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ETHEL MARY SMYTH DBE, Mus.Doc, D.Litt. a MUSICAL ETHEL MARY SMYTH DBE, Mus.Doc, D.Litt. A MUSICAL TIMELINE compiled by Lewis Orchard Early days & adolescence in Frimley 1858 Born 22 April at 5 Lower Seymour Street (now part of Wigmore Street), Marylebone, London; daughter of Lieutenant Colonel (then) John Hall Smyth of the Bengal Artillery and Emma (Nina) Smyth. Ethel liked to claim that she was born on St. George's Day 23 April but her birth certificate clearly states 22 April. Baptised at St. Marylebone parish church on 28 May, 1858. On return of father from India the family took up residence at Sidcup Place, Sidcup, Kent where she spent her early years up to age 9. Mostly educated by a series of governesses 1867 When father promoted to an artillery command at Aldershot the family moved to a large house 'Frimhurst' at Frimley Green, Surrey, which later he purchased. Sang duets with Mary at various functions and displayed early interest in music. 1870 'When I was 12 a new victim (governess) arrived who had studied music at the Leipzig Conservatorium'. This was Marie Louise Schultz of Stettin, Pomerania, Germany (now Szezecin, Poland) who encouraged her interest in music and introduced her to the works of the major (German) composers, notably Beethoven.. Later Ethel met Alexander Ewing (also in the army at Aldershot in the Army Service Corps). Ethel became acquainted with him through Mrs Ewing who was a friend of her mother. Ewing was musically well educated and was impressed by Ethel's piano playing and compositions. He encouraged her in her musical ambitions. He taught her harmony and introduced her to the works of Brahms, List, Wagner and Berlioz and gave her a copy of Berlioz's 'Treatise on Orchestration'. Also she went to concerts in London with the Ewings. She decided to become a composer and study at Leipzig, at that time considered to be the musical capital of the world, but her father strongly objected – unlike her mother, he refused to believe in her musical abilities and described artists, musicians and the like as 'loose fish' 1872 Sent to boarding school in Putney with sister, Mary, for short period (2 years?) after departure of governess. Father arranged posting of Ewing well away from Aldershot (to Manchester) to remove his influence on Ethel but she continued to fight tenaciously to study music in Leipzig. The Leipzig Years 1877-1885 1877 Aged 19, she finally achieved parental consent to study music in Leipzig and travelled there on July 26 with her brother-in- law Harry Davidson who knew Germany well. She quickly learned German. Introduced to the very musical Röntgen family (Papa Röntgen was the Leader of the Leipzig Gewandhaus orchestra). Dissatisfied with tuition at the Conservatorium, which had declined since the death of Mendelssohn who had founded the institution, she subsequently studied privately with Heinrich von Herzogenberg (1843-1900), minor composer and (?)President of the Bach Verein in Leipzig: Ethel said he regularly composed for x hours a day resulting in 'dry' works and had a pianistic touch 'like a paving stone'. Ethel was befriended and looked after by Elisabeth (Lisl) Heinrich's wife, a striking blonde, very musical and much admired by Brahms; (Ethel described her as her 'foster mother'). The von Herzogenberg's were part of the Leipzig musical establishment and they introduced Ethel to major composers who visited Leipzig notably Brahms who is reputed to have said that if it had not been for Lisl he would not set foot in Leipzig at all. She met Tchaikovsky who encouraged her to study orchestration (her study with von Herzogenberg had concentrated largely or wholly on chamber music and exercises in counterpoint). 1878 Introduced to Brahms who refused to believe that she had written some of her songs shown to him. Ethel also met Lili Wach, Mendelssohn's youngest daughter who was very musical and a firm friendship developed only interrupted (terminated?) by the Great War. When Ethel became ill in the Spring Lisl nursed her, referring to her fondly as 'her child' (the Herzogenbergs were unable to have children). Lisl became Ethel’s first serious love. Ethel returned home to 'Frimhurst' in June (as required by father when allowing her to go to Leipzig) but reported that Summer that she could not wait to get better and return to Germany, music and Leipzig friends. Notable that during this period there was frequent correspondence with Lisl. Well enough to return to Leipzig in September and 'from now on I became, and remained, a semi-detached member of the Herzogenberg family'. 