# A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Trinity College, Dublin

​TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. An University was founded in Dublin by Alexander de Bicknor, Archbishop of Dublin, in 1320, but died out in the early part of the 16th century. After a lapse of 60 or 70 years the present University of Dublin was founded in 1591 by Queen Elizabeth, and with it the 'College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, near Dublin.' The College alone was incorporated by charter, and its governing body or Board was entrusted with the management of the University. On this account, as well as from a mistaken interpretation of the original charter, an idea obtained currency that the University of Dublin did not acquire an independent existence, and that Trinity was a College endowed with the powers of an University. This is, however, quite erroneous. The University and the College were both founded at the same time, but as the former possessed no distinct property, and had no share in directing the education of the students, its sole function consisted in conferring degrees. (See the Rev. Dr. Todd's preface to the Catalogue of Graduates of the University of Dublin, 1869, and Sir Joseph Napier's 'Opinion,' prefixed to vol. ii. of the same work, 1884, where the whole question is fully elucidated.) Any possible doubt was removed by the revised charter granted in 1857, by which the Senate of the University was formally incorporated.
In the 17th century two or three minor Colleges or Halls were founded, but without success, and Trinity still remains the single College in the University of Dublin.
To obtain a regular degree at the University of Dublin, the candidate must matriculate at Trinity College, and complete the prescribed course of study, when a Grace is passed by the Board of the College and submitted for ratification to the Senate of the University, but the degree may be withheld either by the veto of any member of the University Caput, or, subsequently, by a majority of the Senate.
A few degrees in Music seem to have been conferred in the 17th century, and Thomas Bateson and Randolph, or Randal, Jewitt are said to have received the degree of Mus.B. [See vol. i. p. 155.]
In the latter part of the 18th century several musical degrees were given, and we find the names of *Garret Wesley, Earl of Mornington, Mus.D. (1764); *the Rt. Hon. Charles Gardiner, Mus.D. causa honoris (1764); *Richard Woodward (organist of Christ Church, 1765–1777), Mus.B. 1768, Mus.D. 1771; Sampson Carter (elder brother of Thomas Carter), Mus.D.; Samuel Murphy (organist of St. Patrick's, 1773, and Christ Church, 1777), Mus.D.; Langrishe Doyle (organist of Armagh 1776, and then of Christ Church, Dublin, 1780), Mus.D.; Philip Cogan (organist of St. Patrick's, 1780), Mus.D.; Sir John Stevenson, Mus.D. (1791, per diploma); and John Clarke (afterwards Clarke-Whitfeld), Mus.D. (1795). From 1800 to 1861 the degree of Doctor was conferred on John Spray; William Warren (organist of Christ Church, 1814, and of St. Patrick's, 1827), 1827; John Smith, 1827; *Sir Robert P. Stewart (organist of Christ Church, 1844, and of St. Patrick's, 1852–1861), 1851, and Francis Robinson, honoris causa, 1852. The degree of Bachelor was also taken by Nicholas H. Stack, 1845, and William Murphy.
The names marked with an asterisk appear in the Catalogue of Graduates, and in these cases the degrees were taken regularly; but most of the other musical degrees seem to have been merely honorary, and, conferring no University privileges, are not found in the University registers.
The Professorship of Music was founded in 1764, when Lord Mornington was appointed the first professor; but on his retirement in 1774 the chair remained vacant until 1847, when it was filled by Dr. John Smith, and on his death in 1861, Dr., afterwards Sir Robert, Stewart was appointed to the office, which he still holds.
Since his appointment, and, as it is understood, mainly through his exertions, the conditions on ​which a degree in music is conferred by the University of Dublin have been considerably remodelled, by the addition of an examination in Arts to that in Music only. The existing regulations require the candidate for the degree of Bachelor to pass the ordinary examination for entrance into Trinity College, except that any modern foreign language may be substituted for Greek. He must have studied or practised music for seven years, and must pass such examination and perform such exercises as may be prescribed. A Doctor in Music must have taken the Degree of Bachelor and have studied music for twelve years. He also must pass such further examinations and perform such acts as may be prescribed.
Trinity College was opened for the reception of students on the 9th January, 159¾. On the centenary of that day a solemn commemoration was held within the College, for which an Ode, 'Great Parent, hail!' was written by Tate, then poet laureate, and set to music by Henry Purcell. [See vol. iii. p. 49.]
The edition of this Ode, published by Goodison, states that it was performed in Christ Church Cathedral on the 9th Jan. 169¾, but this is certainly an error, and the registers of Christ Church make no reference to the subject. The General Register of Trinity College, however, does contain a full account of the proceedings within the College walls. After morning prayers in the Chapel came 'Musicus instrumentorum concentus.' Then followed sundry orations, after which we read 'Ode Eucharistica vocum et instrumentorum Symphonia decantatur,' which no doubt is 'Great Parent, hail!' The College Register states that the several exercises were laid up in the manuscript library, but a recent search for these papers has proved fruitless.
In 1837 the 'University Choral Society' was founded for the cultivation of vocal music in Trinity College. Membership is restricted to students of the College and Graduates of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin. The Society meets weekly for practice from November to June, and usually gives three concerts during the season. At these concerts many important works have been performed for the first time in Dublin. Mr. Joseph Robinson held the office of Conductor from the foundation of the Society until 1847, when he resigned, and was succeeded by the present Conductor, Sir Robert Stewart.
[ G. A. C. ]
* ↑ According to precedent this was not necessary. The University of Paris never had a charter, nor was one granted to Oxford until the 15th century, and then for special reasons. Sir Joseph Napier shows that a recognised University is in its own nature a distinct corporation.
* ↑ A similar instance is afforded in the United States of America where Harvard is the only College in Cambridge University.
* ↑ The date, 1611, ordinarily given as that of Bateson's removal from Chester to Dublin, is incorrect. From the Chapter books of Christ Church it appears that he was appointed a Vicar Choral of that Cathedral on March 24, 1608–9. and Organist soon afterwards.
* ↑ Hawkins's account of this musician is confused. Jewitt, who became organist of both Christ Church and St. Patrick's Cathedrals in 1631, and was succeeded in the former post by Dr. Rogers in 1639, held at the same time a choral vicarage in St. Patrick's, of which he was deprived by the Archbishop (also in 1639) for not being in priest's orders, but was restored in 1641. He became a Vicar Choral of Christ Church in 1646, and probably returned to England on the suppression of the Cathedral establishments under the Commonwealth. Jewitt seems to have afterwards taken Holy Orders, was admitted a Minor Canon of St. Paul's in 1661, and finally became Organist of Winchester, where he died July 4, 1675, and was succeeded by John Reading.
* ↑ See vol. ii. p. 368.
* ↑ See vol. i. p. 317.
* ↑ See vol. iii. p. 712.
* ↑ Organist of Armagh 1794–1797; Master of the choristers of Christ Church and St. Patrick's, 1798. He was never organist of either of the Dublin Cathedrals, as is sometimes stated. He graduated Mus.B. at Oxford in 1793, but his Cambridge degree of Doctor in 1799 was granted ad eundem from Dublin. See vol. i. p. 365.
* ↑ See vol. iii. p. 540. The Grace passed by the Board for conferring the degree of Doctor on Warren and Smith is dated July 7, 1827.
* ↑ See vol. iii. p. 713.
* ↑ See 'The Gentleman's Journal' or 'The Monthly Miscellany,' Jan. and Feb. 1694, p. 25. Tate was educated at Trinity College, where he obtained a Scholarship in 1672.
* ↑ See vol. iii. p. 140.