Oliphant Chuckerbutty
Encyclopedia
Soorjo Alexander William Langobard Oliphant Chuckerbutty (1884–1960) (A.K.A. Wilson Oliphant) was an English composer
and an organist
of Anglo-Indian descent who played in both cinemas
and churches. He was a grandson of Surgeon-major Goodeve Chuckerbutty
, and a nephew by marriage of Sir Ganendra Roy, Director of Posts and Telegraphs in India; his maternal grandfather was journalist William Oliphant.
Little known as a composer (except for his piece "Pæan" which has entered the standard repertoire), Chuckerbutty wrote mainly for organ. He began playing the piano at six, and was composing by 14. His careers in church and cinema occurred simultaneously. Quentin MacLean called him "the only organist I know who combines whole-time cinema work with whole-time church work and makes a job of both."
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and an organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
of Anglo-Indian descent who played in both cinemas
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
and churches. He was a grandson of Surgeon-major Goodeve Chuckerbutty
Soorjo Coomar Goodeve Chuckerbutty
Surjo Kumar Chakraborty was one of the earliest Indians to practice modern medicine.He studied in Medical College,Bengal and went to England for further studies.He was an M.R.C.S. and M.D.He was the first Indian to join the Indian Medical Service....
, and a nephew by marriage of Sir Ganendra Roy, Director of Posts and Telegraphs in India; his maternal grandfather was journalist William Oliphant.
Little known as a composer (except for his piece "Pæan" which has entered the standard repertoire), Chuckerbutty wrote mainly for organ. He began playing the piano at six, and was composing by 14. His careers in church and cinema occurred simultaneously. Quentin MacLean called him "the only organist I know who combines whole-time cinema work with whole-time church work and makes a job of both."
Career
- c. 1902? - Studied piano with EpsteinJulius Epstein (pianist)Julius Epstein was an Austro-Hungarian Jewish pianist. He was a pupil at Agram of the choir-director Vatroslav Lichtenegger, and in Vienna of Johann Rufinatscha and Anton Halm...
- c. 1909 - Graduated as Bachelor of Music, University of LondonUniversity of London-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
- c. 1908-1914 - Assistant Organist, Southwark Cathedral
- 1909-1948 - Organist and Choirmaster, Holy Trinity Church, PaddingtonPaddingtonPaddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
- 1914 - "An Old Song" published by Boosey
- 1920-1927 - Organist, Angel Theatre, IslingtonIslingtonIslington 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...
Works
- An Old Song - Boosey 1914
- Fiesta Argentina (orchestra) - Bosworth
- Fauns and Satyrs (orchestra) - Bosworth
- Pæan - A Song of Triumph (organ) - Bosworth
- Queen's Procession March (organ) - Bosworth 1952
- A Southern Night (piano) - Bosworth