Music professor on visit

Press, 31 May 1977, Page 12

Music professor on visit

A distinguished British musician is visiting the School of Music at the University of Canterbury this week. He is Professor Gerald Hendrie, professor and head of music at the Open University in England. Professor Hendrie, who is a graduate of Cambridge, has occupied many positions of responsibilityin British music and abroad. He won the Sir Walter Parrott Prize for organ playing when at the Royal College of Music, and shortly after graduating became a supervisor in music at Cambridge and later a member of the Faculty Board of Music. He was a lecturer in the history of music and mu-

sical palaeography at Manchester University, and later chairman of the department of music at the University of British Colombia. In 1969 he was appointed reader in music in the open University, and later he gained a personal chair there. The Open University is a unique experiment in continuing education. It is the largest of the British universities, and most of its teaching is done by correspondence or by radio and television; as a result Professor Hendrie is regularly seen on television in Britain. He has been responsible for many films and is seen as early’ as 6.00 a.m. on 8.8. C. television — and late at night — because the

8.8. C. offers regular programmes in all subjects for the Open University. He will discuss this experience in the specialised area of teaching at a seminar organised by the extension studies department of the University of Canterbury at the weekend. Professor Hendrie will give a lunch-time concert for the chamber organ at St Alban’s Methodist Church, Merivale, for the School of Music today, and tomorrow, at 5.30 p.m. will give a recital of music by Bach on the Cathedral Organ. Professor Hendrie has given organ recitals in many countries; He is noted as an editor of early English music

and as a writer of articles on a variety of composers from the seventeenth century. He is also a composer of choral music, a harpsichordist, and a pianist, and has worked with such artists as Geraint Jones on historic organs in Europe. Professor Hendrie will lecture to students of the . School of Music on music from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. His recitals will be open ■ to the public as well as to staff and students of the university. The seminar, which is basically concerned with teaching at a distance and with audiovisual aids in teaching, ; will be open to teachers and students.