John Thomson (1805-1841) - Revision history

GButtars at 12:49, 20 March 2015

2015-03-20T12:49:54Z

Pbarnaby: /* Appointment */

2014-11-18T10:41:06Z

Appointment

Pbarnaby: Pbarnaby moved page John Thomson to John Thomson (1805-1841)

2014-08-04T12:17:50Z

Pbarnaby moved page John Thomson to John Thomson (1805-1841)

GButtars at 20:59, 2 June 2014

2014-06-02T20:59:16Z

GButtars at 18:20, 26 May 2014

2014-05-26T18:20:38Z

GButtars at 18:15, 26 May 2014

2014-05-26T18:15:43Z

GButtars at 18:05, 26 May 2014

2014-05-26T18:05:40Z

GButtars at 18:04, 26 May 2014

2014-05-26T18:04:55Z

GButtars: Created page with "Born in 1805, he was the third child and eldest son of Andrew and Jane Thomson. His father, a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and former schoolteacher, was in 1800 li..."

2014-05-26T18:02:26Z

Created page with "Born in 1805, he was the third child and eldest son of Andrew and Jane Thomson. His father, a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and former schoolteacher, was in 1800 li..."

New page

Born in 1805, he was the third child and eldest son of Andrew and Jane Thomson. His father, a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and former schoolteacher, was in 1800 licenced by the Presbytery of Kelso and in 1805 became minister at Sprouston, near Kelso in the Scottish Borders. In 1808 the family spent two years in East Parish, Perth before being transferred to Edinburgh first in 1810 to New Greyfriars and subsequently in 1814 to the newly opened St George’s Church. A keen amateur musician, composer and writer of psalm tunes, Andrew Thomson introduced his son to the music of the church and encouraged his interest in Scottish song, literature and culture. However, John Thomson’s early musical compositions were more influenced by the German ‘opera’ style of writing than by the Scottish folk-song tradition.

He started to write music at the age of 14 and ten years later, on the death of the choirmaster at St George’s, he wrote a funeral anthem. In 1829 he was fortunate to meet the young Mendelssohn who, on a visit to Edinburgh, persuaded him to continue his studies in Germany and offered him accommodation with the Mendelssohn family for part of this time. During this time he enjoyed the company of and exchanged compositions with Fanny Mendelssohn and thought highly of her vocal writings. Further travel in Germany took him to Berlin and Leipzig where he was introduced to Schumann and studied with Ignaz Moscheles. The following year, in October 1830, he visited Paris where he met both Herz and Meyerbeer. He kept a record of some of these new musical experiences in a journal which he later had published in a series of articles, published in the Harmonicon, under the heading ''Notes of a Musical Tourist''.

While in Leipzig he had studied composition with Schuyder von Wartensee, and among his first major works were: Hermann, or The Broken Spear, an opera first performed at the Lyceum Theatre in London in 1834; and incidental music to The House of Aspen; and The Shadow on the Wall. He was considered to be a most promising young composer.

It was with this musical background that he applied in 1838 for the new post of Professor of the Theory of [[Music]] at the University of Edinburgh. His application was supported by a number of testimonials including one from his friend, Mendelssohn. In December 1839 John Thomson presented his Commission granted him by [[John Reid (General)|General Reid]]’s Trustees and took up his post as the first Professor of the Theory of Music. The following year he married Janet Lee, the daughter of Principal [[John Lee]] and looked forward to his new responsibilities.

He set out his interpretation of his understanding of his new role in a letter to the Senatus and in February 1841 presented the first Reid Concert in line with the conditions laid down in the will of General Reid. The young Professor Thomson planned the concert with enthusiasm and in great detail, writing explanatory notes upon the items, for which he is fondly remembered as the originator in Britain of the annotated programme note.

However, his ambitions were short-lived when, at the age of 35 after only eighteen months in post he, like his father, succumbed to a heart condition and died. His death was a great loss to the University and to the future of academic music and musical life in the city. Parallels have been drawn with his friend Mendelssohn who at young age of only 38, also died of heart failure having established his Conservatory of Music in Leipzig.

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 [[File:edi_uni_eu_0524__large.jpg|300px|border|thumb|right|Portrait of John Thomson (University of Edinburgh Fine Art Collection)]]
-Thomson was the first Reid Professor of Music
+Thomson was the first [[Music|Reid Professor of Music]]
 == Early Life ==

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 == Appointment ==
-It was with this musical background that he applied in 1838 for the new post of Professor of the Theory of [[Music]] at the University of Edinburgh.  His application was supported by a number of testimonials including one from his friend, Mendelssohn.  In December 1839 John Thomson presented his Commission granted him by [[John Reid (General)|General Reid]]’s Trustees and took up his post as the first Professor of the Theory of Music.  The following year he married Janet Lee, the daughter of Principal [[John Lee]] and looked forward to his new responsibilities.
+It was with this musical background that he applied in 1838 for the new post of Professor of the Theory of [[Music]] at the University of Edinburgh.  His application was supported by a number of testimonials including one from his friend, Mendelssohn.  In December 1839 John Thomson presented his Commission granted him by [[John Reid (1721-1807)|General John Reid]]’s Trustees and took up his post as the first Professor of the Theory of Music.  The following year he married Janet Lee, the daughter of Principal [[John Lee]] and looked forward to his new responsibilities.
 He set out his interpretation of his understanding of his new role in a letter to the Senatus and in February 1841 presented the first Reid Concert in line with the conditions laid down in the will of General Reid.  The young Professor Thomson planned the concert with enthusiasm and in great detail, writing explanatory notes upon the items, for which he is fondly remembered as the originator in Britain of the annotated programme note.
 == Early Death ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:59, 2 June 2014
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−	[[File:edi_uni_eu_0524__large.jpg\|~~200px~~\|border\|thumb\|right\|Portrait of John Thomson (University of Edinburgh Fine Art Collection)]]	+	[[File:edi_uni_eu_0524__large.jpg\|300px\|border\|thumb\|right\|Portrait of John Thomson (University of Edinburgh Fine Art Collection)]]
	Thomson was the first Reid Professor of Music		Thomson was the first Reid Professor of Music

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:20, 26 May 2014
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		+	[[File:edi_uni_eu_0524__large.jpg\|200px\|border\|thumb\|right\|Portrait of John Thomson (University of Edinburgh Fine Art Collection)]]
	Thomson was the first Reid Professor of Music		Thomson was the first Reid Professor of Music

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:15, 26 May 2014
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		+	Thomson was the first Reid Professor of Music

	== Early Life ==		== Early Life ==

← Older revision	Revision as of 12:17, 4 August 2014
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← Older revision		Revision as of 18:05, 26 May 2014
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	However, his ambitions were short-lived when, at the age of 35 after only eighteen months in post he, like his father, succumbed to a heart condition and died. His death was a great loss to the University and to the future of academic music and musical life in the city. Parallels have been drawn with his friend Mendelssohn who at young age of only 38, also died of heart failure having established his Conservatory of Music in Leipzig.		However, his ambitions were short-lived when, at the age of 35 after only eighteen months in post he, like his father, succumbed to a heart condition and died. His death was a great loss to the University and to the future of academic music and musical life in the city. Parallels have been drawn with his friend Mendelssohn who at young age of only 38, also died of heart failure having established his Conservatory of Music in Leipzig.
		+
		+	[[Category:Academics\|Thomson, John]]