Henry Thomas Pringuer: Difference between revisions
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==St. Mary's, Stoke Newington== |
==St. Mary's, Stoke Newington== |
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Dr. Pringuer was organist at St. Mary's for 40 years, and during that time, he service under four rectors: Rev. Thomas Jackson, Preb. Leonard Shelford, Rev. W. Bryant Salmon and Preb. Patrick Cromie. During his time at the church, the choir became renowned throughout London, and the St. Mary's Choir dinners were considered the 'event of the year' in North London church life <ref>''North London Recorder'', 31 October 1930</ref>. |
[[File:Pringuer DMus hood.jpg|thumb|left|Dr. Pringuer's DMus hood; despite it's age, the cherry pink hasn't faded at all]]Dr. Pringuer was organist at St. Mary's for 40 years, and during that time, he service under four rectors: Rev. Thomas Jackson, Preb. Leonard Shelford, Rev. W. Bryant Salmon and Preb. Patrick Cromie. During his time at the church, the choir became renowned throughout London, and the St. Mary's Choir dinners were considered the 'event of the year' in North London church life <ref>''North London Recorder'', 31 October 1930</ref>. |
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==All Saints, Lindfield== |
==All Saints, Lindfield== |
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Revision as of 20:28, 22 February 2011
Dr. Henry Thomas Pringuer DMus(Oxon), BMus(Oxon), FRCO (23 February 1852 - 26 October 1930) was an English composer, organist and one of the first examiners for Trinity College, London.
Dr. Pringuer became Organist and Master of the Choir at St. Dunstan's, Canterbury in 1866 at the age of 14. He then served at St. Matthew's Parish Church, Redhill and then for 40 years at St. Mary's Parish Church, Stoke Newington until his retirement due to ill-health in 1919.[1] He subsequently went on to become Organist at All Saints, Lindfield.
Early life
Henry Thomas Pringuer was born on the 23 February 1852 at St. Peter's Place, Canterbury. His parents were Samuel Freemoult Pringuer (1828-1907), a cabinet maker of Canterbury, Kent; and Eliza Hayward (1825-1902) of Blean, Kent[2]. It is likely that the Pringuer family were Hugenot refugees, many of whom settled in the Canterbury area. A good portion of the Pringuer family also worshipped in Bethnal Green and Spitalfields, both often considered hubs of Hugenot settlements. Dr. Pringuer was a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral under Dr. William Henry Longhurst, and it is believed that it was here where he was introduced to the organ.[3]
St. Matthew's, Redhill
Dr. Pringuer gained the FRCO on 30 January 1877. The examination which was conducted by Charles Joseph Frost and C. Warwick Jordan included four separate elements: organ playing, harmony, counterpoint and general knowledge of music. On 25 October in the same year he gained the degree of Bachelor of Music from New College, Oxford. The examiners were Sir Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, Charles Corfe (organist of New College) and Leighton George Hayne (organist of Queen's College, Oxford. Candidates for the BMus were required to sumit a composition in five-part harmony with at least five stringed instruments to which no more than ourt wind instruments could be added. Dr. Pringuer's setting was of Psalm 107 and was scored for flute, clarinet, violin, SATTB and double bass.
St. Mary's, Stoke Newington
Dr. Pringuer was organist at St. Mary's for 40 years, and during that time, he service under four rectors: Rev. Thomas Jackson, Preb. Leonard Shelford, Rev. W. Bryant Salmon and Preb. Patrick Cromie. During his time at the church, the choir became renowned throughout London, and the St. Mary's Choir dinners were considered the 'event of the year' in North London church life [4].
All Saints, Lindfield
On 26 October 1930, Dr. Pringuer was in the vestry preparing for the evening service at All Saints, Lindfield. The Vicar, Rev. Sidney Swann MA had just congratuled Dr. Pringuer on his rendering of the hymn 'When morning gilds the skies' at the morning service, and then while talking to a choirboy, Dr. Pringuer suddenly collapsed. Dr. C.W. Dood was summoned, but was only able to pronounce life extinct. Speaking at the service afterwards, Rev. Swann said that in the death of Dr. Pringuer, the parish had sustained a 'great loss'.
Dr. Pringuer's funeral took place on 30 October 1930 leaving the residence at 'The Priory', Lindfield for an impressive choral service at the parish church, and then burial at Horsted Keynes[5].
List of works
- Holiday Time for Piano Solo (1875)
- Evening on the Lake for Piano Solo (1875)
- Queen Bess's Solemn Dance for Piano Solo (1875)
- A Recollection of Old London for Orchestra (1876)
- The Message of the Wind a song (1876)
- Psalm 107 'O give thanks unto the Lord' for slute, clarinet, violin, SATTB and double bass (1877)
- Psalm 48 'Great is the Lord' for orchestra and SSAATTBB (1885)
- Guinevere a comic opera (1889)
- In the Virgin's Arms a carol for SATB and organ (1909)