Alfred Swan

Alfred Julius Swan was a Russian composer and musicologist active in the early to mid-twentieth century. He specialized in Russian liturgical music.[1] His writings include Russian Music and an English translation of Nikolai Medtner's The Muse and the Fashion. His memoirs were published in 1965: Recollections of Young Years. His nephew was the British composer and musical entertainer Donald Swann.

Family and Early Life

Alfred, called Alia by his family, was born in St. Petersburg in the late 19th century.[2] He was the eldest son of Alfred Robert Swann, a Russian clerk of English descent, and Sophie Lorentzen, daughter of veterinary surgeon Julius Lorentzen. He had three younger brothers: Edgar Swan, Herbert Swann, and Freddie Swann.

Alfred's grandfather, Alfred Trout Swan, emigrated to Russia from England in 1840, but he and his descendants retained their status as British subjects and their membership in the Anglican Church. Alfred Trout added a second n to his surname out of respect for his acquaintances among the German expatriate community in St. Petersburg. While Alfred Robert retained this spelling, his sons Alfred J. and Edgar chose to drop it and return to the earlier, English spelling.

Alfred was educated at the German St. Catherine's School St. Petersburg. His family were enthusiastic appreciators of music, as well as amateur musicians. Alfred trained in the violin and attended concerts frequently. He greatly admired the compositions of Scriabin and Medtner.

University

Swan attended Exeter College, Oxford, from 1908 to 1911. In that time, he became friends with Lawrance Collingwood.

Life in Russia

Swan was involved with the evacuation of 800 children from the Petrograd in May 1918, due to famine. The Russian Revolution caused them to flee into Siberia via the Trans-Siberian Railway, eventually making their way to Vladivostok. They were later taken to Yokohama, Japan, and from there to the United States.

He was married at least twice. He lived with his first wife in London for at least some time in the 1920s.

His second marriage was to the musicologist Jane Swan.

Professional Life in the United States

Alfred taught as a professor of music in the United States, where he later published his translation of Medtner's book.

He died at the age of 79 in Haverford.

References

  1. Swann, Donald (1991). Swann's Way: A life in Song (1st ed.). London: Heinemann. p. 9. ISBN 0-434-75292-4.
  2. Swann, Herbert (1968). Home on the Neva. London: Gollancz. p. 26.
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