Robertson, Alec (actually, Alexander Thomas Paul)
Robertson, Alec (actually, Alexander Thomas Paul)
Robertson, Alec (actually, Alexander Thomas Paul) , English writer on music and broadcaster; b. Southsea, June 3, 1892; d. Midhurst, Jan. 18, 1982. After studies at Bradfield Coll. and the Royal Academy of Music in London (1910–13), he was active with the Gramophone Co. (1920–30); then entered the Collegio Beda in Rome (1930) and was ordained a priest (1934). After serving at Westminster Cathedral, he joined the Gramophone Dept. of the BBC (1940), where he was chief producer of music talks on the Home and Third Programmes, a position he held until 1952. He was also a reviewer (from 1932) and music ed. (1952–72) for the journal Gramophone. His autobiography was publ. as More than Music (London, 1961).
Writings
(all publ. in London unless otherwise given): The Interpretation of Plainchant (1937); Brahms (1939; 2nd ed., 1974); Dvoîák (1945; 2nd ed., 1964); Contrasts: The Arts and Religion (1947); How to Listen to Music (1948); Sacred Music (1950); ed. Chamber Music (Harmondsworth, 1956; 4th ed., 1967); ed. with D. Stevens, Pelican History of Music (Harmondsworth, 1960–68); Christian Music (N.Y., 1961); Music of the Catholic Church (1961); ed. G.B. S. on Music (1962); Requiem: Music of Mourning and Consolation (1967); Church Cantatas of J.S. Bach (1972).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire