Alexander Mackenzie

Full biography Alexander Mackenzie

Alexander Mackenzie (1847-1935) was a Scottish composer, conductor, and teacher who played a significant role in the revival of British music in the late 19th and early 20th century. He was born on August 22, 1847, in Edinburgh, to a musical family where his father was the principal violinist and conductor of the orchestra at the Theatre Royal.

Mackenzie began his musical career as a violinist, and later studied composition under George Macfarren and Sir Charles Stanford. He gained recognition for his choral works, most notably his three oratorios: "The Rose of Sharon", "Bethlehem", and "The Bride". Mackenzie also wrote symphonies, chamber music, and operas, including his most famous work "The Cricket on the Hearth", which was based on the book by Charles Dickens.

Apart from his work as a composer, Mackenzie was also a conductor and held various positions throughout his career, including Principal of the Royal Academy of Music in London. Moreover, he was a professor of music at Edinburgh University and later held a similar position in Glasgow.

Mackenzie was knighted in 1895 and received many other honors, including the appointment of "Organist and Master of the King's Music" in 1911. He passed away on April 28, 1935, in London.

Overall, Alexander Mackenzie was a prominent figure in British music who played a significant role in the revival of the British musical tradition. His compositions, especially his choral works, continue to be performed to this day, and his influence on British musical culture is still felt.