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Cecilia John: an Australian Heads the London School of Dalcroze

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Cecilia John: an Australian Heads the London School of Dalcroze australiaa n societ s y fo r mumsic education e Cecilia John: an Australian heads i ncorporated the London School of Dalcroze Eurhythmics, 1932-1955 Joan Pope Monash University, Australia Abstract The London School of Dalcroze Eurhythmics (LSDE) was established in 1913, and a significant figure in its history was the remarkable Cecilia John, one of seven Australians to complete the three-year course between 1917 and 1927. Apart from two short visits to Australia, John lived and taught in England for the remainder of her life. Following the death of the Founding Honorary Director of the LSDE in 1930, John became the Warden and then Principal of the School. She held this position until her death twenty-five years later. John was a dynamic figure in the Australian suffrage movement prior to 1920 yet few Dalcroze educators are aware of this part of her life. Conversely, there is lively evidence of her Eurhythmics studies in London from 1920-1923, and involvement in international Dalcroze Eurhythmics matters, which is unknown to many Australians. Few women could match her record as a mature age student who became Principal of the British school from which she had graduated some seven years earlier. Key words: Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Cecilia John, London School Dalcroze Eurhythmics, suffrage movement, Jaques-Dalcroze Australian Journal of Music Education 2014:2,148-58 Introduction position she held until her death twenty-five years later. She was a dynamic figure in the This article acknowledges the Centenary of Australian suffrage movement prior to 1920 yet the establishment of the London School of few Dalcroze educators are aware of this part of Dalcroze Eurhythmics (LSDE) in 1913, and the her life.2 Conversely, there is lively evidence of work of the remarkable Cecilia John, one of her Eurhythmics studies in London from 1920- seven Australians to complete the three-year 1923, and involvement in international Dalcroze course between 1917 and 1927.1 Apart from Eurhythmics matters, which is unknown to many two short visits to Australia, she lived and taught Australians. Few women could match her record in England for the rest of her life. In 1930, the as a mature age student who became Principal of Founding Honorary Director of the LSDE, Percy the British school from which she had graduated Ingham, died and several years later John became some seven years earlier. the Warden, then Principal of the School, a 2. Patricia Gowland, ‘John, Cecilia Annie (1877–1955)’, Australian 1. Joan L. Pope, Dalcroze Eurhythmics in Australasia: The first Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian generation from 1918. Unpublished thesis, Monash University, National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/john- Australia, 2008). cecilia-annie-6849/text11861, accessed 1 October 2013. 148 2014, No. 2 Cecilia John in London, 1932-1955 First experiences of the work of Jaques- Read.8 Less than a year later, in September 1913, Dalcroze in England Percy Ingham founded a Centre in London to provide a preparatory year for English students Mlle. Roos and Mlle. Simon who had attended who wished to attend the Jaques-Dalcroze College his first teaching course in Geneva gave a of Rhythm and Music at Hellerau-Dresden. As the demonstration of the new music and movement course there was conducted in German, some education ideas of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze with proficiency in this language as well as piano skills, students of the St. Paul’s School as early as 1907.3 harmony, singing and ear-training could be gained The work of Kathleen Jessie O’Dowd, the first in London prior to enrolling for the further two British teacher from the same course, was later years of study with Jaques-Dalcroze and his staff.9 4 glowingly reported by W. G. McNaught. Two The outbreak of the World War I (WWI) brought the music teachers from Moira House School, an involvement of Jaques-Dalcroze with the College educationally progressive school for girls, studied to an end and he returned to Geneva. Ingham for several terms with Jaques-Dalcroze in Geneva then sought his permission to convert the London and on their return, the school formulated a School of Dalcroze Eurhythmics into a three-year curriculum incorporating the spirit of his work in training centre that could issue qualifications in all studies. Girls from this school presented the his name.10 The request was agreed to, ‘until the 5 results at the Royal Academy of Music in 1911. end of the war’ at which time it would be reviewed Charles Ingham, founding Principal, his wife, their and formally accredited as a School, serving daughter Gertrude, later Principal of the Moira English-speaking students from the British Empire, House School, and their son and daughter-in-law, the Dominions and Commonwealth. Although Percy