Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1940s-1990s (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
22 boxes; 4 packets; 1 roll
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Bernarr Rainbow (1914-1998) trained at Trinity College of Music and was appointed Organist and Choirmaster of High Wycombe Parish Church and Senior Music Master at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe in 1944. In 1952 he became Director of Music at the teacher training College of S. Mark and S. John in Chelsea, transferring to Gypsy Hill College of Education in 1972 and then becoming Head of Music at Kingston Polytechnic. He retired in 1978. Rainbow researched, wrote and published extensively on music education and historical musicology, becoming a distinguished scholar of the history of music education and gaining three postgraduate degrees from the University of Leicester. He wrote a biography of John Curwen (1816-1880), the inventor of the tonic sol-fa method of singing, and founded the Curwen Institute to promote his work. He was President of the Campaign for the Defence of the Traditional Cathedral Choir which resisted the introduction of women and in 1996 he established the Bernarr Rainbow Award for School Music Teachers.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0366 RW 1940s-1990s collection 22 boxes; 4 packets; 1 roll Rainbow , Bernarr , 1914-1998 , teacher and musicologist
Bernarr Rainbow (1914-1998) trained at Trinity College of Music and was appointed Organist and Choirmaster of High Wycombe Parish Church and Senior Music Master at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe in 1944. In 1952 he became Director of Music at the teacher training College of S. Mark and S. John in Chelsea, transferring to Gypsy Hill College of Education in 1972 and then becoming Head of Music at Kingston Polytechnic. He retired in 1978. Rainbow researched, wrote and published extensively on music education and historical musicology, becoming a distinguished scholar of the history of music education and gaining three postgraduate degrees from the University of Leicester. He wrote a biography of John Curwen (1816-1880), the inventor of the tonic sol-fa method of singing, and founded the Curwen Institute to promote his work. He was President of the Campaign for the Defence of the Traditional Cathedral Choir which resisted the introduction of women and in 1996 he established the Bernarr Rainbow Award for School Music Teachers.
Deposited by Professor Peter Dickinson, via the John Curwen Society, in 1999.
Papers of Bernarr Rainbow, [1940-1998], including photographs, personalia, music manuscripts, sound recordings, drafts of published and unpublished works, and a small amount of correspondence.
Open. Apply to Archivist.
A reader wishing to publish any quotation of information, including pictorial, derived from any archive material must apply in writing for prior permission from the Librarian or other appropriate person(s) as indicated by the Archivist. A limited number of photocopies may be supplied at the discretion of the Archivist.
English
Bernarr Rainbow's collection of books on music education, including many rare volumes and his own publications, is also held by the Institute of Education Library.
Some family papers have been deposited at Hampton Court Palace.
Created 12/2/1999, modified 12/6/2000 Campaign for the Defence of the Traditional Cathedral Choir College of Saint Mark and Saint John , Chelsea Cultural education Curwen Institute Curwen , John , 1816-1880 , Independent minister writer on music Educational history Educational sciences Gipsy Hill College of Education x Gypsy Hill College of Education Kingston Polytechnic Music Musical styles Music education Musicology Rainbow , Bernarr , 1914-1998 , teacher and musicologist Religious music Royal Grammar School , High Wycombe Performing arts
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by Professor Peter Dickinson, via the John Curwen Society, in 1999.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Bernarr Rainbow, [1940-1998], including photographs, personalia, music manuscripts, sound recordings, drafts of published and unpublished works, and a small amount of correspondence.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open. Apply to Archivist.
Conditions governing reproduction
A reader wishing to publish any quotation of information, including pictorial, derived from any archive material must apply in writing for prior permission from the Librarian or other appropriate person(s) as indicated by the Archivist. A limited number of photocopies may be supplied at the discretion of the Archivist.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Bernarr Rainbow's collection of books on music education, including many rare volumes and his own publications, is also held by the Institute of Education Library.
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Some family papers have been deposited at Hampton Court Palace.
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
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Place access points
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Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English