Harry Crane Perrin

Harry Crane Perrin (19 August 1865 – 6 November 1953)[1] was a cathedral organist, who served at Canterbury Cathedral, England,[2] and an academic who served as the first dean of music at McGill University, Canada.

Background

Harry Crane Perrin was born in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.[1][3][4][5] He attended Wellingborough Grammar School,[3][4][5][6] and studied music under Sir Robert Prescott Stewart at Trinity College, Dublin,[1][3][4][6] graduating with a Bachelor of Music in 1890,[4] as a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in 1892,[4] and as a Doctor of Music in 1901.[4][5][6]

He composed cantatas "Abode of Worship" and "Pan's Pipes" (both published by Breitkopf),[1] Song of War (published by Weekes),[1] morning and evening services, anthems, hymn tunes and songs (some of which were published by Novello & Co).[1][4][6][7]

He served as organist at St Columba's College, Dublin,[1][6] at Lowestoft,[1][6] and, following a competition on the organ at Westminster Abbey,[3][5] at Coventry Cathedral.[1][6] He was organist and choirmaster at Canterbury Cathedral for ten years.[1][6][8] In 1908, he moved to Canada to take up an appointment as professor of music at McGill University in Montreal and director of the Conservatorium;[1][6][8][9][10] he was presented to King Edward VII prior to his departure.[9] Perrin restructured the curriculum at the Conservatorium so that instead of simply learning an instrument or singing, students also studied the history and theory of music.[11] In 1920 a Faculty of Music was established at the university,[10] and Perrin served as its first dean until his retirement in 1930.[4][5] He also established an orchestra[1][8] and a choir at the university,[1] and developed a Canada-wide system of musical examinations.[1][8]

He married Enid Hilda Pridmore in Coventry in 1896;[5][12] they had one son and one daughter.[5] Perrin died at his home in Exeter, Devon, in 1953.[5]

Career

Organist of:

Cultural offices
Preceded by
William Henry Longhurst		 Organist and Master of the Choristers of Canterbury Cathedral
1898-1908		 Succeeded by
Clement Charlton Palmer

References
  1. Mclean, Eric (16 December 2013). "Harry Crane Perrin". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  2. The Succession of Organists. Watkins Shaw
  3. "Master Musicians". The Musical Journal. 20 (234): 87–88. June 1907. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  4. Venn, John (1953). Alumni Cantabrigienses: A Biographical List of All Known Students, Graduates and Holders of Office at the University of Cambridge, from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume 2 (2011 ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 96. ISBN 9781108036153. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  5. "McGill's First Dean of Music Dies in England". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 17 November 1953. p. 29. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  6. "Portraits and World's News". The Illustrated London News. London, England: 6. 19 October 1907. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  7. Memorials of the Cathedral & Priory of Christ in Canterbury, by Woodru C. Eveleigh (Charles Eveleigh)
  8. Keillor, Elaine (2008). Music in Canada: Capturing Landscape and Diversity. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. p. 126. ISBN 9780773533912. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  9. "Canterbury". Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette. Canterbury, England. 29 February 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  10. Elliott, Robin; Smith, Gordon Ernest (2001). Istvan Anhalt: Pathways and Memory. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. p. 36. ISBN 9780773521025. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  11. "Changes In Music. McGill Conservatorium Adopts Curriculum More In Accord University Idea". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 26 March 1909. p. 14. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  12. "Marriage of Miss E.H. Pridmore and Mr. H.C. Perrin". Coventry Herald. Coventry, England. 7 August 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  13. "St Michael's Musicians". Coventry Evening Telegraph. Coventry, England. 1 February 1932. p. 3. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
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