representatives of the counties and towns in England, the
dignitaries of the Church and other religious and educational
bodies, distinguished colonists now resident in England, and the
representatives of foreign Powers, to aid me in the promotion of
a national object by obtaining contributions for the
establishment of a Royal College of Music. Were the object less
than of national importance, I should not have troubled you--the
heads of social life--to meet me here to-day, and I should not
myself have undertaken the responsibility of acting as the
leader and organiser of the movement. I have invited to meet you
the leading musicians and publishers of music, the most eminent
musical instrument makers, the most influential amateurs and
patrons of music, and I trust that by the co-operation and union
of some of the most powerful elements of society, we may succeed
in establishing a Royal College of Music on a more extended
basis than any existing institution in the United Kingdom;
worthy alike of this meeting and of this country, for whose
benefit you are asked to give your time, your money, and your
influence.
"I do not propose to trouble you with any proofs of the
advantages that would be derived from the establishment of a
National College of Music. That subject has been fully discussed
by the Duke of Albany at Manchester, and his address is before
the world. He showed that relatively to foreign countries
England occupied three centuries ago a higher place in the
musical world than she does at the present time, and he proved
that the almost universal establishment of central and national
musical institutions abroad, and the want of such an institution
in England, had been one cause why musical progress has not in
this country kept pace with the increase of wealth and
population and the corresponding development of science and art.
"Again, the necessity of public aid formed the groundwork of
the appeal made at Manchester by the Duke of Edinburgh and
Prince Christian. Music, as they showed, is far more expensive
to teach than other arts, and the natural capacity for
instruction in music is more rare than in almost any other art.
You are compelled, then, if you would have good musicians, to
provide means by which those to whom nature has been bountiful
in giving good ears and good voices, but niggardly in giving
worldly wealth, may be sought out in their obscurity and brought
up to distinction by a proper course of instruction.
"What I have said naturally leads me to deal with free education
in music, coupled in certain cases with free maintenance of the
pupil as the first branch of the subject on which I desire to
engage your sympathies and ask your aid. This system of
gratuitous education is one of the principal features which will
distinguish the new college from the Royal Academy and other
excellent existing schools of music. I do not mean to say that
we intend to exclude paying pupils. To adopt such a course would
be to deprive musical ability in the upper classes of any means
of access to the college, and would stamp it with a narrow and
contracted character, which is above all to be avoided in a
national institution intended to include in its corporate
character all classes throughout the United Kingdom. What I seek
to create is an institution bearing the same relation to the art
of music as that which our great public schools--Eton and
Winchester, for example--bear to general education. On the one
side you have scholars who are on the foundation and educated by
means of endowments; on the other side, pupils who derive no
direct benefit from the foundation. Both classes of pupils
follow the same course of study; their teachers are the same,
their rewards are the same. They differ only in the fact that
the collegers derive aid from the college, while those who are
not on the foundation pay for the whole of their education. I
lay great stress on this combination of the two systems of
education--that by endowment and that by payment. Financially,
it enables us to have salaried teachers of the greatest
eminence, who will give so much of their time as they devote to
teaching exclusively to the instruction of pupils at the
college. But, more than all, a union of different classes in a
common and elevating pursuit is the best mode of binding in one
tie of common enthusiasm the different grades of society,
varying alike in wealth and social influence. Each has much to
learn from the other, and this learning is best acquired in an
institution where all meet on common ground, and on a footing of
artistic equality. A further object, and one most material, is
sought to be attained by including in our college persons who do
not intend to make music their profession. To advance music as
an art in its highest aspects, resort must be had to those who
possess the best opportunities for general mental culture. The
most highly educated classes are those who have the greatest
power of disseminating the influence of art throughout the
country. They are the sources from which the civilising stream
proceeds downwards, and penetrates through every channel of our
complex social life.
"I will now proceed to explain the details of the scheme for
which I ask your support, beginning with the foundation, as
being that branch of the college for which public money will be
required. The least number of scholars which would be worthy to
constitute a foundation for the college would be 100. Of these,
50 should have their education free and 50 should be maintained
as well as educated. These scholars will be selected by open
competition throughout the United Kingdom. A system of
examination will be organised by which every town--nay, every
village--in the kingdom may be afforded a chance of
participating in the public benefaction. Only let eminent
ability be found in the village choir, the pupil will be brought
to London and may, if he do but possess the requisite ability,
become a Beethoven or a Mendelssohn, and any school of music may
put forward its best pupil as a candidate for collegiate
honours. The expense of maintenance and education of pupils I
estimate at about £80 a year; that of education alone at about
£40 a year. I should hope also that your liberality will grant
me means to found at least two fellowships, in order that rising
musicians, who have acquired distinction at the college, may not
be tempted on commencing their professional career to sacrifice
the higher aspirations of their art to the necessity of
providing immediate means of subsistence.