1879 Met Edvard Grieg when he was visiting Leipzig. Spent the Summer in England as usual and met the Garrett sisters, both keen Suffragists, and became friends particularly with Rhoda who was running a decorating business in the William Morris style. In the Autumn heard talk for the first time of 'pan-Germanism': 'England on the downgrade and the Fatherland swinging to the top' 1880 German fury over British actions in South Africa resulting in the first Boer War. Ethel reported much anti-British feeling in Germany but she did not suffer personally other than remarks made during conversations with various officials. 1881 Spent the summer with the Garrets at Rustington, Sussex, and met Sir Hubert Parry for the first time (later studied organ with him for a brief period resulting in her composing some organ preludes). 1882 Mountain climbing in Switzerland near Interlaken in August with the Wachs: injured knee whilst climbing the Schildhorn. Decided to spend winter in Italy. Went to Venice in the Autumn and continued to Florence for first visit where she spent Christmas. First meeting with the Brewsters, Henry (Harry), author and cosmopolitan, and Julia, Lisl von Herzogenberg's sister and 11 years older than Henry. Ethel found a kindred spirit in Henry but despite a professed relaxed attitude to marriage Julia became jealous of their relationship. Ethel's friend Rhoda Garrett died in November. 1883 Spent first two months at the home of Hildebrand the sculptor recuperating from the knee injury. Met with Henry Brewster while at Berchtesgarten to discuss their developing relationship and consideration of breaking it off. Julia was increasingly aloof and ultimately regarded Ethel as 'the woman who had stolen her husband's heart'. The Brewster's children, Clotilde and Christopher, remained reasonably friendly. As described by Christopher St. John in her biography, Ethel at the age of 25 was 'a young girl with fair hair, pale blue eyes, beautiful complexion, well cut features and figure of an athlete'. Spent Summer in England at Smyth family home and later in Leipzig and Florence. First meeting with Empress Eugénie, who had moved to a neighbouring property 'Farnborough Hill' after the death of husband Napoleon III and who had became friendly with Ethel's mother, with whom she conversed in French. The Empress encouraged and supported Ethel in her musical ambitions. 1884 First public performance of her compositions in Leipzig – string quintet Op.1. Met and became friend of Clara Schumann while in Leipzig. “The most miserable years of my life” 1885 Deepening friendship with Henry Brewster caused rift with Lisl von Herzogenberg, who was said to have felt that Ethel had betrayed both her and her sister but who was probably under pressure from the family to cease her friendship, notably by Baroness Stockhausen, Lisl's mother, who hated Ethel (Ethel referred to her as 'an evil genius'). This effectively cut Ethel off from the von Herzogenbergs and their part of the Leipzig musical establishment but some friends remained loyal, notably Lili Wach (Mendelssohn's daughter) and the Röntgens. Ethel saw Lisl for the last time when the von Herzogenburgs left Leipzig in May 1885: correspondence from Lisl dried up to 'a frozen trickle' and then ceased altogether even though Ethel broke off contact with Brewster at this time. 1885-1890 'The most miserable years of my life. For seven years my life had been inextricably mixed up with the Herzogenberg's lives, whether musically or humanly, as if I really had been their own child'. ‘It may be remembered that the Brewsters held unusual views concerning the bond between man and wife, views which up to the time of my arrival on the scene had not been put to the proof by the touch of reality. My second visit to Florence was fated to supply that test.....'. Henry Brewster became Ethel's closest friend and, eventually, her lover. 'There had been nothing resembling love-making...except during that fateful winter of 84-85, when he twice turned up at Leipzig convinced that Julia was coming round, and when we were as good, or as bad, as an engaged couple' (ES in 'As Time Went On') 1886 First meeting with Mrs Benson, wife of Archbishop of Canterbury and her two daughters Nelly and Maggie. Ethel was introduced to her by Edith Davidson, wife of Dr. Davidson, the Dean of Windsor, and sister-in-law of Harry Davidson, Alice Smyth's husband: Mrs Benson became Ethel's senior friend and confidante. Also during this period Ethel became a friend of Lady Ponsonby, wife of Queen Victoria's Private Secretary. Ethel remained in England during 1885/6. Visited Cornwall in the summer: this experience surfaced in the composition of her opera 'The Wreckers' set in Cornwall, notably her visit to Piper's Hole in the Scilly Isles which suggested the setting for Act 3. 1887 Went back to Leipzig for Winter of 1887. People generally friendly, even Brahms, but locked out of the von Herzogenberg circle. Given 'Marco', the first of a continuous series of dogs which she had for the rest of her life.
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