After his war service, he was, in 1946, appointed "magister and rector chori" at Southwell Minster.[2] Here he was fortunate in receiving the full support of the Provost, Hugh Heywood. He began by establishing a regular and disciplined rehearsal routine, and before long the choir was known for its bold and incisive sound. Ashfield also increased the range of choral repertoire performed, and expanded other areas of musical life within the cathedral. He also edited and compiled the "Southwell Psalter", a setting of each of the 150 Psalms to Anglican chant, which is still used at both Southwell and New College, Oxford.
Rochesteredit
After 10 years at Southwell, he moved to Rochester Cathedral in 1956 as organist and master of the choristers. Over the next 21 years he also made his mark on the local community, notably as conductor of the Rochester Choral Society.[3] From 1958 until 1977, he also taught at the RCM.
His arrival at Rochester coincided with the opportunity to redesign and completely rebuild the cathedral organ. In consultation with the organ builders, J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd, Ashfield rejected much of the piecemeal work that had gone before producing, in 1960, an instrument with a traditional feel but well-suited to the needs of the cathedral.
He retired from his cathedral post in 1977, but remained in Rochester until his death in December 2006.[4]
Compositionedit
His practical experience of the liturgy allowed him to write well for voices. Many of his anthems, services, responses, chants and other choral works, often written for special occasions, have retained their place in the repertoire. perhaps best known is his setting of Lionel Johnson's 1895 poem, The Fair Chivalry, commissioned for the Southwell Diocesan Choral Festival of 1949.
Following his retirement, his compositional output increased due to the greater amount of time he could commit to it. To an already large set of works was added much chamber music, an opera, The Bishop's Candlestick, and many instrumental pieces.
Of all the compositions, his own favourite remained a setting of Robert Bridges's Christmas Eve, commissioned by David Poulter and the Tudor Consort for voices and a chamber ensemble including harp, flute, oboe and string quartet.
Administrative influenceedit
In the late 1960s, relations between clergy and musicians in the Church of England became increasingly strained over the question of fees and salaries. Ashfield represented the Royal College of Organists, working initially in partnership with William Cole, of the Associated Board, and Gerald Knight, director of the Royal School of Church Music, he helped to provide a series of recommendations. However, following delays in their acceptance, Ashfield unilaterally produced his own suggested set of fees. Subsequently championed by The Church Times, the Ashfield Scale, as it became known, stayed in vogue throughout the decade.
He was also a member of the council of the Royal College of Organists, Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians and a special commissioner of the Royal School of Church Music.
Referencesedit
^"Robert Ashfield". www.kcoa.co.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
^"Robert Ashfield". British Music Collection. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
^Ferguson, Barry (21 March 2007). "Dr Robert James Ashfield". Church Times. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
^Chipstead; N, Surrey United Kingdom 51° 18' 55 314"; Maps, 0° 9' 53 7912" W. See map: Google (4 April 2009). "Robert Ashfield". British Music Collection. Retrieved 10 November 2020. {{cite web}}: |first3= has generic name (help)
robert, ashfield, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, january, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Robert Ashfield news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Robert Ashfield 28 July 1911 30 December 2006 was an English cathedral organist choirmaster and composer Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Southwell 3 Rochester 4 Composition 5 Administrative influence 6 References 7 External linksEarly life and education editRobert James Ashfield was born in 1911 at Chipstead Surrey Educated at Tonbridge School and the Royal College of Music RCM he inherited his considerable musical talent from his mother a fine amateur musician At the RCM he was taught and inspired by Sir Ernest Bullock then organist of Westminster Abbey and became his assistant 1 Ashfield became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in 1932 and then served as organist of St John s Smith Square London from 1934 until 1941 After being awarded his doctorate by the University of London in 1941 he served in the Army during the Second World War Southwell editAfter his war service he was in 1946 appointed magister and rector chori at Southwell Minster 2 Here he was fortunate in receiving the full support of the Provost Hugh Heywood He began by establishing a regular and disciplined rehearsal routine and before long the choir was known for its bold and incisive sound Ashfield also increased the range of choral repertoire performed and expanded other areas of musical life within the cathedral He also edited and compiled the Southwell Psalter a setting of each of the 150 Psalms to Anglican chant which is still used at both Southwell and New College Oxford Rochester editAfter 10 years at Southwell he moved to Rochester Cathedral in 1956 as organist and master of the choristers Over the next 21 years he also made his mark on the local community notably as conductor of the Rochester Choral Society 3 From 1958 until 1977 he also taught at the RCM His arrival at Rochester coincided with the opportunity to redesign and completely rebuild the cathedral organ In consultation with the organ builders J W Walker amp Sons Ltd Ashfield rejected much of the piecemeal work that had gone before producing in 1960 an instrument with a traditional feel but well suited to the needs of the cathedral He retired from his cathedral post in 1977 but remained in Rochester until his death in December 2006 4 Composition editHis practical experience of the liturgy allowed him to write well for voices Many of his anthems services responses chants and other choral works often written for special occasions have retained their place in the repertoire perhaps best known is his setting of Lionel Johnson s 1895 poem The Fair Chivalry commissioned for the Southwell Diocesan Choral Festival of 1949 Following his retirement his compositional output increased due to the greater amount of time he could commit to it To an already large set of works was added much chamber music an opera The Bishop s Candlestick and many instrumental pieces Of all the compositions his own favourite remained a setting of Robert Bridges s Christmas Eve commissioned by David Poulter and the Tudor Consort for voices and a chamber ensemble including harp flute oboe and string quartet Administrative influence editIn the late 1960s relations between clergy and musicians in the Church of England became increasingly strained over the question of fees and salaries Ashfield represented the Royal College of Organists working initially in partnership with William Cole of the Associated Board and Gerald Knight director of the Royal School of Church Music he helped to provide a series of recommendations However following delays in their acceptance Ashfield unilaterally produced his own suggested set of fees Subsequently championed by The Church Times the Ashfield Scale as it became known stayed in vogue throughout the decade He was also a member of the council of the Royal College of Organists Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians and a special commissioner of the Royal School of Church Music References edit Robert Ashfield www kcoa co uk Retrieved 26 September 2020 Robert Ashfield British Music Collection 4 April 2009 Retrieved 7 October 2020 Ferguson Barry 21 March 2007 Dr Robert James Ashfield Church Times Retrieved 7 October 2020 Chipstead N Surrey United Kingdom 51 18 55 314 Maps 0 9 53 7912 W See map Google 4 April 2009 Robert Ashfield British Music Collection Retrieved 10 November 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a first3 has generic name help External links editobituary The Times 1 February 2007Cultural officesPreceded byGeorge Francis Rector Chori of Southwell Minster1946 1956 Succeeded byDavid LumsdenPreceded byHarold Bennett Organist and Master of the Choristers of Rochester Cathedral1956 1977 Succeeded byBarry Ferguson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Ashfield amp oldid 1177468543, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