"Having settled the number of our foundationers, where are we to
place them? In London, I need not say, land is sold by the
yard, and not by the acre, and a square yard in a good locality
is often equal in value to a square acre in a remote district.
Yet, for the health of a young community, we must have open
space and pure air, and space is particularly necessary in a
music school, for, as the Duke of Edinburgh showed in his
address at Manchester, pupils in an ordinary school may be
grouped and classified, but musical pupils require space for the
performance either of vocal or instrumental music, and the
individual attention of their masters to an extent quite unknown
in the education of pupils in other branches of knowledge.
Again, the locality in which a school is placed must be easy of
access in order to accommodate the staff of teachers, for,
though I hope to have a resident staff to a greater extent than
has yet been tried in any other musical school, yet undoubtedly
extraneous teaching must form a considerable portion of our
instruction. Now, on the point of site, I am happy to say I can
give the meeting the most satisfactory assurances without making
any calls on their liberality. It is due to the foresight of my
father, the Prince Consort, that at a time when South Kensington
was comparatively remote from London, the large estate held by
the Exhibition Commissioners was purchased with a view to
furnish sites for future public buildings. In the few years that
have elapsed since that purchase a suburb has been converted
into a city. The estate lies between two stations of the
Metropolitan District Railway, and is skirted on the north by
one of the most frequented roads in the Metropolis. Here already
we have a nucleus for the college in the building constructed by
the great liberality of Mr. Freake, and I am enabled to state,
as Chairman of the Commission of 1851, that in proportion as the
public contributions enable us to construct our buildings, in
the same proportion will the Commissioners be prepared to grant
a sufficiency of site on which to erect them. The Commissioners
have also a considerable portion of the Albert Hall under their
control, and, by connecting that hall with the new college by a
tunnel or a bridge, practising rooms, sitting-rooms,
dining-rooms, and two small theatres will be immediately at the
disposal of the college. The Commissioners will also be prepared
to assist the college with an annual grant of money. To maintain
the college with 100 pupils on the foundation apart from the
expense of buildings an income of not less than from £10,000 to
£12,000 a year will be required. The plan will admit of any
degree of development in proportion as the munificence of the
public or the Government supplies the requisite funds. A charter
for incorporating the college has already been prepared and laid
before the Privy Council. I have myself undertaken to be
President. The governing body consist of a council, intrusted
with the function of making by-laws for the regulation of the
college, and of an executive committee charged with the details
of the administration. The names of the gentlemen who form the
council and the executive committee will be published, and will,
I am satisfied, command the confidence alike of the public and
of the musical world.
"I have now laid my plan before you. I commend it to your
favourable consideration. A few words I would fain add to
prevent any misunderstanding of my intentions. I have not
brought you here to ask your aid for the support only of a
school calculated to advance music by giving the best
instruction continued over a course of years. This might be done
by strengthening existing schools. I have not brought you here
for the sole purpose of asking for assistance whereby to educate
young and deserving musicians. Such an institution is but a
branch of what I desire to found. My object is above and beyond
all this. I wish to establish an institution having a wider
basis and a more extended influence than any existing school or
college of music in this country. It will teach music of the
highest class; it will have a foundation for the education, and
in some cases for the free maintenance, of scholars who have
obtained by merit the right to such privileges. But it will do
more than this. It will be to England what the Berlin
Conservatoire is to Germany, what the Paris Conservatoire is to
France, or the Vienna Conservatoire to Austria--the recognised
centre and head of the musical world. Why is it that Germany,
France, Italy have national styles of music? Why is it that
England has no music recognised as national? It has able
composers, but nothing indicative of the national life or
national feeling. The reason is not far to seek. There is no
centre of music to which English musicians may resort with
confidence and thence derive instruction, counsel, and
inspiration. I hope by the breadth of my plan to interest all
present in its success. You who are musicians must desire to
improve your art, and such will be the object of the Royal
College. You who are only lovers of music must wish well to a
plan which provides for all classes of Her Majesty's subjects a
pleasure which you yourselves enjoy so keenly. To those who are
deaf to music, as practical men I would say thus much--to raise
the people, you must purify their emotions and cultivate their
imaginations. To satisfy the natural craving for excitement, you
must substitute an innocent and healthy mode of acting on the
passions for the fierce thirst for drink and eager pursuit of
other unworthy objects. Music acts directly on the emotions, and
it cannot be abused, for no excess in music is injurious.
