How a Trumpet Is Made. I. The Natural Trumpet and Horn
David Blaikley · The Musical Times · 1910
successively musical critic of the Academy and the Athenceum, and also contributed many articles to the Musical Times and to Grove's 'Dictionary of Music.' Notwithstanding the onerous demands of this great pedagogical and critical activity, Ebenezer Prout found time for much composition, including three choral cantatas: 'Hereward, 'Alfred' and the 'Red Cross Knight.' His editions of 'The Messiah' and 'Samson' are other instances of his activities.His edition of the former work was the fruit of much laborious investigation.Not the least of its recommendations is that it corrects numerous mistakes that crept into former editions.But perhaps he exercised a wider and more permanent influence over his generation by his luminous theoretical works than he did by his music, sound and scholarly as that is.His 'Harmony, its theory and practice,' and the series of manuals on Counterpoint, Canon and Fugue, and Form and Instrumentation, have had great vogue, and have shaped the musical thought of innumerable students.In I894 he was appointed Professor of Music in the University of Dublin, and this post he retained until his decease.He was an active member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians.In 1904 his portrait, in his Dublin Doctor's robes, was painted by Mr. E. Bent Walker, and was presented to him by numerous friends and pupils.We are very glad to provide our subscribers with a reproduction of this picture.It is considered to be an excellent likeness of the Professor, and will form a fit companion to the portrait presented with our April, 1899, issue.Prout had a phenomenal musical memory.He was a devout Bach worshipper, and probably knew this incomparable composer's music as well as any man in Europe.His attitude to Wagner's music was on the whole appreciative.To the extreme moderns he was less sympathetic.The present writer went with Prout to the first London performance of ' Heldenleben' (Strauss), and is not likely to forget the accompanying and subsequent expression of the Professor's opinion.Prout was a keen and brilliant controversialist, always able, in musical matters at least, to support his opinion by wise saws and modern instances.Punctuality was one of his virtues, and he planned his work with marvellous exactitude.He would tell you in March all that he meant to accomplish in the next few months, and on what day in July and by what train he would depart for his holiday, and it all came off.He was a rare linguist, a chess player, a great smoker, a raconteur of exceptional interest, somewhat of a Bohemian in dress, a genial and sympathetic friend, and his whole life was an inspiration to his great circle of friends.The funeral took place in Abney Park Cemetery (London, N.E.) on December 9, in the presence of a large concourse of friends and representatives of the institutions with which he had been connected.The organ was played by Mr. John E. West, a relative and