Difference between revisions of "William Henry Bell"
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| − | [[William Henry Bell]] (1873-1946). Composer, | + | [[William Henry Bell]] (1873-1946). Composer, organist, violinist, teacher. |
Affectionally nick-named ‘Daddy Bell’ An important influence on the development of formal theatre training in the country. | Affectionally nick-named ‘Daddy Bell’ An important influence on the development of formal theatre training in the country. | ||
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== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
| − | Professor in and first director of the [[South African College of Music]] (later the Faculty of Music at the [[University of Cape Town]])(1912-1934). Made dramatic studies part of music training. | + | Born in St Albans, England in 1873. |
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| + | Died in Gordon’s Bay, 1946. | ||
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| + | == Career == | ||
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| + | Worked as Professor of harmony, at the Royal Academy of Music (1903–12). | ||
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| + | Travelled to Cape Town to take up role of Professor in and first director of the [[South African College of Music]] (later the Faculty of Music at the [[University of Cape Town]])(1912-1934). Made dramatic studies part of music training. | ||
Prime mover to obtain, and first general director (1931-1934) of, the [[University of Cape Town]]'s [[Little Theatre]], which opened in 1931. He helped open up the venue for “guest performances” by the amateur societies of Cape Town in dire need of suitable venues. | Prime mover to obtain, and first general director (1931-1934) of, the [[University of Cape Town]]'s [[Little Theatre]], which opened in 1931. He helped open up the venue for “guest performances” by the amateur societies of Cape Town in dire need of suitable venues. | ||
Revision as of 23:32, 25 February 2024
William Henry Bell (1873-1946). Composer, organist, violinist, teacher.
Affectionally nick-named ‘Daddy Bell’ An important influence on the development of formal theatre training in the country.
Contents
Biography
Born in St Albans, England in 1873.
Died in Gordon’s Bay, 1946.
Career
Worked as Professor of harmony, at the Royal Academy of Music (1903–12).
Travelled to Cape Town to take up role of Professor in and first director of the South African College of Music (later the Faculty of Music at the University of Cape Town)(1912-1934). Made dramatic studies part of music training.
Prime mover to obtain, and first general director (1931-1934) of, the University of Cape Town's Little Theatre, which opened in 1931. He helped open up the venue for “guest performances” by the amateur societies of Cape Town in dire need of suitable venues.
Besides his critical role in the South African College of Music and the Little Theatre, he was an active member of the Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society, instrumental beginning the UCT Ballet School (bringing Dulcie Howes back to South Africa to run it) and in founding of the UCT Drama Department (19*-) . [TH, JH]
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As composer
His operas include:
- Hatsuyuki (1934)
- The Wandering Scholar (1935)
- The Pillow of Kantan (1935).
Sources
Du Toit, P.J., 1988.
Inskip, Donald P., 1972.
Binge, 1969.
Wayne Muller. 2018. A reception history of opera in Cape Town: Tracing the development of a distinctly South African operatic aesthetic (1985–2015). Unpublished PhD thesis.
“South African College of Music”. University of Cape Town. https://humanities.uct.ac.za/college-music/history
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