Ernest Jenner

New Zealand pianist, music teacher and composer

For the American cartoonist, see Ernest C. Jenner.

Ernest Albert Frederick Jenner MBE (8 August 1892 - 7 April 1971) was a New Zealand pianist, music teacher and composer.

## Early life and education

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He was born in Chatham, Kent, England, on 8 August 1892.[1] He attended Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School in Rochester and was a chorister at Westminster Cathedral in London.[1] He wished to pursue a musical career but his parents insisted he attend teachers college, Goldsmiths' Training College in London.[1]

## Career

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Jenner taught for seven years in Bexley after which he studied music at the Tobias Matthay Pianoforte School.[1] In 1925 he studied at the Royal Academy of Music, becoming a sub-professor of piano in 1926.[1] In London he was pianist for theatre orchestras and performed as a soloist.[1]

In 1928 he emigrated to Wellington, New Zealand, taking up a position of lecturer in music at the Teachers' Training College.[1][2] The college closed in 1932 as a result of the depression and after which Jenner took up the same position at the Christchurch Teachers' Training College, which had been vacated by Vernon Griffiths. He retired in 1954.[1]

Jenner continued as a performer, in chamber music and as a concerto pianist. He performed with the National Orchestra in 1954.[1] He was soloist in performances of John Ireland's Piano Concerto.[3] He was conductor of several choirs: Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Wellington, Church of St Michael and All Angels, and Liederkränzchen (a women's choir) and, from 1937, the Royal Christchurch Musical Society in Christchurch.[1][4]

As a composer he wrote piano pieces, songs and cantatas.[3] He wrote books on music tuition, especially sight-singing, and a church music course for Catholic schools; he was also a broadcaster and music critic for the Christchurch Press.[1][3]

## Honours and awards

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In the 1962 New Year Honours, Jenner was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to music.[5] He was elected as a fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 1950.[1][3]

## Personal life

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Jenner married Agnes Lavinia Marriott in 1915 and they had five daughters and three sons.[1]

## Selected works

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### Compositions and arrangements

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* Junior sight-singing and songs for schools (1937)
* Senior sight-singing and songs for schools (1937)
* Chants, motets and modal settings : for Catholic schools and choirs. Book I (1937)
* Flower fancies : three miniatures for piano (1944)
* The children's mass and hymn book (1949)
* Country scenes : a little suite of imaginative pieces for piano with percussion band (1949)
* Music for Palm Sunday : restored order : modern settings (1956)
* 20 songs for the school year (1959)

### Books

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* Songs for children and how to use them : composed for the purpose of building up a picture modulator for use in teaching sight singing from staff notation (1932)
* Songs and lesson material for the school music course : designed for teaching staff sight-singing and musical knowledge through actual music (1933)
* Lesson plans in music appreciation : listening lessons from gramophone records with associated songs and simple rhythmic hand-movements that ensure right hearing (1936)
* A church music course for Catholic schools. Book I (1936) – followed by Book II (1938) and Book III (1939)
* The orchestra and its music (1948)
* Junior music-reading and songs for schools : a course in vocal music (1950)
* Overtures : their origin, history and design : together with the stories of some well-known overtures (1950)

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Sell, David. "Ernest Albert Frederick Jenner". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
2. ^ "Lecturer in music; post in Wellington; Mr Ernest Jenner arrives". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 July 1928. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
3. ^ a b c d Thomson, John Mansfield (1990). Biographical dictionary of New Zealand composers. Wellington [N.Z.]: Victoria University Press. pp. 81–82. ISBN 0-86473-095-0. OCLC 22895790.
4. ^ "Mr Ernest Jenner, who has been appointed conductor of the Royal Christchurch Musical Society". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 24 March 1937. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
5. ^ "No. 42554". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1962. p. 40.

## External links

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* Photo of Edward Jenner, 1930s, in Alexander Turnbull Library

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States