Part 43

"I will now proceed to explain the details of the scheme for which I ask your support, beginning with the foundation, as being that branch of the college for which public money will be required. The least number of scholars which would be worthy to constitute a foundation for the college would be 100. Of these, 50 should have their education free and 50 should be maintained as well as educated. These scholars will be selected by open competition throughout the United Kingdom. A system of examination will be organised by which every town--nay, every village--in the kingdom may be afforded a chance of participating in the public benefaction. Only let eminent ability be found in the village choir, the pupil will be brought to London and may, if he do but possess the requisite ability, become a Beethoven or a Mendelssohn, and any school of music may put forward its best pupil as a candidate for collegiate honours. The expense of maintenance and education of pupils I estimate at about £80 a year; that of education alone at about £40 a year. I should hope also that your liberality will grant me means to found at least two fellowships, in order that rising musicians, who have acquired distinction at the college, may not be tempted on commencing their professional career to sacrifice the higher aspirations of their art to the necessity of providing immediate means of subsistence.

"Having settled the number of our foundationers, where are we to place them? In London, I need not say, land is sold by the yard, and not by the acre, and a square yard in a good locality is often equal in value to a square acre in a remote district. Yet, for the health of a young community, we must have open space and pure air, and space is particularly necessary in a music school, for, as the Duke of Edinburgh showed in his address at Manchester, pupils in an ordinary school may be grouped and classified, but musical pupils require space for the performance either of vocal or instrumental music, and the individual attention of their masters to an extent quite unknown in the education of pupils in other branches of knowledge. Again, the locality in which a school is placed must be easy of access in order to accommodate the staff of teachers, for, though I hope to have a resident staff to a greater extent than has yet been tried in any other musical school, yet undoubtedly extraneous teaching must form a considerable portion of our instruction. Now, on the point of site, I am happy to say I can give the meeting the most satisfactory assurances without making any calls on their liberality. It is due to the foresight of my father, the Prince Consort, that at a time when South Kensington was comparatively remote from London, the large estate held by the Exhibition Commissioners was purchased with a view to furnish sites for future public buildings. In the few years that have elapsed since that purchase a suburb has been converted into a city. The estate lies between two stations of the Metropolitan District Railway, and is skirted on the north by one of the most frequented roads in the Metropolis. Here already we have a nucleus for the college in the building constructed by the great liberality of Mr. Freake, and I am enabled to state, as Chairman of the Commission of 1851, that in proportion as the public contributions enable us to construct our buildings, in the same proportion will the Commissioners be prepared to grant a sufficiency of site on which to erect them. The Commissioners have also a considerable portion of the Albert Hall under their control, and, by connecting that hall with the new college by a tunnel or a bridge, practising rooms, sitting-rooms, dining-rooms, and two small theatres will be immediately at the disposal of the college. The Commissioners will also be prepared to assist the college with an annual grant of money. To maintain the college with 100 pupils on the foundation apart from the expense of buildings an income of not less than from £10,000 to £12,000 a year will be required. The plan will admit of any degree of development in proportion as the munificence of the public or the Government supplies the requisite funds. A charter for incorporating the college has already been prepared and laid before the Privy Council. I have myself undertaken to be President. The governing body consist of a council, intrusted with the function of making by-laws for the regulation of the college, and of an executive committee charged with the details of the administration. The names of the gentlemen who form the council and the executive committee will be published, and will, I am satisfied, command the confidence alike of the public and of the musical world.

