Thurston Dart
Encyclopedia
Robert Thurston Dart (3 September 1921 – 6 March 1971), was a British
musicologist
, conductor and keyboard player. From 1964 he was Professor of Music at King's College London
.
He studied keyboard instruments at the Royal College of Music
in London from 1938 to 1939, and also studied mathematics at University College, Exeter (B.Sc. 1942). In 1947 he was appointed assistant lecturer in music at the University of Cambridge
, subsequently lecturer (1952), and professor (1962). During this time at Cambridge, Dart was the most effective British supporter of the modern early music
revival, in part through his influence on those who ultimately formed such groups as the Early Music Consort of London. In 1964 he was appointed King Edward Professor of Music in the University of London (King's College).
As a continuo player he made numerous appearances on the harpsichord
, and made many harpsichord, clavichord
and organ recordings, especially for the L'Oiseau-Lyre
label; he was also a conductor. He served as editor of the Galpin Society
Journal from 1947 to 1954 and secretary of Musica Britannica
from 1950 to 1965. His book, The Interpretation of Music (London, 1954), was highly influential; he also wrote numerous seminal articles on aspects of musical sources, performance and interpretation.
In the 1950s he participated in annual concerts featuring four harpsichordists, the three others being George Malcolm
, Denis Vaughan
and Eileen Joyce
. In 1957 this group also recorded two of Vivaldi's Concertos for Four Harpsichords, one in a Bach arrangement, with the Pro Arte Orchestra
under Boris Ord. They also recorded Malcolm's Variations on a Theme of Mozart.
Dart's distinguished students included the composer Michael Nyman
, conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner
and conductor/musicologist Christopher Hogwood
.
He made one of the first historically informed recordings of the Brandenburg Concertos
with the Philharmusica of London. He later worked with Neville Marriner
on a recording of both the Brandenburg Concerti and the four Orchestral suites though Dart died before this was complete.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musicologist
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
, conductor and keyboard player. From 1964 he was Professor of Music at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
.
He studied keyboard instruments at 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...
in London from 1938 to 1939, and also studied mathematics at University College, Exeter (B.Sc. 1942). In 1947 he was appointed assistant lecturer in music at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, subsequently lecturer (1952), and professor (1962). During this time at Cambridge, Dart was the most effective British supporter of the modern early music
Early music
Early music is generally understood as comprising all music from the earliest times up to the Renaissance. However, today this term has come to include "any music for which a historically appropriate style of performance must be reconstructed on the basis of surviving scores, treatises,...
revival, in part through his influence on those who ultimately formed such groups as the Early Music Consort of London. In 1964 he was appointed King Edward Professor of Music in the University of London (King's College).
As a continuo player he made numerous appearances on the harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
, and made many harpsichord, clavichord
Clavichord
The clavichord is a European stringed keyboard instrument known from the late Medieval, through the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras. Historically, it was widely used as a practice instrument and as an aid to composition, not being loud enough for larger performances. The clavichord produces...
and organ recordings, especially for the L'Oiseau-Lyre
L'Oiseau-Lyre
L'Oiseau-Lyre may refer to:* Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre, French-Australian Music publishers* L'Oiseau-Lyre , an classical early music label owned by Decca Records since 1970...
label; he was also a conductor. He served as editor of the Galpin Society
Galpin Society
The Galpin Society was formed in October 1946 to further research into the history, construction, development and use of musical instruments...
Journal from 1947 to 1954 and secretary of Musica Britannica
Musica Britannica
Musica Britannica was founded in 1951 as an authoritative national collection of British music. It is designed to stand alongside existing library editions, and to explore the vast heritage of material still largely untouched by them, thus making available a representative survey of the British...
from 1950 to 1965. His book, The Interpretation of Music (London, 1954), was highly influential; he also wrote numerous seminal articles on aspects of musical sources, performance and interpretation.
In the 1950s he participated in annual concerts featuring four harpsichordists, the three others being George Malcolm
George Malcolm (musician)
George Malcolm CBE was an English harpsichordist and conductor.Malcolm's first instrument was the piano, and his first teacher was a nun who recognised his talent and recommended him to the Royal College of Music. Malcolm went on to study at Balliol College, Oxford...
, Denis Vaughan
Denis Vaughan
Denis Vaughan is an orchestral conductor most famous for his role as the driving force behind the creation of the United Kingdom's National Lottery. He is a campaigner for wider access to arts and culture for young people, and promotes the health benefits of music, the arts and sport...
and Eileen Joyce
Eileen Joyce
Eileen Alannah Joyce CMG was an Australian pianist whose career spanned more than 30 years. She lived in England in her adult years....
. In 1957 this group also recorded two of Vivaldi's Concertos for Four Harpsichords, one in a Bach arrangement, with the Pro Arte Orchestra
Pro Arte Orchestra
-Background:The Pro Arte Orchestra was founded as a limited company chaired by the double-bass player Eugene Cruft; directors also included Archie Camden and Antony English. The initial aim was to perform "the finest of the lighter classics in orchestral music"...
under Boris Ord. They also recorded Malcolm's Variations on a Theme of Mozart.
Dart's distinguished students included the composer Michael Nyman
Michael Nyman
Michael Laurence Nyman, CBE is an English composer of minimalist music, pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's The Piano...
, conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner
John Eliot Gardiner
Sir John Eliot Gardiner CBE FKC is an English conductor. He founded the Monteverdi Choir , the English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique...
and conductor/musicologist Christopher Hogwood
Christopher Hogwood
Christopher Jarvis Haley Hogwood CBE, MA , HonMusD , born 10 September 1941, Nottingham, is an English conductor, harpsichordist, writer and musicologist, well known as the founder of the Academy of Ancient Music.-Biography:...
.
He made one of the first historically informed recordings of the Brandenburg Concertos
Brandenburg concertos
The Brandenburg concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach are a collection of six instrumental works presented by Bach to Christian Ludwig, margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, in 1721 . They are widely regarded as among the finest musical compositions of the Baroque era...
with the Philharmusica of London. He later worked with Neville Marriner
Neville Marriner
Sir Neville Marriner is an English conductor and violinist.-Biography:Marriner was born in Lincoln and studied at the Royal College of Music and the Paris Conservatoire. He played the violin in the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Martin String Quartet and London Symphony Orchestra, playing with the...
on a recording of both the Brandenburg Concerti and the four Orchestral suites though Dart died before this was complete.
Further reading
- Bent, Ian, ed. (1981). Source materials and the interpretation of music: a memorial volume to Thurston Dart. London: Stainer & Bell. ISBN 0-85249-511-0.