Annotating Percival Kirby's autobiography concerning his studies at the Royal College of Music in London, 1910-1913

Abstract

In hierdie artikel word Kirby se uitsprake (aangebied in sy outobiografie, Wits End) aangevul deur die gebruik van materiaal wat in die argief van die Royal College of Music in Londen beskikbaar is. Kirby (1887-1970) het tussen September 1910 en Desember 1913 daar studeer. Hy was 'n keteltromspeler in die College-orkes onder Charles Villiers Stanford en aan 'n baie groot verskeidenheid komposisies en persone blootgestel. Meer agtergrond word verskaf oor party van sy medestudente wat in Wits End genoem word (Aubrey Brain, Leonard Carrodus, James Friskin, Eugene Goossens, Arthur Hedges, Philip Levine, John Snowden en E. Douglas Tayler) en sy onderwysers (Lewis Barrett, Hubert Parry, Frederick J. Read, Stanford en Daniel S. Wood). Kirby het later 'n professor in Musiek aan die Universiteit van die Witwatersrand geword. Hierdeur het hy 'n deurslaggewende rol in die ontwikkeling van sowel klassieke as inheemse musiek in Suid-Afrika gespeel. ENGLISH: In this article Kirby's own views (contained in his autobiography, Wits End) are expanded by considering material available in the archive of the Royal College of Music in London. Kirby (1887-1970) studied there between September 1910 and December 1913. He participated as timpanist in the College orchestra under Charles Villiers Stanford and was exposed to a very wide variety of compositions and persons. More background is offered on some of his fellow students mentioned in Wits End (Aubrey Brain, Leonard Carrodus, James Friskin, Eugene Goossens, Arthur Hedges, Philip Levine, John Snowden and E. Douglas Tayler) and his teachers (Lewis Barrett, Hubert Parry, Frederick J. Read, Stanford and Daniel S. Wood). Kirby later became Professor of Music at the University of the Witwatersrand, playing a decisive role in the development of music in South Africa, both classical and indigenous.