and Ethel, were instrumental in furthering the school no longer exists, Dalcroze training in awareness of Jaques-Dalcroze and his method in England, and elsewhere in the world, continues Great Britain. This was enhanced when Jaques- through qualified teachers who have the required Dalcroze visited England in 1912 with students Diplôme to train and examine at higher levels in from the Hellerau-Dresden College, to present the name of the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, Geneva. public displays of his methods then called ‘La Rythmique’ in French, and ‘Rhythmik Gymnastic’ Cecilia Annie John (1877 – 1955) 6 in German. The term ‘Eurhythmics’ had not yet Cecilia John was born in Hobart, Tasmania in applied to this study.7 The lecture-demonstrations 1877, one of five children of a blacksmith of were supported financially by the Ingham Welsh origin. As a young woman she moved to family and co-hosted with the Music Teachers’ Melbourne, Victoria, in the early 1900s to study Association by Stewart MacPherson and Ernest singing. The independently-minded John funded her lessons by selling eggs from her poultry farm at Deepdene.11 She gained the Licentiate 8. The demonstrations were chaired in London by Tobias Matthay, 3. The Times, December, 1907. It is noteworthy that Gustav Holst and in Manchester by J. J. Finlay, Inaugural Professor of Education was also on the staff of this school at this time. at Manchester University. Geraldine Beare and Cynthia L. White, 4. The School Music Review. April, 1909. McNaught was the Editor. Moira House: Portrait of a progressive school 1875-2000. Mrs J. 5. Geraldine Beare and Cynthia L. White, Moira House: Portrait of Curwen wrote a comprehensive review in The Musical Herald, a progressive school 1875-2000 (Eastbourne, East Sussex: Moira December, 1912. House School, 2000). 9. Dalcroze Society of Great Britain. A Record of the first thirty years: 6. Der Rhythmus, 1912. 1913-1943. (London: Dalcroze Society of Great Britain, 1943). 7. It was coined in the northern summer of 1911 by Professors J.J. 10. Archive, Institut Jaques-Dalcroze. Findlay and J. Harvey during their visit to the Dalcroze College at 11. This practical course of action became an interest she continued Hellerau with the Ingham family (The School Music Review. March, with considerable success, as by 1911 she was a well-known 1914). poultry judge at Agricultural Shows. Australian Journal of Music Education 149 Pope of the Associated Board (LAB), and by 1906, was At the end of the Great War, John was one a Registered Teacher with the Victorian Board of the three Australian delegates attending the of Non-Government Teachers, with ‘secondary International Women’s Peace Conference in Zurich, music’ as her category and she taught privately 1919.15 Not far away, in Geneva, Jaques-Dalcroze at a studio in central Melbourne.12 Possessed in 1919 presented his first International Summer with a strong contralto voice, she sang with the Course since the war. This was a major event and Melbourne Metropolitan Leidertafel, the George attracted many former students and delegates.16 Musgrove Opera Company and the Melbourne The considerable press coverage in Switzerland Philharmonic Orchestra. In conjunction with must have attracted John’s interest and sparked a Mrs. Stewart Mackie she established the People’s determination to pursue this approach. Returning Conservatorium of Music in Melbourne in 1918 to Melbourne and concerned with the plight of (ADB). In marked contrast to these activities European children following WW1, she became John came to public attention as a formidable the first Organising Secretary of the Save the political activist and suffragette. She was the Children Fund in Australia.17 In 1921 she decided business manager for, and a contributor to The to pursue Dalcroze Eurhythmics and attended the Woman Voter published in Melbourne, with Dalcroze Summer School held at Oxford in August. Vida Goldstein and Adela Pankhurst. All three Following this course she took a term of classes at campaigned strongly for women’s electoral the LSDE, then, giving her birth date as 1887, not rights in Victoria.13 John also participated in 1877, on the enrolment form, joined the full-time Anti-Conscription protests during WWI and training course.18 During the Summer School held she was arrested at one such rally for using her in July 1923, at Bangor University College, North notable contralto voice ‘to cause a disturbance’ Wales, final year examinations were presided over and was held overnight at the City Watch-house. by Jaques-Dalcroze. John was required to have The prosecution alleged that she had neglected to use all the means in her power to prevent one ‘supplementary’ and was awarded a partial the aisles being kept free of obstruction. Frank certificate, on condition that in the next several Brennan QC, for the defendant, alleged that years she satisfactorily completed certain teaching there had been no obstruction until Councillors practise requirements under supervision.
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