricketer for Middlesex and England.
Leslie's operetta
Romance, or, Bold Dick Turpin, first performed in 1857, was presented at Covent Garden
in 1860. After this, he wrote the cantatas Holyrood (1860) and Daughter of the Isles (1861) and a Jubilate
in B (1864). In 1865, he wrote a romantic opera
Ida, or, The Guardian Storks. He also conducted the amateur Herefordshire Philharmonic Society from 1863. He published over a hundred part songs for the choir. Some of these became very popular, including the trio "O memory", "The Pilgrims", and "Annabelle Lee" set to a poem by Edgar Allan Poe
. His output also included a quantity of chamber and piano music. He also edited collections of part songs, including Cassell's Choral Music, in 1867.
, Julius Benedict
, and other prominent musicians, but the college survived only two years. In 1874, he became conductor of the newly formed Guild of Amateur Musicians. In 1878, Leslie and others made another attempt to form a national music school, which was successful and became the predecessor of the Royal College of Music
.
Leslie and Sullivan organized the British musical presentations at the Paris Exhibition of 1878. There Henry Leslie's Choir won the first prize at the international choral competition. In 1880, after a royal command performance at Windsor Castle
, he dissolved the choir. Later, however, it was re-formed under Alberto Randegger
, with Leslie as president, and he resumed conducting it from 1885 to 1887. Charles Santley
and other well-known soloists performed with the choir.
Leslie's only major composition later in life was his second symphony, Chivalry, which premiered in 1881 at The Crystal Palace
. After he retired, he founded the Oswestry
School of Music and its Festival of Village Choirs. At the end of his life, Leslie was ill for several years.
He died in 1896 in Baschurch
, Shropshire
, near Wales, and was buried in the churchyard at Llanyblodwel.
Biography
Leslie was born in London. His parents were John Leslie, a tailor and enthusiastic amateur violaViola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
player, and Mary Taylor Leslie. He had eight brothers and sisters. He attended the Palace School in Enfield
Enfield Town
Enfield Town is the historic town centre of Enfield, formerly in the county of Middlesex and now in the London Borough of Enfield. It is north north-east of Charing Cross...
and worked with his father. As a teenager, he studied the cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
with Charles Lucas
Charles Lucas (musician)
Charles Lucas was an English cellist, conductor, composer and publisher. He was a Principal of the Royal Academy of Music....
and later played that instrument in concerts at the Sacred Harmonic Society for several years.
Early career
Leslie began to compose music, and in 1840 he published his Te Deum and Jubilate in D. He became honorary secretary of the newly founded Amateur Musical Society in 1847. His symphony in F was performed in 1848 by the Amateur Musical Society under Michael Balfe. The next year, at the Norwich music festival of 1849, his much-admired anthem "Let God Arise" was premiered. He conducted the Amateur Musical Society from 1853 until it dissolved in 1861.Leslie's dramatic overture, The Templar (1852), was followed by and his well-regarded oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
s Immanuel (1854) and Judith (1858), and some chamber music. In 1855 he founded a madrigal society which grew to 200 voices and became known as Henry Leslie's Choir. He was its conductor until 1880. The choir introduced many important choral works to English audiences, including J. S. Bach's 18-part motets. According to The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, this choir "held the palm among London societies for finished singing of unaccompanied music, both ancient and modern".
In 1857 Leslie married Mary Betsy, one of his pupils, the daughter of physician William Henry Perry. The couple moved to Mary's family home, now known as Bryn Tanat Hall, at Llansanffraid, near 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 Welsh border. They produced four sons and one daughter. Their son William became a master of the Musicians' Company, and Charles
Charles Leslie (cricketer)
Charles Frederick Henry Leslie was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for eight years between 1881 and 1888...
became a cricketer for Middlesex and England.
Leslie's operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
Romance, or, Bold Dick Turpin, first performed in 1857, was presented at Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in 1860. After this, he wrote the cantatas Holyrood (1860) and Daughter of the Isles (1861) and a Jubilate
Psalm 100
Psalm 100 is part of the biblical Book of Psalms. It may be used as a canticle in the Anglican liturgy of Morning Prayer, when it is referred to by its incipit as the Jubilate or Jubilate Deo...
in B (1864). In 1865, he wrote a romantic opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
Ida, or, The Guardian Storks. He also conducted the amateur Herefordshire Philharmonic Society from 1863. He published over a hundred part songs for the choir. Some of these became very popular, including the trio "O memory", "The Pilgrims", and "Annabelle Lee" set to a poem by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
. His output also included a quantity of chamber and piano music. He also edited collections of part songs, including Cassell's Choral Music, in 1867.
Later years
In 1864, Leslie established a National College of Music, in Piccadilly, and acted as its principal. Its professors included Arthur SullivanArthur Sullivan
Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan MVO was an English composer of Irish and Italian ancestry. He is best known for his series of 14 operatic collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including such enduring works as H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado...
, Julius Benedict
Julius Benedict
Sir Julius Benedict was a German-born composer and conductor, resident in England for most of his career.-Life:...
, and other prominent musicians, but the college survived only two years. In 1874, he became conductor of the newly formed Guild of Amateur Musicians. In 1878, Leslie and others made another attempt to form a national music school, which was successful and became the predecessor 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...
.
Leslie and Sullivan organized the British musical presentations at the Paris Exhibition of 1878. There Henry Leslie's Choir won the first prize at the international choral competition. In 1880, after a royal command performance at Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
, he dissolved the choir. Later, however, it was re-formed under Alberto Randegger
Alberto Randegger
Alberto Randegger was an Italian-born composer, conductor and singing teacher, best known for promoting opera and new works of British music in England during the Victorian era and for his widely-used textbook on singing technique.-Life and career:Randegger was born in Trieste, Italy, the son of...
, with Leslie as president, and he resumed conducting it from 1885 to 1887. Charles Santley
Charles Santley
Sir Charles Santley was an English-born opera and oratorio star with a bravuraFrom the Italian verb bravare, to show off. A florid, ostentatious style or a passage of music requiring technical skill technique who became the most eminent English baritone and male concert singer of the Victorian era...
and other well-known soloists performed with the choir.
Leslie's only major composition later in life was his second symphony, Chivalry, which premiered in 1881 at The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
. After he retired, he founded the 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....
School of Music and its Festival of Village Choirs. At the end of his life, Leslie was ill for several years.
He died in 1896 in Baschurch
Baschurch
Baschurch is a large village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies in North Shropshire, north of Shrewsbury. Population: 1,475 . The village has strong links to Shrewsbury to the south-east, Oswestry to the north-west, and Wem to the north-east. Baschurch is twinned with the town of Giat...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, near Wales, and was buried in the churchyard at Llanyblodwel.