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Dr. Pringuer married his first wife, Julia Griffin on the 4 September 1872 at [[St Saviour, Pimlico|St. Saviour's, Pimlico]]; she was the daughter of David Griffin, an [[engineer]].<ref>Henry Thomas Pringuer and Julia Griffin: Marriage Certificate, St, George Hanover Square, vol. 1a, p.682</ref> Julia brought with her to the marriage, a daughter Beatrice Maud Griffin, born out of wedlock in 1871.<ref>Beatrice Maud Griffin: Birth Certificate, Q3 1871, Lambeth, vol. 1d, p.290</ref> On his marriage, the people of [[Redhill]] presented the couple with a black marble clock; and to Dr. Pringuer they gave two volumes of organ music and a carved ivory baton mounted in gold.<ref>Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal, no. 22, vol. 2, October 1879</ref>
Dr. Pringuer married his first wife, Julia Griffin on the 4 September 1872 at [[St Saviour, Pimlico|St. Saviour's, Pimlico]]; she was the daughter of David Griffin, an [[engineer]].<ref>Henry Thomas Pringuer and Julia Griffin: Marriage Certificate, St, George Hanover Square, vol. 1a, p.682</ref> Julia brought with her to the marriage, a daughter Beatrice Maud Griffin, born out of wedlock in 1871.<ref>Beatrice Maud Griffin: Birth Certificate, Q3 1871, Lambeth, vol. 1d, p.290</ref> On his marriage, the people of [[Redhill]] presented the couple with a black marble clock; and to Dr. Pringuer they gave two volumes of organ music and a carved ivory baton mounted in gold.<ref>Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal, no. 22, vol. 2, October 1879</ref>


[[File:Henry Thomas Pringuer.jpg|thumb|Dr. Pringuer in his DMus robes (note that for an unknown reason, the hood is worn inside out)]]Dr. Pringuer gained the [[Royal College of Organists|FRCO]] on 30 January 1877. The examination which was conducted by Charles Joseph Frost and C. Warwick Jordan included four separate elements: [[organist|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 [[Frederick Ouseley|Sir Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley]], Charles Corfe (organist of [[New College, Oxford|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]]. It was performed by the Redhill Harmonic Society, and was "well-received".<ref>Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal, no. 22, vol. 2, October 1879</ref>
[[File:Henry Thomas Pringuer.jpg|thumb|Dr. Pringuer in his DMus robes (note that for an unknown reason, the hood is worn inside out)]]Dr. Pringuer gained the [[Royal College of Organists|FCO]] on 30 January 1877. The examination which was conducted by Charles Joseph Frost and C. Warwick Jordan included four separate elements: [[organist|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 [[Frederick Ouseley|Sir Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley]], Charles Corfe (organist of [[New College, Oxford|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 four wind instruments could be added. Dr. Pringuer's setting was of Psalm 107 and was scored for [[flute]], [[clarinet]], [[violin]], [[SATTB]] and [[double bass]]. It was performed by the Redhill Harmonic Society, and was "well-received".<ref>Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal, no. 22, vol. 2, October 1879</ref>


One of Dr. Pringuer's first composition was titled ''Queen Bess's Solemne Daunce''. Originally a piano solo, by special request, it was rescored for orchestra for the [[Covent Garden]] Promenade Concerts. Other piano pieces included ''Holiday Time'' and ''Evening on the Lake''; and an orchestral march ''Invicta'' which has not survived.<ref>Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal, no. 22, vol. 2, October 1879</ref>
One of Dr. Pringuer's first composition was titled ''Queen Bess's Solemne Daunce''. Originally a piano solo, by special request, it was rescored for orchestra for the [[Covent Garden]] Promenade Concerts. Other piano pieces included ''Holiday Time'' and ''Evening on the Lake''; and an orchestral march ''Invicta'' which has not survived.<ref>Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal, no. 22, vol. 2, October 1879</ref>

Revision as of 16:34, 23 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 (1852-1869)

