George Malcolm (musician)
Encyclopedia
George Malcolm CBE (28 February 191710 October 1997) 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. During the Second World War he was a bandleader
.
After the war, he developed a career as a harpsichordist. Like Wanda Landowska
, he favoured rather large 'revival' harpsichords with pedals, built in a modern style, that now are seen as unauthentic for Baroque music
. While aspects of his interpretations may seem outdated by the standards of today's historically informed performance practice, his recordings and live performances introduced many people to the harpsichord
and influenced a number of today's musicians. As well as Baroque works, he played modern harpsichord repertoire including his own composition "Bach before the Mast", a humorous set of variations on The Sailor's Hornpipe in the style of Johann Sebastian Bach
. Malcolm also composed for voices, a well-known piece being his Palm Sunday
introit
Ingrediente Domino.
Although Malcolm made occasional appearances as a pianist in chamber music, notably with the Dennis Brain
Wind Ensemble, he left very few recordings in this capacity (one interesting example is the first performance of the Gordon Jacob
Sextet, written for the group). But he also pursued a notable career as an organist
and choir-trainer: for 12 years (1947–1959), he was organist of Westminster Cathedral
, where he developed the choir's "continental" sound, which contrasts with that of Anglican choirs. Benjamin Britten
's Missa Brevis
was commissioned for his retirement. Malcolm was founding patron of Spode Music Week
, an annual residential music school that places particular emphasis on the music of the Roman Catholic liturgy.
In the 1950s he participated in annual concerts featuring four harpsichordists, the three others being Thurston Dart
, 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
. Malcolm, Dart and Joyce also recorded Bach's Concerto in C for Three Harpsichords, and all four recorded Malcolm's own Variations on a Theme of Mozart
. In 1967, he appeared with Eileen Joyce, Geoffrey Parsons
and Simon Preston
in a 4-harpsichord concert with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields under Neville Marriner
in the Royal Festival Hall
.
In later life Malcolm developed a career as a conductor, forging long-standing relationships with ensembles such as the English Chamber Orchestra
and the Northern Sinfonia
orchestra. The pianist András Schiff
, who left Hungary in order to study with Malcolm, was a frequent concerto soloist under his baton, and the two recorded Mozart's complete works for piano duet together on the composer's own piano.
Malcolm is buried in the graveyard at Saintbury Church, Gloucestershire.
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...
harpsichordist
Harpsichordist
A harpsichordist is a person who plays the harpsichord.Many baroque composers played the harpsichord, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, George Frideric Handel, François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau...
and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Malcolm's first instrument was the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and his first teacher was a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
who recognised his talent and recommended him to 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...
. Malcolm went on to study at Balliol College, Oxford. During the Second World War he was a bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
.
After the war, he developed a career as a harpsichordist. Like Wanda Landowska
Wanda Landowska
Wanda Landowska was a Polish harpsichordist whose performances, teaching, recordings and writings played a large role in reviving the popularity of the harpsichord in the early 20th century...
, he favoured rather large 'revival' harpsichords with pedals, built in a modern style, that now are seen as unauthentic for Baroque music
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
. While aspects of his interpretations may seem outdated by the standards of today's historically informed performance practice, his recordings and live performances introduced many people to 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 influenced a number of today's musicians. As well as Baroque works, he played modern harpsichord repertoire including his own composition "Bach before the Mast", a humorous set of variations on The Sailor's Hornpipe in the style of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
. Malcolm also composed for voices, a well-known piece being his Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. ....
introit
Introit
The Introit is part of the opening of the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist for many Christian denominations. In its most complete version, it consists of an antiphon, psalm verse and Gloria Patri that is spoken or sung at the beginning of the celebration...
Ingrediente Domino.
Although Malcolm made occasional appearances as a pianist in chamber music, notably with the Dennis Brain
Dennis Brain
Dennis Brain was a British virtuoso horn player and was largely credited for popularizing the horn as a solo classical instrument with the post-war British public...
Wind Ensemble, he left very few recordings in this capacity (one interesting example is the first performance of the 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:...
Sextet, written for the group). But he also pursued a notable career as an organist
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
and choir-trainer: for 12 years (1947–1959), he was organist of Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral in London is the mother church of the Catholic community in England and Wales and the Metropolitan Church and Cathedral of the Archbishop of Westminster...
, where he developed the choir's "continental" sound, which contrasts with that of Anglican choirs. Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
's Missa Brevis
Missa Brevis (Britten)
The Missa Brevis in D, Op. 63 is a setting of the Mass composed by Benjamin Britten on Trinity Sunday, 1959. It was first performed at London's Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral on 22 July of the same year. The piece is set for three-part treble chorus and organ.The printed dedication reads "For...
was commissioned for his retirement. Malcolm was founding patron of Spode Music Week
Spode Music Week
Spode Music Week is the name of an annual residential Music school that places particular emphasis on the music of the Roman Catholic liturgy. It is a registered charity in England...
, an annual residential music school that places particular emphasis on the music of the Roman Catholic liturgy.
In the 1950s he participated in annual concerts featuring four harpsichordists, the three others being Thurston Dart
Thurston Dart
Robert Thurston Dart , was a British musicologist, conductor and keyboard player. From 1964 he was Professor of Music at King's College London....
, 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
Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi , nicknamed because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe...
'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
Boris Ord
Boris Ord , born Bernhard Ord, was an English organist, composer and musical director best known as the choir master of King's College, Cambridge....
. Malcolm, Dart and Joyce also recorded Bach's Concerto in C for Three Harpsichords, and all four recorded Malcolm's own Variations on a Theme of Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
. In 1967, he appeared with Eileen Joyce, Geoffrey Parsons
Geoffrey Parsons (pianist)
Geoffrey Penwill Parsons AO OBE was an Australian pianist, most particularly notable as an accompanist to singers and instrumentalists...
and Simon Preston
Simon Preston
Simon John Preston CBE is an English organist, conductor, and composer.- Early life :He attended the Canford School in Wimborne in Dorset. Originally a chorister at King's College, Cambridge, he studied the organ with C. H...
in a 4-harpsichord concert with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields under 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...
in the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
.
In later life Malcolm developed a career as a conductor, forging long-standing relationships with ensembles such as the English Chamber Orchestra
English Chamber Orchestra
The English Chamber Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and the ECO Ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall...
and the Northern Sinfonia
Northern Sinfonia
The Northern Sinfonia is a British chamber orchestra, based initially in Newcastle upon Tyne, and currently in Gateshead. For the first 46 years of its history, the orchestra gave the bulk of its concerts at the City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2004, the orchestra has been resident at The...
orchestra. The pianist András Schiff
András Schiff
András Schiff is a Hungarian-born British classical pianist, who has won a number of awards including the Grammy and made numerous recordings.- Biography :...
, who left Hungary in order to study with Malcolm, was a frequent concerto soloist under his baton, and the two recorded Mozart's complete works for piano duet together on the composer's own piano.
Malcolm is buried in the graveyard at Saintbury Church, Gloucestershire.