"In laying this great national question before you, I have
followed the example of my father, by offering to place myself
at the head of a great social movement. I have asked you for
assistance, I await your answer with confidence. I am sure that
it will be worthy of the nation of which you are
representatives. To you, my Lords-Lieutenant, I would address
myself with an intimation that I trust you will assemble
meetings throughout your counties, for it is desirable that
contributions should be received from all parts of the country
as showing the interest taken by the people in music. My Lord
Mayor of London and other Mayors who are here,--I am sure I may
hope that you will assist me by presiding at assemblies of your
fellow-townsmen, and will urge them to contribute to so national
an institution. I may, I doubt not, look with confidence to the
representatives of the Church and of other religious and
educational denominations who have been good enough to attend
here, to remind their choirs and their flocks that any
contributions will be a grateful testimony that the population
of England are interested in improving an art which, more than
others, excites devotional feelings, and inspires with
enthusiasm public and private worship. From those who are
directly interested in music, either professionally or as
amateurs, I trust I have a right to expect the greatest measure
of assistance which they can afford; for on their behalf, and
with a view to extend the influence of the science to which they
are devoted, we are met here to-day for the purpose of
establishing a national central musical institution. I know the
loyalty of our Colonial brethren; they will not be behindhand in
aiding the mother country. From foreign countries I have ever
received so many tokens of regard and sympathy, that I may look
with confidence to them to give their support to an institution
the doors of which will be thrown open to all nations. One
practical observation in conclusion. I trust that those present
here to-day will each and every one of them from time to time
communicate to me the steps they are taking to procure
contributions, and will forward to the honorary secretaries the
amount of contributions they may receive. For my part, I will
take care, as soon as I am enabled to form some judgment of the
extent to which the nation will support this demand, to
communicate to the contributories and to the public the details
of the foundation and establishment of the College, of which I
have only set forth in my address the general outline."
The first resolution was proposed to the meeting by the Duke of
Edinburgh, and seconded by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The speech of
the Duke of Edinburgh was so clear and practical, supplementing and
confirming that of the Prince of Wales, who has always generously
attributed to his brother the initiation in this great national
movement, which, however, could not have been carried out without the
personal aid and influence of the Prince. He thus concluded:--
"I wish to express my own personal hope that the Royal College will not
be a mere teaching institution, but will become a centre for groups of
affiliated colleges, the members of which will, with the Council of the
Royal College, form a musical senate, to which all questions of
importance relating to music and musicians may be referred for
determination. This may perhaps be deemed somewhat Utopian, but I do not
despair of a time when the musical colleges throughout the country will
ally themselves with the Royal College, and form a body united by a
common tie and a general system. I will go one step further, though I do
not conceal from myself that I am treading on somewhat delicate ground,
and possibly trenching on the honoured privileges of the Universities;
yet I will express my personal hope that, as London is the chief City of
the United Kingdom, so the Royal College should be the chief musical
college, invested with the power of conferring musical degrees, and the
source from which all musical honours should legitimately flow.
"In proposing the first resolution, it only remains, my lords and
gentlemen, for me to express my hope that the Prince of Wales will be
supported on the present occasion earnestly and faithfully. A large sum
of money is required for our enterprise. England is rich, and ready at
all times to forward a worthy national undertaking. Why should I say
England only, when we are assured of the generous support of our
Colonial brethren, and when we trust that our American cousins will not
be behind in furthering the foundation of an establishment which may act
as a home to their musical students on this side of the Atlantic? The
representatives of many foreign countries are here also. We look to them
in many cases as examples in our new enterprise, and I feel sure that
their kind advice and co-operation will not be wanting when we have
occasion to seek them. I will now read the resolution intrusted to me:--
"'That this meeting approves of the proposal to establish a Royal
College of Music as a national institution, and undertakes that meetings
shall be called throughout the country, and the utmost exertions used,
individually and collectively, to forward the movement by obtaining the
necessary funds for founding and endowing a College of Music for the
British Empire.'"
The speeches of the Archbishop of Canterbury, of the Earl of Rosebery,
the Lord Mayor, and of Mr. Gladstone all touched upon points
illustrating the importance of the movement, and the national benefits
to be expected from it.
It is a wonder that no reference in this matter has been made to the
great German reformer and patriot, Martin Luther, who was a strenuous
advocate of State education, including music. He placed music as next to
religion in the training of the young. He would have every schoolmaster
a lover of music, and capable of teaching it. This training of teachers
is one of the most important functions of the College, and should be
steadily kept in mind.
When the thanks of the meeting had been moved, by Sir Stafford
Northcote, to the Royal Chairman, and carried with acclamation,--
The Prince of Wales mentioned, in his reply, that "he had
received a touching letter from some one who had anonymously
sent £50 for the Royal College of Music--one whose earliest
recollection was the singing of the National Anthem on the
Coronation of the Queen, when as a poor lad he joined in the
procession of Sunday-school children."
