A Woman with Opinions, and a Man who Resigned more than Once
Whilst waiting to get started with my next project, I’ve been doing a bit more research into individuals who only had a marginal role in my previous projects, but looked interesting in their own right, too.
But if I have one quality which is sometimes a failing, it’s my refusal to accept that sometimes the information is simply not there to be found. My librarianship background is somewhat to blame. If I can’t find something, it feels tantamount to an admission of defeat. And I don’t like being beaten.
Like Believing in Fairies
I’ve been on a wild goose chase this afternoon, though. I knew the poetry collections I was seeking were rare. It was totally improbable that I would walk into a couple of secondhand bookshops and find either of them. Yes, they were published in Scotland – 150 years ago. The poet (‘poetess’ or ‘authoress’ in her own day) comes across as an interesting woman with informed opinions about women’s status, and since she was the mother of one of ‘my’ woman composers, I thought she merited more attention. However, there was no trace of her this afternoon. Luckily, I have tracked down library copies, so all is not lost. I will get to see them – I just won’t have my own copies!
Even the consolatory coffee was a bit of a damp squib. I had the choice of standing and waiting in a haphazard queue, or going elsewhere to squeeze into a seat between people who really needed the space my seat was occupying. Oh, well. I had an outing. And I managed not to spill my coffee when I got bumped by the customers on either side!
However, I’ve had more luck at home, with my other quest.
‘Beyond a few slender facts [ … ], virtually no information about him seems to have survived.’
So said the authors of a book celebrating the 150th anniversary of our institution, a few years ago.
Of course, we have more information at our fingertips these days, so I’ve been trying to build up more of a profile of the Athenaeum Principal who only stayed in post for two years. I now know a lot more about him – though not yet the reason for his resignation. He was well qualified, a good pianist, and was the organist for several churches in England, Scotland and overseas.
Resigned as Principal, Resigned as Organist …
His resignation from the Athenaeum wasn’t the only time he resigned from a post. Indeed, one church went into a little more detail, saying he lacked tact. Their choir had already reportedly a hard time with his predecessor, though – maybe the choir itself was tricky!
I haven’t ruled out discovering more. But I am rather gratified by what I have found so far!
Karen McAulay, Musicologist 