"I have now laid my plan before you. I commend it to your favourable consideration. A few words I would fain add to prevent any misunderstanding of my intentions. I have not brought you here to ask your aid for the support only of a school calculated to advance music by giving the best instruction continued over a course of years. This might be done by strengthening existing schools. I have not brought you here for the sole purpose of asking for assistance whereby to educate young and deserving musicians. Such an institution is but a branch of what I desire to found. My object is above and beyond all this. I wish to establish an institution having a wider basis and a more extended influence than any existing school or college of music in this country. It will teach music of the highest class; it will have a foundation for the education, and in some cases for the free maintenance, of scholars who have obtained by merit the right to such privileges. But it will do more than this. It will be to England what the Berlin Conservatoire is to Germany, what the Paris Conservatoire is to France, or the Vienna Conservatoire to Austria--the recognised centre and head of the musical world. Why is it that Germany, France, Italy have national styles of music? Why is it that England has no music recognised as national? It has able composers, but nothing indicative of the national life or national feeling. The reason is not far to seek. There is no centre of music to which English musicians may resort with confidence and thence derive instruction, counsel, and inspiration. I hope by the breadth of my plan to interest all present in its success. You who are musicians must desire to improve your art, and such will be the object of the Royal College. You who are only lovers of music must wish well to a plan which provides for all classes of Her Majesty's subjects a pleasure which you yourselves enjoy so keenly. To those who are deaf to music, as practical men I would say thus much--to raise the people, you must purify their emotions and cultivate their imaginations. To satisfy the natural craving for excitement, you must substitute an innocent and healthy mode of acting on the passions for the fierce thirst for drink and eager pursuit of other unworthy objects. Music acts directly on the emotions, and it cannot be abused, for no excess in music is injurious.

"In laying this great national question before you, I have followed the example of my father, by offering to place myself at the head of a great social movement. I have asked you for assistance, I await your answer with confidence. I am sure that it will be worthy of the nation of which you are representatives. To you, my Lords-Lieutenant, I would address myself with an intimation that I trust you will assemble meetings throughout your counties, for it is desirable that contributions should be received from all parts of the country as showing the interest taken by the people in music. My Lord Mayor of London and other Mayors who are here,--I am sure I may hope that you will assist me by presiding at assemblies of your fellow-townsmen, and will urge them to contribute to so national an institution. I may, I doubt not, look with confidence to the representatives of the Church and of other religious and educational denominations who have been good enough to attend here, to remind their choirs and their flocks that any contributions will be a grateful testimony that the population of England are interested in improving an art which, more than others, excites devotional feelings, and inspires with enthusiasm public and private worship. From those who are directly interested in music, either professionally or as amateurs, I trust I have a right to expect the greatest measure of assistance which they can afford; for on their behalf, and with a view to extend the influence of the science to which they are devoted, we are met here to-day for the purpose of establishing a national central musical institution. I know the loyalty of our Colonial brethren; they will not be behindhand in aiding the mother country. From foreign countries I have ever received so many tokens of regard and sympathy, that I may look with confidence to them to give their support to an institution the doors of which will be thrown open to all nations. One practical observation in conclusion. I trust that those present here to-day will each and every one of them from time to time communicate to me the steps they are taking to procure contributions, and will forward to the honorary secretaries the amount of contributions they may receive. For my part, I will take care, as soon as I am enabled to form some judgment of the extent to which the nation will support this demand, to communicate to the contributories and to the public the details of the foundation and establishment of the College, of which I have only set forth in my address the general outline."

The first resolution was proposed to the meeting by the Duke of Edinburgh, and seconded by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The speech of the Duke of Edinburgh was so clear and practical, supplementing and confirming that of the Prince of Wales, who has always generously attributed to his brother the initiation in this great national movement, which, however, could not have been carried out without the personal aid and influence of the Prince. He thus concluded:--

"I wish to express my own personal hope that the Royal College will not be a mere teaching institution, but will become a centre for groups of affiliated colleges, the members of which will, with the Council of the Royal College, form a musical senate, to which all questions of importance relating to music and musicians may be referred for determination. This may perhaps be deemed somewhat Utopian, but I do not despair of a time when the musical colleges throughout the country will ally themselves with the Royal College, and form a body united by a common tie and a general system. I will go one step further, though I do not conceal from myself that I am treading on somewhat delicate ground, and possibly trenching on the honoured privileges of the Universities; yet I will express my personal hope that, as London is the chief City of the United Kingdom, so the Royal College should be the chief musical college, invested with the power of conferring musical degrees, and the source from which all musical honours should legitimately flow.

