MUSIC FAMOUS MUSIC MSS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17237, 17 April 1930, Page 4

MUSIC

FAMOUS MUSIC MSS

VALUABLE BEQUEST

LIONEL BENSON'S COLLECTION

To the already rich historical possessions of the Royal College of Musk) there has just been added the valuable collection of the late Lionel Benson, who died last* year, one of the best-known and most distinguished amateurs of bis time and a member of the council, left the residue of bis property to the college.

This is of such a kind thai a special room, to be known as the Benson Room, has been set aside for its accommodation. Complete editions of the music of Orlando di Lasso, of Sweelinek, of Schubert, are included in the bequest; also Hie whole of the Bach Ccsellschaff, and Breitkopf and Hartcl's great, anthology, "Denkmaler Deutscher Tonkunst." The library further* contains all the Wagner operas in full score, and numerous other modern works, all handsomely bound, the whole, arranged in the bookcases in which they were kept at Godalming. during the testator's lifetime. The collection of Madrigals alone is probably the most comprehensive extant, while the engravings and woodcuts contain many rare prints. MAGPTE MADRIGAL SOCIETY

To the younger generation the Magpie Madrigal Society is but a name; yet for a quarter of a century— from 1086 till 1911—it played a unique part in the history of music in England. Lionel Eonson's silverbound baton—for be was the society's conductor and one of its found-ers-—is noj: the least interesting relic in the collection. On it are engraved the names of various bouses where in the 'eighties and 'nineties the famous amateur society gave its private performances ill the cause of charity. Here are recorded events, long forgotten, which took place at Kensington Palace —Princess Louise. Duchess <>> Argyll was president—Northumberland House, Gvosvcnor House, Brook Douse, Dudley House, 4 Oarleton Gardens—the residence of Earl (then Mr. Art-bur) Balfour— and so on. Such a collection will have a special interest to the student as well as the historian of music when it is remembered that the Macnie Madrigal Society. with the enthusiastic co-operation of Colonel Benson, cave prizes for competition among students of the R.C.M. and R. A.M. for original works, and that such romnosers as Parrv. Stanford. Vaughan Williams. Henschel, Somervell, and Oustav Hoist directly contributed to its repertory.