Percy Marshall Young(17 May 1912 – 9 May 2004) was a Britishmusic scholar,editor,organist,composer,conductorandteacher.
Percy M. Young | |
|---|---|
| Born | Percy Marshall Young 17 May 1912 |
| Died | 9 May 2004(aged 91) |
| Nationality | British |
Life and career
editYoung was born inNorthwich,Cheshire.His father, twice mayor of Northwich, was a clerk at Brunner Mond Chemical works in Winsford; his mother, Annie née Marshall, was a nurse. Young was educated at the local Sir John Deane's Grammar School, from where he won a scholarship toChrist's Hospital,Horsham,where, taught by Robert Wilkinson, he became senior Music Grecian; and then, in 1930, he won an organ scholarship toSelwyn College, Cambridge,where he read English (studying under Tom Henn), History and Music (studying music history under Edward Dent and organ underCyril Rootham). Staying a fourth year in Cambridge, taking up the Stuart of Rannoch Scholarship, he was awarded the William Barclay Squire Prize for music paleography. Then from 1934 to 1937 he was Director of Music at Stranmillis Teacher Training College inBelfast,during which years he earned a Mus.D. atTrinity College, Dublin.From 1937 to 1944 Young was Musical Adviser toStoke-on-TrentLocal Education Authority.After that, Young became Director of Music at Wolverhampton College of Technology, a position he would occupy from 1944 to 1966, after which he became an independent scholar, prolific author, music-arranger / -editor and enthusiastic lecturer, broadcaster, adjudicator and examiner. In 1985 he was made a D.Mus., h.c., by The University of Birmingham; and in 1998 he was made anHonorary FellowofSelwyn College, Cambridge.[2]
Young published more than fifty books. Among those are biographies of musiciansHandel(1947),Elgar(five books: 1955–1978),Vaughan Williams(1953),Schumann(1957),Kodály(1964),Sir Arthur Sullivan(1971), Alice, Lady, Elgar (1978), and SirGeorge Grove(1980). Also, for younger readers, he wrote a series of ten titles on composers Handel, Haydn,Mozart,Schubert,Beethoven,Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Debussy, Stravinsky, andBritten.
From fragments left by Elgar Young reconstructed, and published, a suite from unfinished operaThe Spanish Lady.
Young edited Gilbert and Sullivan's opera "H.M.S.Pinafore" (2000) for the complete edition of The Savoy Operas (Broude Brothers, New York) and was General Editor of the complete edition.
His own compositions include: "Virgin's Slumber Song" (1932),From a Child's Garden(Robert Louis Stevenson; 1941), Passacaglia for violin and piano (1931), Fugal Concerto in G minor for 2 pianos and strings (1951),Elegy for String Orchestra(1960) andFestival Te Deum(1961). There are also many unpublished pieces for brass ensemble.[2]Piano duo Keith Swallow and John Wilson have recorded hisFive Folk Song Duets(1938).[3]
Young was also an keen followers and historian of Association football, writing twelve books on the genre including histories of several League clubs --Wolverhampton Wanderers,Manchester United, Bolton Wanderers, "Football on Merseyside", "Football in Sheffield" -- plus a history of the game itself (A History of British Football). Young was also a Labour councillor in Wolverhampton, gaining the Wednesfield Heath ward from the Conservatives. In the 1970s he was Chairman of The Council for Community Relations in Wolverhampton.
After the death of his first wife, Netta Carson, Young married Renée Morris in 1969, who survives him, along with three sons and a daughter of his first marriage.[2]
Young's archive is held at the Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham.[4]
References
editCitations
edit- ^Kenneth Shenton,"Percy Young - Prolific Elgar scholar, composer and music editor",The Independent,15 May 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^abcObituary,The Times,18 May 2004, p. 26
- ^Points North: Piano Duets,Campion Cameo CD 2036 (2006), reviewed atMusicWeb International
- ^"University of Birmingham Cadbury Research Library".Retrieved7 June2021.
Bibliography
edit- Young, Percy M. (1953).Vaughan Williams.London: Dobson.OCLC250666986.
- Young, Percy M. (1968).'A Future for English Music' and other lectures by Edward Elgar.London: Dobson.hdl:2027/mdp.39015008002191.ISBN978-0-234-77046-7.LCCN68116274.
- Young, Percy M. (1978).Alice Elgar: enigma of a Victorian lady.London: Dobson.ISBN978-0-234-77482-3.LCCN79313573.
- Young, Percy M. (1955).Elgar O.M.: a study of a musician.London: Collins.hdl:2027/mdp.39015007876397.LCCN74177430.OCLC869820.
- Young, Percy M. (1956).Letters of Edward Elgar and other writings.London: Geoffrey Bles.OCLC17521621.
- Young, Percy M. (1965).Letters to Nimrod: Edward Elgar to August Jaeger 1897-1908.London: Dobson.hdl:2027/mdp.39015023487286.ISBN978-0-234-77845-6.LCCN65008458.
- Young, Percy M. (1967).A History of British Music.London: Benn.
- Young, Percy M. (1968).A History of British Football.London: Stanley Paul & Co.ISBN978-0-090-86710-3.
- Young, Percy M. (1971).Sir Arthur Sullivan.London: J. M. Dent & Sons.ISBN978-0-460-03934-5.
External links
edit- Obituary 14 May 2004inThe Independent,Retrieved 23 February 2018