"In proposing the first resolution, it only remains, my lords and gentlemen, for me to express my hope that the Prince of Wales will be supported on the present occasion earnestly and faithfully. A large sum of money is required for our enterprise. England is rich, and ready at all times to forward a worthy national undertaking. Why should I say England only, when we are assured of the generous support of our Colonial brethren, and when we trust that our American cousins will not be behind in furthering the foundation of an establishment which may act as a home to their musical students on this side of the Atlantic? The representatives of many foreign countries are here also. We look to them in many cases as examples in our new enterprise, and I feel sure that their kind advice and co-operation will not be wanting when we have occasion to seek them. I will now read the resolution intrusted to me:--

"'That this meeting approves of the proposal to establish a Royal College of Music as a national institution, and undertakes that meetings shall be called throughout the country, and the utmost exertions used, individually and collectively, to forward the movement by obtaining the necessary funds for founding and endowing a College of Music for the British Empire.'"

The speeches of the Archbishop of Canterbury, of the Earl of Rosebery, the Lord Mayor, and of Mr. Gladstone all touched upon points illustrating the importance of the movement, and the national benefits to be expected from it.

It is a wonder that no reference in this matter has been made to the great German reformer and patriot, Martin Luther, who was a strenuous advocate of State education, including music. He placed music as next to religion in the training of the young. He would have every schoolmaster a lover of music, and capable of teaching it. This training of teachers is one of the most important functions of the College, and should be steadily kept in mind.

When the thanks of the meeting had been moved, by Sir Stafford Northcote, to the Royal Chairman, and carried with acclamation,--

The Prince of Wales mentioned, in his reply, that "he had received a touching letter from some one who had anonymously sent £50 for the Royal College of Music--one whose earliest recollection was the singing of the National Anthem on the Coronation of the Queen, when as a poor lad he joined in the procession of Sunday-school children."

Many munificent donations and subscriptions were announced, but none more touching and interesting than this.

THE COLONIES AND THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC.

_March 23rd, 1882._

The meeting at St. James's Palace on the 28th of February, 1882, was followed up by other important, though subsidiary meetings, at the instance of the Prince of Wales, who was now fully set on the success of his grand scheme. As, formerly, he had been ably supported by the speeches of the Duke of Edinburgh, the lamented Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, and Prince Christian, at influential meetings in Manchester, so now he enlisted the Duke of Connaught in the cause, who addressed, with great ability and tact, a meeting of Merchants, Bankers, and leading men in the City, at the Mansion House, on the 20th of March, the Lord Mayor in the Chair.

Not satisfied with this, the Prince of Wales invited a large number of influential gentlemen connected with the Colonial Empire to meet him at Marlborough House, on Thursday, the 23rd of March, 1882, to consider what steps could be taken to secure the benefits of the Royal College of Music for all parts of the Empire. The record of the origin of this great institution would not be complete without giving the speech of His Royal Highness on that occasion. The following is the address delivered at that meeting:--

"You are, doubtless, aware of the efforts at present being made to establish a Royal College of Music--a work which, I venture to think, is one of national importance.

"It is intended to place the institution on a broad and liberal basis; that its advantages shall not be confined to residents of the United Kingdom, but be open to our fellow-subjects in all parts of the Empire; and the gratuitous education of scholars, selected by competition on the claim of merit only, will be one of its principal features.

"The scheme has been received with marked favour throughout the United Kingdom, but I should consider it wanting in one of its main objects if I did not succeed in enlisting the sympathy and co-operation of our fellow-subjects residing in the Colonial portions of the Empire.

"I have on so many occasions experienced the advantages of their ready and earnest concert in promoting schemes of public utility in relation to material progress, that I have some confidence they will exhibit the like friendly rivalry in furthering our efforts in favour of an elevating pursuit, which in all ages and among all communities has exercised no slight influence on national character, and the promotion of which may constitute a bond tending to unite us as strongly in sentiment and feeling as we now are in loyalty and material interest.

"For these reasons I was anxious to meet as many of the leading gentlemen connected with the Colonies as might now be temporarily in London, as well as those who permanently reside here; and I am gratified at the readiness with which so many of you have acceded to my invitation.

"My object is partly to make it understood how much importance I attach to the element of Colonial co-operation and sympathy, not only as affecting the immediate success of the work, but bearing on the higher objects of national unity, by inspiring among our fellow-subjects in every part of the Empire those emotions of patriotism which national music is calculated so powerfully to evoke.

"I further desired to apprise you of the steps which had been and were being taken to carry out this purpose.