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 Walloon 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 Walloon settlements. In 1861, at the age of just nine and a half, Dr. Pringuer was appointed organist of a chapel in Canterbury and in 1864, moved to All Saints' Church. Shortly after, he attained the coveted post of organist at St. Dunstan's. His tutors in Canterbury included Thomas Goulden FCO and Dr. William Henry Longhurst DMus. Goulden came from a large family of musicians who owned the Goulden's shop in Canterbury, which at one time sold pianofortes, American organs and gramophones.[3][4] Dr. Longhurst (1827-1898) was organist of Canterbury Cathedral and was connected with the music there for 71 years.[5] Dr. Pringuer was a chorister at the Cathedral before the age of 14, and in both 1911 and 1914, he attended the Cathedral Choristers' Association Reunion.[6]

St. Matthew's, Redhill (1869-1879)

In February 1869, Dr. Pringuer was appointed as organist of Emmanuel Church, Sidlow, Reigate, and choirmaster at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Redhill. On the retirement of the organist at St. Matthew's, Redhill, Dr. Pringuer was unanomously elected to the post. In 1871, he formed the Redhill Harmonic Society, and went on to direct choir and orchestra in many performances where works included The Messiah, The Creation, Elijah, St. Paul, Judas Maccabaeus, Mass in C minor K.258, The Woman of Samaria and Faust.[7]

Dr. Pringuer married his first wife, Julia Griffin on the 4 September 1872 at St. Saviour's, Pimlico; she was the daughter of David Griffin, an engineer.[8] Julia brought with her to the marriage, a daughter Beatrice Maud Griffin, born out of wedlock in 1871.[9] On his marriage, the people of Redhill presented the couple with a black marble clock; and to Dr. Pringuer they gave two volumes of organ music and a carved ivory baton mounted in gold.[10]

File:Henry Thomas Pringuer.jpg
Dr. Pringuer in his DMus robes (note that for an unknown reason, the hood is worn inside out)

Dr. Pringuer gained the FCO 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 four wind instruments could be added. Dr. Pringuer's setting was of Psalm 107 and was scored for flute, clarinet, violin, SATTB and double bass. It was performed by the Redhill Harmonic Society, and was "well-received".[11]

One of Dr. Pringuer's first composition was titled Queen Bess's Solemne Daunce. Originally a piano solo, by special request, it was rescored for orchestra for the Covent Garden Promenade Concerts. Other piano pieces included Holiday Time and Evening on the Lake; and an orchestral march Invicta which has not survived.[12]

Whilst in Redhill, in conjunction with Robert Hesketh, Dr. Pringuer founded the St. John's Amateur Musical Society who met occasionally to rehearse and perform orchestral works. Towards the end of his time in Redhill, Dr. Pringuer was also appointed to the post of music-master at Reigate Grammar School; however, the locals were well aware of the musical limitations of the local area, saying in 1879 Dr. Pringuer was "a musician of no mean capacity, whose early achievements foreshadow an honourable and prosperous professional career...Mr. Pringuer is far too young to have exhausted his opportunities".[13]

St. Mary's, Stoke Newington (1879-1919)

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.[14]

Dr. Pringuer's native Canterbury were always ready to welcome him back, recognising in him "a young and gifted citizen who is making a distinguished position in the musical world" and he continued to give organ recitals in the city for many years. One such recital on the 15 September 1886 included works by Henry Smart, Gustav Merkel, Alexandre Guilmant, J.S. Bach, William Sterndale Bennett and Louis Spohr. Also included was his own composition Evening on the Lake, subtitled Andante in G major. Another recital included a piece titled 'March of the Kings', and is listed as being from Pringuer's Oxford Cantata, though no details of this work are known. Newspaper reports described his performances as "much admired" and "exceedingly effective".[15]

Dr. Pringuer married his second wife, Agnes Sarah Carter at the Parish Church of St. Andrew, Stoke Newington on the 26 November 1892.[16] Baptised on the 12 July 1857 at St. Peter's, Walworth[17], she was the daughter of William Carter, a bank clerk of Tottenham, London, and his wife Hannah Hierous of Streatham, Surrey.[18]

