W. R. Pybus

William Richard Pybus (9 October 1848 – 11 November 1917) was a South Australian organist, pianist and music teacher.

History

Pybus was born in Hindley Street, Adelaide, the eldest son of ironfounder William Pybus ( –1885) and Sarah Pybus née Cox (–1915) on 1848. William sen. emigrated on the Orissa with his father, also named William Pybus ( –1854), mother Ann Pybus ( –1871), sisters Ann Matilda, Elizabeth and Jane (c. 1833 – 19 January 1883), and brothers Robert James (married 9 October 1849), Charles (killed himself 6 September 1893), and Henry (drowned 25 March 1879), arriving in March 1840.

He commenced his musical studies at eight years of age, and was a solo chorister at St. Andrew's Church, Walkerville[1] and Trinity Church, Adelaide. He sang at the first Handel festival held in the colony, around 1858. He received piano lessons from a lady teacher at the Walkerville day school, then from Richard Baxter White RAM (1839–1872), a son of George White of White's Rooms fame.[2] From the age of 10 years he took the organ for occasional services, and was early recognised as one of Adelaide's leading pianists and accompanists.[3]

He had been working at his father's foundry on North Terrace,[4] but left the business around 1869. Subsequently, he studied music at the Adelaide University.

In 1873 he was appointed organist, ahead of George Oughton, at the Kent Town Wesleyan Methodist Church, where, a fine new Hill organ had just been installed, and served there for 14 years.

He started teaching piano, organ, and singing in 1875. He gained a high reputation as a teacher, and many students achieved a degree of recognition.

For 14 years he was organist with the Methodist Church in Adelaide, and for two and a half years with the Tynte Street, North Adelaide, Baptist Church.

He succeeded James Shakespeare as pianist to the old Philharmonic Society, under conductor E. L Spiller, which gave way to the Adelaide Amateur Musical Union under Oughton, and Pybus was appointed pianist. He formally opened the Adelaide Town Hall organ for the Musical Union with a choral performance on 2 October 1877. David Lee, later Melbourne City Organist, played the solo pieces. In 1879 Pybus succeeded Oughton as conductor of the Musical Union, which disbanded in 1881, and Pybus was appointed conductor of its successor, the re-formed Philharmonic Society. While conductor he produced several oratorios and cantatas.

In 1881 he inaugurated the students' annual concerts.

In 1887 he was appointed organist to the North Adelaide Baptist Church, then organist and choirmaster of the Flinders Street Presbyterian Church from 1891 to November 1917, succeeded by Horace Weber.

At the Adelaide Jubilee International Exhibition of 1887 he gave several organ recitals,

In 1890 the S.A. Sunday School Union appointed him musical director for the Jubilee Festival. He was also the director of the Sunday School Union Festival of 1895.

He was appointed city organist in May 1891, in preference to T. H. Jones, Mus. Bac. (1858–1929), though more experienced (Jones held the post in an honorary capacity until then) and arguably the better musician.[5] Pybus held the position until September 1917, when he resigned in consequence of ill health, and was succeeded by Jones.

He opened the organs in the Unitarian Church on Wakefield Street, Adelaide in 1877,[6] Wellington Square Primitive Methodist Church in 1898,[7] and the Baptist Church, Norwood. reopened Pirie Street Methodist Church organ in 1902

Family

William Richard Pybus married Annie Emma Sweet (c. 1866 – 30 May 1950), a fine singer[8] and daughter of Captain Sweet, on 1880. They had three daughters:

  • son Athalie Arthur Cuming (1916– ) married Hannah Lowe in 1929

They had a residence Ashantee in Henley Beach; Annie later lived at Park Terrace, Hillside .

References

  1. ↑ "Personal". The Critic (Adelaide). XVII, (1031). South Australia. 14 November 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 16 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "Mr. R. B. White". Evening Journal. IV, (1072). South Australia. 11 July 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 17 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "Concerning People". The Register. LXXXII, (22,156). South Australia. 12 November 1917. p. 4. Retrieved 17 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ The Pybus foundry was noted for casting bells, such as the 60 pounds (27 kg) bell for Montacute Mine in 1844 and one for St. Andrew's church, Wakefield Street in 1845 (later at the Presbyterian Girls' College).
  5. ↑ "The City Organist". The Advertiser. XXXIII, (10160). South Australia. 12 May 1891. p. 6. Retrieved 31 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "Organ for the Unitarian Church". South Australian Register. XLII, (9474). South Australia. 27 March 1877. p. 5. Retrieved 17 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Wellington Square Church". The Express And Telegraph. XXXV, (10,493). South Australia. 14 October 1898. p. 3. Retrieved 17 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "Mrs. A. E. Pybus dies". The News (Adelaide). 54, (8,365). South Australia. 30 May 1950. p. 19. Retrieved 17 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
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