"Immediately after the Meeting at St. James's Palace I directed that full reports of the proceedings should be prepared, with the view of transmitting them to Lord Kimberley, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to be forwarded by him for the information of the Governments of the various Colonies, in the hope that the good-will of these Governments might be attracted in our favour, and such public encouragement afforded as they might feel it becoming to extend.

"It seemed doubtful, however, whether an official communication of this character was calculated to accomplish the full object we had in view, viz. to stimulate popular feeling and sympathy among our Colonial fellow-subjects. It was thought that such an end might be better attained by a direct appeal to themselves and by a more general distribution of the reports of our proceedings among the various institutions, religious bodies, heads of municipalities, and leading persons in the Colonies.

"I accordingly propose to supplement this communication by a further letter, and to send a sufficient number of copies of our proceedings to meet the necessary requirements, for transmission to the Colonies.

"I am not insensible to the engrossing nature of the pursuits of Colonial life, nor to the claims which material interests have on young communities. We must all recognise with pride and admiration how much the enlightened enterprise and perseverance of our Colonial fellow-subjects have already contributed to the greatness and wealth of the Empire; and I am far from suggesting any relaxation of these efforts.

"My purpose is to provide for the leisure hours which must come to the busiest among us--no matter where we live or what sphere of life we occupy--an elevating source of enjoyment, which is at the same time calculated to strengthen those emotions that have so much influence in perpetuating a common love of country.

"I have endeavoured in my further letter to Lord Kimberley to convey fully the object I have at heart; and, although its terms are in some measure a repetition of what I have now stated to you, I think it well you should be apprised of its contents:--

"'MY LORD,--I am anxious that no possible steps should be omitted which may be calculated to bring the proposal to found a Royal College of Music under the favourable notice of Her Majesty's subjects in the Colonies.

"'It appears to me that the communication which I request you in the accompanying letter to be good enough to transmit for the information of the Governments of the various Colonies might advantageously be supplemented by a somewhat more general distribution within these Colonies of the proceedings which have taken place here in connection with the movement.

"'The objects of such distribution would be to awaken public interest among all classes of Her Majesty's subjects more thoroughly than even proposals on the part of any of the Colonial Governments to extend their practical aid are calculated to do.

"'I have therefore directed further copies of these proceedings to be transmitted to you, and would again request that you will be good enough to forward these further copies, for distribution among such religious or educational institutions, Municipal or other Public Bodies, or private persons in the various Colonies, as may be thought most likely to help the project.

"'I trust that the efforts now being made here may meet with general support on the part of the Clergy of all denominations in the Colonies, and that they, as well as the Heads of Colleges and Municipal Bodies, may interest themselves in their several localities to make known the advantages offered by the establishment of the Royal College of Music, and especially that all these advantages (including free instruction) will be open as unreservedly to Her Majesty's Colonial subjects as to those residing in the United Kingdom.

"'Her Majesty's Colonial subjects have indeed already shown that the possession of musical talent exists among them in as great a degree as in any other nation, for they may claim with pride that they have produced one of the most accomplished vocalists of the present age.

"'I have in past years had occasion in many ways--especially through the medium of the various International Exhibitions over which I have presided--to notice the manifold benefits which have resulted from the combined action of the Colonies and the Mother Country in the development of commerce and the advancement of industrial and other material interests, and I cannot but think that the friendly rivalry of all portions of the Empire will not now be wanting in the effort to cultivate a refined and elevating pursuit which in all ages and among all nations has exercised so important an influence on national character, and done so much to strengthen the common love of country.

"'I have the more confidence in making this appeal, from the readiness and public spirit which the Colonies have always evinced to promote every object tending to strengthen the ties that now so happily unite us.

"'Your Lordship will, I am sure, be glad to learn that I have had the advantage of communicating with a number of gentlemen resident in several of the Colonies, who are temporarily in England, as well as with former Colonists permanently residing here, and they have kindly undertaken by their individual exertions to further the present more extended movement, which I trust will also meet with your Lordship's encouragement and approval.

"'I have the honour, &c.,

"'ALBERT EDWARD, P.'

"I have no doubt but that the different Colonial Governments will exercise a judicious discretion in the use of these papers, and that we may rely on their hearty co-operation and support in applying them to the best advantage.