A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Scotson Clark

SCOTSON CLARK, the Rev., was born in London of Irish parents Nov. 16, 1840. He received his earliest musical instruction from his mother, a pupil of Chopin and Mrs. Anderson. His musical tastes became so strongly developed that he was soon sent to Paris to study the piano and harmony, and at the age of fourteen was appointed organist of the Regent Square church. He next studied under Mr. E. J. Hopkins, and subsequently entered the Royal Academy of Music, where his masters were Sterndale Bennett, Goss, Engel, Pinsuti, and Pettit. In 1858 he published a Method for the Harmonium, and for a few years was organist at different churches in London. In 1865 he founded a 'College of Music' for students of church music and the organ. Soon after this, he became organist of Exeter College, Oxford. He graduated Mus. Bac. in 1867, and was appointed Head Master of St. Michael's Grammar School, Brighton. Six months later Mr. Scotson Clark was ordained deacon, and afterwards priest. He next went to Leipzig, where he studied under Reinecke, Richter, etc. When in charge of the English church at Stuttgart he pursued his musical studies under Lebert, Krüger, and Pruckner. In 1873 he returned to London, and in 1875 resumed his connection with the London Organ School, the average yearly number of pupils of which is 300. In 1878 he represented English organ-playing at the Paris Exhibition. Mr. Scotson Clark, besides being a remarkable executant on the organ, has great facility in composition. His works, which already amount to over five hundred, consist principally of small organ and pianoforte pieces, many of which have attained great popularity.

[ W. B. S. ]