Many munificent donations and subscriptions were announced, but none
more touching and interesting than this.
THE COLONIES AND THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC.
_March 23rd, 1882._
The meeting at St. James's Palace on the 28th of February, 1882, was
followed up by other important, though subsidiary meetings, at the
instance of the Prince of Wales, who was now fully set on the success of
his grand scheme. As, formerly, he had been ably supported by the
speeches of the Duke of Edinburgh, the lamented Prince Leopold, Duke of
Albany, and Prince Christian, at influential meetings in Manchester, so
now he enlisted the Duke of Connaught in the cause, who addressed, with
great ability and tact, a meeting of Merchants, Bankers, and leading men
in the City, at the Mansion House, on the 20th of March, the Lord Mayor
in the Chair.
Not satisfied with this, the Prince of Wales invited a large number of
influential gentlemen connected with the Colonial Empire to meet him at
Marlborough House, on Thursday, the 23rd of March, 1882, to consider
what steps could be taken to secure the benefits of the Royal College of
Music for all parts of the Empire. The record of the origin of this
great institution would not be complete without giving the speech of His
Royal Highness on that occasion. The following is the address delivered
at that meeting:--
"You are, doubtless, aware of the efforts at present being made
to establish a Royal College of Music--a work which, I venture
to think, is one of national importance.
"It is intended to place the institution on a broad and liberal
basis; that its advantages shall not be confined to residents of
the United Kingdom, but be open to our fellow-subjects in all
parts of the Empire; and the gratuitous education of scholars,
selected by competition on the claim of merit only, will be one
of its principal features.
"The scheme has been received with marked favour throughout the
United Kingdom, but I should consider it wanting in one of its
main objects if I did not succeed in enlisting the sympathy and
co-operation of our fellow-subjects residing in the Colonial
portions of the Empire.
"I have on so many occasions experienced the advantages of their
ready and earnest concert in promoting schemes of public utility
in relation to material progress, that I have some confidence
they will exhibit the like friendly rivalry in furthering our
efforts in favour of an elevating pursuit, which in all ages and
among all communities has exercised no slight influence on
national character, and the promotion of which may constitute a
bond tending to unite us as strongly in sentiment and feeling as
we now are in loyalty and material interest.
"For these reasons I was anxious to meet as many of the leading
gentlemen connected with the Colonies as might now be
temporarily in London, as well as those who permanently reside
here; and I am gratified at the readiness with which so many of
you have acceded to my invitation.
"My object is partly to make it understood how much importance I
attach to the element of Colonial co-operation and sympathy, not
only as affecting the immediate success of the work, but bearing
on the higher objects of national unity, by inspiring among our
fellow-subjects in every part of the Empire those emotions of
patriotism which national music is calculated so powerfully to
evoke.
"I further desired to apprise you of the steps which had been
and were being taken to carry out this purpose.
"Immediately after the Meeting at St. James's Palace I directed
that full reports of the proceedings should be prepared, with
the view of transmitting them to Lord Kimberley, the Secretary
of State for the Colonies, to be forwarded by him for the
information of the Governments of the various Colonies, in the
hope that the good-will of these Governments might be attracted
in our favour, and such public encouragement afforded as they
might feel it becoming to extend.
"It seemed doubtful, however, whether an official communication
of this character was calculated to accomplish the full object
we had in view, viz. to stimulate popular feeling and sympathy
among our Colonial fellow-subjects. It was thought that such an
end might be better attained by a direct appeal to themselves
and by a more general distribution of the reports of our
proceedings among the various institutions, religious bodies,
heads of municipalities, and leading persons in the Colonies.
"I accordingly propose to supplement this communication by a
further letter, and to send a sufficient number of copies of our
proceedings to meet the necessary requirements, for transmission
to the Colonies.
"I am not insensible to the engrossing nature of the pursuits of
Colonial life, nor to the claims which material interests have
on young communities. We must all recognise with pride and
admiration how much the enlightened enterprise and perseverance
of our Colonial fellow-subjects have already contributed to the
greatness and wealth of the Empire; and I am far from suggesting
any relaxation of these efforts.
"My purpose is to provide for the leisure hours which must come
to the busiest among us--no matter where we live or what sphere
of life we occupy--an elevating source of enjoyment, which is at
the same time calculated to strengthen those emotions that have
so much influence in perpetuating a common love of country.
"I have endeavoured in my further letter to Lord Kimberley to
convey fully the object I have at heart; and, although its terms
are in some measure a repetition of what I have now stated to
you, I think it well you should be apprised of its contents:--