Oakeley, Herbert Stanley

Composer

b Ealing, W London (Middx) 1830, d Eastbourne, Sussex 1903. His musical gifts were evident from the age of 4 and he began to compose at 9. From Rugby Sch and Christ Church Oxford (BA, MA); he went on to further study in Germany, at Leipzig, Dresden and Bonn, having at one time considered ordination. From 1858 to 1866 he was Music Critic of the Guardian. He was appointed Prof of Music at Edinburgh in 1865, where he founded the Edinburgh Univ Musical Society, gaining a secure place for the subject in its curriculum and remaining in that post until 1891. He was awarded DMus by several universities from Cambridge in 1871 to Edinburgh in 1891; also DCL Toronto 1886. Composed music for the inauguration of the Scottish monument to the Prince Consort; he was noted for his expert improvisations, and was knighted in 1876. No.939.