William F. Apthorp
Encyclopedia
William Foster Apthorp was a musician.
He was born in 1848 and graduated from Harvard College
, where he studied piano
, harmony
, and counterpoint
with the institution’s first professor of music, the composer
John Knowles Paine
. As a child, he had been taken by his parents to study art
in Dresden
, Berlin
, and Rome
, and he developed into an accomplished linguist who could speak “all the leading languages of Europe
.” He began his career as a critic writing for the Atlantic Monthly, Dwight's Journal of Music
, the Boston Courier, and the Boston Evening Traveller, and went on to help shape Boston’s musical tastes as reviewer for one of Boston’s premier urban newspapers, the Boston Evening Transcript
, and as program essayist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra
.
Apthorp also served at various times on the faculties of the National College of Music in Boston (harmony), the New England Conservatory of Music
(piano, harmony, counterpoint, and theory
), and the College of Music of Boston University
(aesthetics
and music history
). He co-edited, with John Champlin, Scribner’s Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians (1888–1890). His books include Hector Berlioz: Selections from His Letters, and Aesthetic, Humorous, and Satirical Writings (1879), Musicians and Music Lovers, and Other Essays (1894), By the Way (1898), The Opera, Past and Present: An Historical Sketch (1901), and a translation of several of Emile Zola
’s stories (1895). He also published editions of the songs of Robert Franz
and Adolf Jensen
.
He was born in 1848 and graduated from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, where he studied 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...
, harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
, and counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
with the institution’s first professor of music, the composer
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...
John Knowles Paine
John Knowles Paine
John Knowles Paine , was the first American-born composer to achieve fame for large-scale orchestral music.-Life:He studied organ, orchestration, and composition in Germany and toured in Europe for three years...
. As a child, he had been taken by his parents to study art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and he developed into an accomplished linguist who could speak “all the leading languages of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.” He began his career as a critic writing for the Atlantic Monthly, Dwight's Journal of Music
Dwight's Journal of Music
Dwight's Journal of Music was an American music journal, one of the most respected and influential such periodicals in the country in the mid-19th century. John Sullivan Dwight created the Journal, and published it in Boston, Massachusetts...
, the Boston Courier, and the Boston Evening Traveller, and went on to help shape Boston’s musical tastes as reviewer for one of Boston’s premier urban newspapers, the Boston Evening Transcript
Boston Evening Transcript
The Boston Evening Transcript was a daily afternoon newspaper in Boston, Massachusetts, published from July 24, 1830, to April 30, 1941.-Beginnings:...
, and as program essayist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
.
Apthorp also served at various times on the faculties of the National College of Music in Boston (harmony), the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
(piano, harmony, counterpoint, and theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
), and the College of Music of Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
(aesthetics
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
and music history
Music history
Music history, sometimes called historical musicology, is the highly diverse subfield of the broader discipline of musicology that studies the composition, performance, reception, and criticism of music over time...
). He co-edited, with John Champlin, Scribner’s Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians (1888–1890). His books include Hector Berlioz: Selections from His Letters, and Aesthetic, Humorous, and Satirical Writings (1879), Musicians and Music Lovers, and Other Essays (1894), By the Way (1898), The Opera, Past and Present: An Historical Sketch (1901), and a translation of several of Emile Zola
Émile Zola
Émile François Zola was a French writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of naturalism and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism...
’s stories (1895). He also published editions of the songs of Robert Franz
Robert Franz
Robert Franz was a German composer, mainly of lieder.-Biography:He was born Robert Knauth in Halle, Germany, the son of Christoph Franz Knauth...
and Adolf Jensen
Adolf Jensen
Adolf Jensen was a German pianist, composer and music teacher, and was the brother of Gustav Jensen who was a violinist and composer.-Biography:...
.
Further reading
- Joseph Edgar Chamberlin, The Boston Transcript: A History of its First Hundred Years (Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1930), 206
- Joseph A. Mussulman, Music in the Cultured Generation, passim.; and Robert Brian Nelson, “The Commentaries and Criticisms of William Foster Apthorp,“ Ph.D., University of Florida, 1991
- The New Grove Diectionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd ed., s. v. “Apthorp, William Foster.”