The lecture will be accompanied by a recital of a few of the composer's works.
[See also Wikipedia's article on GFL.]
Centenary of Dr. George Linstead
Next Thursday [24 January 2008] sees the centenary of the birth of Dr. George Linstead (1908 – 1974). Linstead was in himself a chapter in the history of music in Sheffield. For the best part of fifty years he was one of the most prominent musicians in the city as pianist, organist, composer, conductor, lecturer, teacher, critic and author.
Although born in Scotland, Linstead spent most of his life in Sheffield. He was educated at Sheffield Central School and was a protégé of Professor Frank Shera in the Department of Music at Sheffield University. In 1925, he was one of the first to broadcast both as composer and pianist on 2FL Sheffield’s new radio station.
Linstead was best known in the 1930s as a pianist and composer of chamber music. However, by the end of the decade he was writing larger scale works. Between 1938 and 1961, Linstead’s works were performed by some of Britain’s leading orchestras including the Hallé Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Northern Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
During the 1950s, articles on his life and works appeared in every major musical dictionary in Europe.
Between 1928 and his death in 1974, Linstead was organist and choirmaster of four Sheffield churches including St. Mary's Walkley and Christ Church Fulwood. For over thirty years he occupied the same seat in the City Hall, reviewing concerts for the Sheffield Daily Telegraph and the Musical Times as well as writing the programme notes.
He conducted professional orchestras and operatic societies as well as amateur bands. Two of his chamber operas were performed in the 1930s by the Croft House Operatic Society and Sheffield City Training College. He also had two ballet scores performed. In the mid-1950s he provided the music for a film 'Engineers in Steel' made by the British Steel Corporation.
Linstead lectured in the Department of Music of the University of Sheffield for over twenty-five years, as well as for the WEA. In the late 1950s, Linstead taught A level Music for a term at King Edward's during the indisposition of NJB. One evening he might be found on the platform of the City Hall as soloist in a piano concerto or giving an organ recital and the next night he might be supporting a singer in a Tavern Concert. There was scarcely any part of the City's musical life in which he was not involved at some time or another.
A prominent freemason, Linstead succeeded Professor Shera as organist of University Lodge, as well as playing for many other masonic lodges in the city. In the 1960s, he was Provincial Grand Organist of both the Masonic Knights Templar and of the Province of Yorkshire (West Riding) playing for the opening ceremonies of Tapton Masonic Hall in Shore Lane.
In later life, Linstead suffered chronic ill health. He died at his home in Nether Green in December 1974 at the relatively young age of sixty-six.
A website giving further details of Linstead’s life and works and centenary events may be found at: www.georgeflinstead.org.uk