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Royal College of Music

CLIFFE, Frederic (1857-1931)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 1249 MS 6870-6871

Held at: Royal College of Music

Title: CLIFFE, Frederic (1857-1931)

Date(s): 1889-1929

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 2 files

Name of creator(s): Cliffe | Frederic | 1857-1931 | musician, composer and teacher

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Born Lowmoor, near Bradford, 2 May 1857; was an accomplished child pianist and organist; studied at the National Training School for Music, joined the piano teaching staff of the Royal College of Music, 1883; also taught at the Royal Academy of Music and travelled extensively as a solo pianist, accompanist and examiner; organist to the 1886 Leeds Festival; organist to the Bach Choir, 1888-1894; compositions included two symphonies and a violin concerto; ceased composing after c1905; retired from RCM,1929; died London, 19 Nov 1931.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Frederic Cliffe, comprising cuttings and correspondence, Feb 1908, regarding Cliffe's letter to The Daily Telegraph, advocating the performance of opera in the English language, and the establishment of a national opera house, 11 Feb 1908; Cliffe's reports as examiner on compositions of students at the Royal College of Music, 1907-1908; agreement with Novello & Co for publication of his 'Ode to the North East Wind', 1905; marriage certificate, 1897; Freemason's certificates, 1895 (MS 6870). Letters (c25) to Cliffe, 1889-1929, including from Sir George Grove and August Manns on performance of Cliffe's symphony for Crystal Palace, 1889; from C V Stanford, regarding submission of Cliffe's work for the Leeds Festival, 1901; from Hubert H Parry recommending Cliffe for appointment as Principal of the Guildhall School of Music, 1910; from Sir Hugh Allen, on Cliffe's retirement from the RCM, 1929 (MS 6871).

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English.

System of arrangement:

In two files: various papers (MS 6870); correspondence, 1889-1929 (MS 6871).

Conditions governing access:

Usual conditions of the Library of the Royal College of Music apply. See the RCM website or contact the RCM Library for details.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Photocopying is permitted at the discretion of the Archivist for research purposes only.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

The collection is catalogued in the 'Provisional catalogue of letters in the RCM library' by J Kersey, 1997, vol 1. An entry is also given in the supplement to volume 3 of the Manuscripts catalogue in the library of the Royal College of Music.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Received by the RCM from Cedric Cliffe, c1963.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Robert Baxter as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Source: article by Guy Warrack, Grove Dictionary of Music.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: Nov 2001


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Classical music | Musical styles
Composers | Musicians | Performers | Artists
Examination marks | Student evaluation | Educational evaluation
Music education | Cultural education
Musical forms | Musicology | Music | Performing arts
Opera | Theatre | Performing arts
Orchestras | Music | Performing arts
Musical performers

Personal names
Allen | Sir | Hugh Percy | 1869-1946 | Knight | musician
Cliffe | Frederic | 1857-1931 | musician, composer and teacher
Grove | Sir | George | 1820-1900 | Knight | civil engineer writer on music
Manns | Sir | August | 1825-1907 | Knight | conductor
Parry | Sir | Charles Hubert Hastings | 1848-1918 | Knight | composer and musical writer
Stanford | Sir | Charles Villiers | 1852-1924 | Knight | composer and conductor

Corporate names
Royal College of Music

Places
Crystal Palace | Sydenham Hill | Lewisham | London | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe
Crystal Palace x Penge