Robert Still
Encyclopedia
Robert Still was an English
composer, educator and amateur tennis player.
Robert Still was born in London
on 10 June 1910. He was a direct descendent of the Elizabethan
Bishop of Bath and Wells
John Still
, the author of the farce Gammer Gurton's Needle, and Peter Still, solicitor to George III.
He was educated at Eton College
and Trinity College, Oxford
, where he gained the degrees of BA
, MA
, and BMus
. He studied under C. H. Kitson, Basil Allchin and Gordon Jacob
. Later in life he studied with Hans Keller
. At Eton
and Oxford
he developed an interest in racquet games, winning a Blue and in later life playing real tennis
for the Marylebone Cricket Club
.
After Oxford
, he returned to Eton to teach music, leaving there in 1938 to become conductor and arranger of the Ballet Trois Arts, a travelling company. By this time he had written a few songs and a light opera, Love and Learning, for the Windsor Operatic Society. He had been their conductor whilst teaching at Eton.
Still's War was spent first manning a searchlight in the Cotswolds and then with the Royal Artillery
travelling orchestra, which he conducted. His musical talks to the troops led him to meet his future wife, whom he married in 1944.
After the war, the couple moved to Hampshire
and in 1949 to Bucklebury
in Berkshire
. He now devoted his full time to composition, although he had contemplated becoming a Freudian
lay psychoanalyst. However, he kept this interest and formed the London Imago Society in 1956, along with his friend, painter Adrian Stokes
. Still's article on Gustav Mahler
was published by The American Imago Society and he also wrote psychoanalytical articles on music and painting.
Still's 3rd Symphony was submitted to the University of Oxford in 1963, after being championed by Sir Eugene Goossens
. As a result, he was awarded an Oxford Doctorate in Music
.
During this time his family had grown to four daughters and he had spent much of his time giving free advice and lessons to students. His friends included John Russell
, Deryck Cooke
, Anthony Scott, Adrian Stokes
, Michael Tilson Thomas
, Sir Eugene Goossens, and Myer Fredman
.
Still's compositions include songs, four symphonies, a piano concerto, a violin concerto, instrumental & chamber works, orchestral works, motets and an opera. Some of his chamber works were recorded by Argo Records (UK)
. An archive is held at the Jerwood Library in Greenwich (London). He remained predominantly tonal, using dissonance to great effect.
Robert Still died suddenly of a heart attack on 13 January 1971. Just before his death he had been elected a member of the Executive Committee of the Composer's Guild.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
composer, educator and amateur tennis player.
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...
on 10 June 1910. He was a direct descendent of the Elizabethan
Elizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
Bishop of Bath and Wells
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
John Still
John Still
John Still , bishop of Bath and Wells enjoyed considerable fame as a preacher and disputant. He was formerly reputed to be the author of the early English comedy drama Gammer Gurton's Needle .-Career:...
, the author of the farce Gammer Gurton's Needle, and Peter Still, solicitor to George III.
He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
, where he gained the degrees of BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, MA
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
, and BMus
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
. He studied under C. H. Kitson, Basil Allchin and Gordon Jacob
Gordon Jacob
Gordon Percival Septimus Jacob was an English composer. He is known for his wind instrument composition and his instructional writings.-Life:...
. Later in life he studied with Hans Keller
Hans Keller
Hans Keller was an influential Austrian-born British musician and writer who made significant contributions to musicology and music criticism, as well as being an insightful commentator on such disparate fields as psychoanalysis and football...
. At Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
he developed an interest in racquet games, winning a Blue and in later life playing real tennis
Real tennis
Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original indoor racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended...
for the Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
.
After Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, he returned to Eton to teach music, leaving there in 1938 to become conductor and arranger of the Ballet Trois Arts, a travelling company. By this time he had written a few songs and a light opera, Love and Learning, for the Windsor Operatic Society. He had been their conductor whilst teaching at Eton.
Still's War was spent first manning a searchlight in the Cotswolds and then with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
travelling orchestra, which he conducted. His musical talks to the troops led him to meet his future wife, whom he married in 1944.
After the war, the couple moved to Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
and in 1949 to Bucklebury
Bucklebury
Bucklebury is a village and civil parish in West Berkshire. The village is about north-east of Newbury and about north of the A4 road. It has a population of 2,066.-Geography:...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. He now devoted his full time to composition, although he had contemplated becoming a Freudian
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
lay psychoanalyst. However, he kept this interest and formed the London Imago Society in 1956, along with his friend, painter Adrian Stokes
Adrian Scott Stokes
Charles Adrian Scott Stokes RA was an English landscape painter. Born in Southport, Lancashire, he became a cotton broker in Liverpool, where his artistic talent was noticed by John Herbert RA, who advised him to submit his drawings to the Royal Academy. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in...
. Still's article on Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
was published by The American Imago Society and he also wrote psychoanalytical articles on music and painting.
Still's 3rd Symphony was submitted to the University of Oxford in 1963, after being championed by Sir Eugene Goossens
Eugène Goossens
Eugène Goossens was the name of three notable musicians . Listed chronologically:*Eugène Goossens, père , conductor *Eugène Goossens, fils , violinist and conductor...
. As a result, he was awarded an Oxford Doctorate in Music
Doctor of Music
The Doctor of Music degree , like other doctorates, is an academic degree of the highest level. The D.Mus. is intended for musicians and composers who wish to combine the highest attainments in their area of specialization with doctoral-level academic study in music...
.
During this time his family had grown to four daughters and he had spent much of his time giving free advice and lessons to students. His friends included John Russell
John Russell
-Politicians:* John Russell , MP for Herefordshire and Speaker of the House of Commons.* John E. Russell , U.S. Representative from Massachusetts* John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford -Politicians:* John Russell (speaker) (died 1497), MP for Herefordshire and Speaker of the House of Commons.* John E....
, Deryck Cooke
Deryck Cooke
Deryck Cooke was a British musician, musicologist and broadcaster.-Life:Cooke was born in Leicester to a poor and working class family; his father died when he was a child, but his mother was able to afford piano lessons. Cooke acquired a brilliant technique and began to compose...
, Anthony Scott, Adrian Stokes
Adrian Scott Stokes
Charles Adrian Scott Stokes RA was an English landscape painter. Born in Southport, Lancashire, he became a cotton broker in Liverpool, where his artistic talent was noticed by John Herbert RA, who advised him to submit his drawings to the Royal Academy. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in...
, Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is currently music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra.-Early years:...
, Sir Eugene Goossens, and Myer Fredman
Myer Fredman
Myer Fredman is a British-Australian conductor.He studied at Dartington Hall and in London with Peter Gellhorn, Vilém Tauský, Sir Adrian Boult, and was assistant conductor to Otto Klemperer, Vittorio Gui, Sir John Pritchard and Sir Charles Mackerras.He was conductor at the Glyndebourne Festival...
.
Still's compositions include songs, four symphonies, a piano concerto, a violin concerto, instrumental & chamber works, orchestral works, motets and an opera. Some of his chamber works were recorded by Argo Records (UK)
Argo Records (UK)
Argo Records was a record label founded in 1951 by Harley Usill , and musicologist Cyril Clarke with £500 capital, initially as a company specialising in "British music played by British artists" , but it quickly became a company primarily specialising in spoken-word recordings and other esoteric ...
. An archive is held at the Jerwood Library in Greenwich (London). He remained predominantly tonal, using dissonance to great effect.
Robert Still died suddenly of a heart attack on 13 January 1971. Just before his death he had been elected a member of the Executive Committee of the Composer's Guild.