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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Arthur was well liked by all his school-mates in the Chapel Royal choir. This was the time of great hymn reform, led by William Henry Monk, and music round the piano such as that of Frederic Chopin. Popular music was mainly produced for shows 'On The Halls' and from here found its way into people's drawing rooms (and the local hostelries!). Arthur's school friends formed a music group with makeshift instruments, worked hard and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The group consisted of, piano (Arthur), the Cellier brothers Combs and paper, and makeshift drums! Here is a picture of Arthur (and his brother Fred?) in Chapel Royal Choir Robes. It was here that Arthur had his first Anthem published.

On the other hand, William was a talented artist but not at  all popular with his Great Ealing schoolmates. At about this time William wrote his first poem! Instead of Oxford he chose King’s College London. He then disliked his four years as an Education Department clerk, so studied law and became a barrister and spent another four unhappy years practising at the bar. He spent most of this time writing plays and illustrated articles.

Were I Thy Bride . . .!
Meanwhile Arthur left the seclusion of his Chapel Royal choir school to take up a scholarship  at the Royal Academy of Music. About this time another boy was born who was to become a tour de force in English music. Charles Villiers Stanford was a great teacher and composer at Cambridge University and the Royal College of Music. Arthur's teachers at the Royal Academy included Sir John Goss, and he won the Mendelssohn Scholarship to the Leipzig Conservatoire. The three children of the English composer John Barnett were students at this time. Clara was smitten with Arthur, but he was infatuated with her sister, Rosamond. He composed a passionate song for her, but it fell on stony ground! Being very poor he composed music to pay his way. Later he fell in love with another Conservatoire student, Rachel Scott Russell, but her upper-middle-class parents discouraged their courtship and opposed their marriage. In the meantime a Russian scientist Alexander Borodin, about ten years Arthur's senior, was also paving the way for 'My Beloved' as a 'Stranger in Paradise'!

Now what . . .?

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