Towards the end of the century, Dr. Pringuer remained much in demand as a recitalist. Recital venues included [[St Stephen Walbrook |St. Stephen's, Walbrook]] and St. Peter-upon-Cornhill. Later recitals afforded opportunities for Dr. Pringuer to accompany a selection of vocalists, including Florence Oliver and Mrs. Harvey Thomas, in works by Sullivan, Mendelssohn and Rossini.[19]

Sadly, at the age of 56, Dr. Pringuer's second wife Agnes died on the 18 November 1913 at Stamford Hill, London. The impressively named Dr. Theophelus Hoskim MRCS certified the death from cirrhosis of the liver.[20]

Just over 10 months after Agnes' death, Dr. Pringuer married his third wife, Florence Mildred Saltmarsh Challen, niece of the artist and painter of Mary Seacole, Albert Challen. Daughter of a land surveyor George Trimnell Challen of Islington, London and his wife Julia Pontifex, Henry and Mildred were married at The Cathedral Church of Christ, Canterbury, on the 3 September 1914.[21]

All Saints, Lindfield (1919-1930)

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.[22]

Legacy

List of works

  • Holiday Time for Piano Solo (1875)
  • Evening on the Lake for Piano Solo (1875) (also arranged for organ and subtitled Andante in G major)
  • Queen Bess's Solemn Daunce for Piano Solo (1875)
  • A Recollection of Old London for Orchestra (1876) (rescored from Queen Bess's Solemn Daunce)
  • The Message of the Wind a song (1876)
  • Psalm 107 'O give thanks unto the Lord' for flute, clarinet, violin, SATTB and double bass (1877)
  • Psalm 48 'Great is the Lord' for orchestra and SSAATTBB (1885)
  • Guinevere a comic opera (1889) (subtitled Love Laughs at Law)
  • In the Virgin's Arms a carol for SATB and organ (1909)
  • Invicta a march for orchestra (date unknown, c.1875)
  • Oxford Cantata (date and details unknown)

Notes

  1. ^ Memorial tablet erected to the memory of Dr. Pringuer at St. Dunstan's, Canterbury
  2. ^ Birth Certificate: Henry Thomas Pringuer, Q1 1852, Canterbury, vol. 2a, p.504
  3. ^ Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal, no. 22, vol. 2, October 1879
  4. ^ http://www.machadoink.com/Gouldens.htm
  5. ^ Memorial plaque to Dr. Longhurst in Canterbury Cathedral
  6. ^ Canterbury Cathedral Archives
  7. ^ Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal, no. 22, vol. 2, October 1879
  8. ^ Henry Thomas Pringuer and Julia Griffin: Marriage Certificate, St, George Hanover Square, vol. 1a, p.682
  9. ^ Beatrice Maud Griffin: Birth Certificate, Q3 1871, Lambeth, vol. 1d, p.290
  10. ^ Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal, no. 22, vol. 2, October 1879
  11. ^ Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal, no. 22, vol. 2, October 1879
  12. ^ Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal, no. 22, vol. 2, October 1879
  13. ^ Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal, no. 22, vol. 2, October 1879
  14. ^ North London Recorder, 31 October 1930
  15. ^ Newspaper cuttings and posters; source unknown
  16. ^ Henry Thomas Pringuer and Agnes Sarah Carter: Marriage Certificate, Q4 1892, Hackney, vol. 1b, p.952
  17. ^ London Metropolitan Archives, Saint Peter, Walworth, Register of baptisms, P92/PET1, Item 013
  18. ^ Guildhall, St Andrew Holborn, Register of marriages, 1854 - 1856, P69/AND2/A/01/Ms 6672/19
  19. ^ Newspaper cuttings and posters; source unknown
  20. ^ Agnes Sarah Carter: Death Certificate, Q4 1913, Hackney, vol. 1b, p.464
  21. ^ Henry Thomas Pringuer and Florence Mildred Saltmarsh Challen, Q3 1914, Canterbury, vol. 2a, p.2118
  22. ^ North London Recorder, 31 October 1930

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