Walter Cecil Macfarren

Life

Born: 28 August 1826, London, England

Died: 2 September 1905, London

Biography

Walter Cecil Macfarren was born in London, the younger brother of one of the leading Victorian composers, George Alexander Macfarren. He was a chorister at Westminster Abbey and sang at Queen Victoria’s coronation. He had thoughts of becoming an artist, taking lessons in painting, but entered the Royal Academy of Music, studying the pianoforte and composition. He became a sub-professor of the pianoforte and was on the staff of the Royal Academy fifty-seven years. Macfarren was musical critic for the ‘Queen’ newspaper from 1862 until his death. He was chiefly concerned with teaching the piano and had some distinction as a conductor. He suffered from weak eyesight, but did not become totally blind, as did his brother. He composed many small pianoforte pieces and choral works, including two church services and many part-songs. He wrote no large-scale choral or dramatic works and wrote only a limited amount of orchestral music.

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View the Wikipedia article on Walter Cecil Macfarren.

List of choral works

Partsongs

Partsongs for Mixed Voices

Autumn I Bells across the sea Cradle song The curfew bell Dainty love The fairies Go, pretty birds Good night, good rest Hunting song

Love's heigh ho Lovers' parting More life Morning song Night, sable goddess! O lady, leave thy silken thread Shepherds all, and maidens fair Spring Summer

Summer song Swallow, swallow, hither wing Sweet content Sweetest melancholy The Two Stars The warrior Winter You stole my love

Partsongs for Male Voices

Autumn II Highland war song

Sea song Shortest and longest

The stars are with the voyager Windlass song

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External links

• Works by Walter Cecil Macfarren in the Petrucci Music Library (IMSLP)