Lucy Anderson
Encyclopedia
Lucy Anderson was the most eminent of the English pianists of the early Victorian era
. She is mentioned in the same breath as English pianists of the calibre of William Sterndale Bennett
.
She was born Lucy Philpot in Bath, Somerset in 1797, the daughter of John Philpot, a music seller, who is also described as "a professor of music" or "an obscure double bass player". Her sister Fanny, a piano teacher, married into the Loder family, which was prominent in Bath's musical community. Fanny became the wife of flautist
George Loder, the brother of violinist John David Loder. Lucy had lessons from her cousin, a Mr. Windsor of Bath, and from William Crotch
. She first achieved recognition as a pianist in Bath, moving to London in 1818. In July 1820 she married a well-known violinist, George Frederick Anderson
.
Lucy Anderson was the first woman pianist to play at the Philharmonic Society
concerts. She appeared 19 times between 1822 and 1862, and was the first pianist to play Beethoven
's "Emperor" Concerto
with the society. She championed Beethoven's concertos and played them more often than any other English pianist up to 1850. In 1843, she was piano soloist in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy
, conducted by Ignaz Moscheles
. In 1869 she became an honorary member of the Royal Philharmonic Society, a rarely awarded honour.
In 1830, Johann Nepomuk Hummel
composed a "Grand Military Septet" in C major, Op. 114, for violin, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, trumpet and piano. One source says this was dedicated to Lucy Anderson, although another says it was dedicated to Madame Adolphe de Lanneau.
In 1837 the publisher Alfred Novello gave Lucy Anderson exclusive rights for six months to play Felix Mendelssohn
's Piano Concerto No. 2
in England. This was a condition of an interest-free loan of £30 from her husband, the money being needed by Novello to publish the concerto.
She is described as "formidable" and "a manipulator of wide patronage". Two queens appointed her as their pianist, Queen Adelaide
in 1832 and Queen Victoria in 1837, Anderson having been Victoria's piano teacher from 1834 or earlier. She taught the piano to Victoria's children, as well as to other high-born ladies. She was a teacher of Arabella Goddard
.
In 1848 her husband George Frederick Anderson
was appointed Master of the Queen's Music
. Lucy Anderson retired in 1862, and died in London on 24 December 1878.
Her portrait by Richard James Lane
is in the National Portrait Gallery.
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. She is mentioned in the same breath as English pianists of the calibre of William Sterndale Bennett
William Sterndale Bennett
Sir William Sterndale Bennett was an English composer. He ranks as the most distinguished English composer of the Romantic school-Biography:...
.
She was born Lucy Philpot in Bath, Somerset in 1797, the daughter of John Philpot, a music seller, who is also described as "a professor of music" or "an obscure double bass player". Her sister Fanny, a piano teacher, married into the Loder family, which was prominent in Bath's musical community. Fanny became the wife of flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
George Loder, the brother of violinist John David Loder. Lucy had lessons from her cousin, a Mr. Windsor of Bath, and from William Crotch
William Crotch
William Crotch was an English composer, organist and artist.Born in Norwich to a master carpenter he showed early musical talent . The three and a half year old Master William Crotch was taken to London by his ambitious mother, where he not only played on the organ of the Chapel Royal in St....
. She first achieved recognition as a pianist in Bath, moving to London in 1818. In July 1820 she married a well-known violinist, George Frederick Anderson
George Frederick Anderson
George Frederick Anderson was a British violinist and Master of the Queen's Music.Anderson was born in London in 1793. He was engaged as violinist in a variety of orchestras...
.
Lucy Anderson was the first woman pianist to play at the Philharmonic Society
Royal Philharmonic Society
The Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...
concerts. She appeared 19 times between 1822 and 1862, and was the first pianist to play Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's "Emperor" Concerto
Piano Concerto No. 5 (Beethoven)
The Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, by Ludwig van Beethoven, popularly known as the Emperor Concerto, was his last piano concerto. It was written between 1809 and 1811 in Vienna, and was dedicated to Archduke Rudolf, Beethoven's patron and pupil...
with the society. She championed Beethoven's concertos and played them more often than any other English pianist up to 1850. In 1843, she was piano soloist in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy
Choral Fantasy (Beethoven)
The Fantasy in C minor for Piano, Chorus, and Orchestra, Op. 80, was composed in 1808 by Ludwig van Beethoven.-Background, composition, and premiere:...
, conducted by Ignaz Moscheles
Ignaz Moscheles
Ignaz Moscheles was a Bohemian composer and piano virtuoso, whose career after his early years was based initially in London, and later at Leipzig, where he succeeded his friend and sometime pupil Felix Mendelssohn as head of the Conservatoire.-Sources:Much of what we know about Moscheles's life...
. In 1869 she became an honorary member of the Royal Philharmonic Society, a rarely awarded honour.
In 1830, Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Johann Nepomuk Hummel or Jan Nepomuk Hummel was an Austrian composer and virtuoso pianist. His music reflects the transition from the Classical to the Romantic musical era.- Life :...
composed a "Grand Military Septet" in C major, Op. 114, for violin, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, trumpet and piano. One source says this was dedicated to Lucy Anderson, although another says it was dedicated to Madame Adolphe de Lanneau.
In 1837 the publisher Alfred Novello gave Lucy Anderson exclusive rights for six months to play Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
's Piano Concerto No. 2
Piano Concerto No. 2 (Mendelssohn)
The Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40, was written in 1837 by Felix Mendelssohn and premiered at the Birmingham Festival of 1837, an event that also saw the premier of Mendelssohn's St. Paul Oratorio. He had already written a piano concerto in A minor with string accompaniment , two concertos...
in England. This was a condition of an interest-free loan of £30 from her husband, the money being needed by Novello to publish the concerto.
She is described as "formidable" and "a manipulator of wide patronage". Two queens appointed her as their pianist, Queen Adelaide
Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen
Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and of Hanover as spouse of William IV of the United Kingdom. Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, is named after her.-Early life:Adelaide was born on 13 August 1792 at Meiningen, Thuringia, Germany...
in 1832 and Queen Victoria in 1837, Anderson having been Victoria's piano teacher from 1834 or earlier. She taught the piano to Victoria's children, as well as to other high-born ladies. She was a teacher of Arabella Goddard
Arabella Goddard
Arabella Goddard was an English pianist of great renown in the middle to late 19th century.She was born and died in France. Her parents, Thomas Goddard, an heir to a Salisbury cutlery firm, and Arabella née Ingles, were part of an English community of expatriates living in Saint-Servan near...
.
In 1848 her husband George Frederick Anderson
George Frederick Anderson
George Frederick Anderson was a British violinist and Master of the Queen's Music.Anderson was born in London in 1793. He was engaged as violinist in a variety of orchestras...
was appointed Master of the Queen's Music
Master of the Queen's Music
Master of the Queen's Music is a post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The holder of the post originally served the monarch of England.The post is roughly comparable to that of Poet Laureate...
. Lucy Anderson retired in 1862, and died in London on 24 December 1878.
Her portrait by Richard James Lane
Richard James Lane
Richard James Lane was a prolific English Victorian engraver and lithographer. The National Portrait Gallery has some 850 lithographs of his portraits and figure studies, done between 1825 and 1850. The images include portraits of royalty, society notables and theatre personalities.-Life:The elder...
is in the National Portrait Gallery.
Source
- Grove's Dictionary of Music, 5th ed. 1954