Harriet Kendall facts for kids
Harriet Kendall (born in 1857 in Bowness-on-Windermere, Westmorland, and passed away on September 16, 1933, in Eastbourne, Sussex) was a very talented woman. She was a singer, a speaker (elocutionist), a pianist, a poet, and she wrote her own songs called ballads. She studied music at the famous Royal Academy of Music.
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Early Life and Education
Harriet Kendall was born in April 1857 in Bowness-on-Windermere. Her parents, George and Eleanor Kendall, lived at Belmont House in Bowness.
In 1876, she joined the Royal Academy of Music. There, she trained with Manuel García and developed a deep, rich singing voice known as a contralto. She also learned how to speak clearly and expressively (elocution) from Geneviève Ward.
Career Highlights
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Harriet Kendall earned several important qualifications in music. She became an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (A.R.A.M.) in 1932. She also became an Associate of the Royal College of Music (A.R.C.M.) in 1893 for teaching singing. In the same year, she earned her Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (L.R.A.M.) for her singing performances. She was also a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and the Royal Society of Literature.
She taught Elocution at the Ladies Department of King's College. She also taught music at the High School in Park Road, St Margarets.
Harriet performed dramatic and musical shows in many famous places. These included the Queen's Hall, Prince's Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and St James's Hall. She also performed in other parts of the country. She wrote her own songs, like the ballads 'A Game of Tennis' (1886) and 'Richmond Park'. Her song 'A Song of Remembrance' (1892) used a poem called 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti.
She acted in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Royalty Theatre. Later, she performed scenes from Shakespeare's plays. For Shakespeare's birthday celebration in 1930, a part of her poem about Shakespeare was placed on the official wreath laid on his tomb. The line was: "We who are forever debtors bring our homage to thy immortality."
Harriet believed that there should be clear standards for elocution exams. Dr Wace, who was the head of King's College London, supported her idea.
Her Poetry
Harriet Kendall published two books. Her book 'A Lakeland Story' came out in 1888. Her book of poems, 'Synariss, and Other Poems for Recitation', was published in 1894.
Her poems also appeared in newspapers and magazines. For example, her poem 'An incident in the marriage market of Babylon' was published in 1890.
Personal Life
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Harriet lived for almost 50 years at Elsinore, 8 Park Road, St Margarets, East Twickenham. She lived with her friend, Miss Eleanor Piggott, and they traveled widely across Europe together.
On September 4, 1912, Harriet married Arthur MacDonald, a surveyor from Tring. Their wedding took place at St George's, Hanover Square, London. Dr Wace, who supported her work, led the ceremony.
Harriet Kendall passed away in a nursing home in Eastbourne on September 16, 1933. She was buried in Richmond Cemetery. On her grave, there is a poem she wrote: "Life is made up of heart throbs, not of years, We have our little hour, and then we go Into the shadowland, with hopes, not fears, To bravely pierce the dark, it must be so."
In her will, she left an income to her husband until he remarried. The rest of her money went to her friend, Eleanor Piggott. Eleanor Piggott passed away on March 31, 1937, and is buried in the same grave as Harriet.
Legacy
Harriet Kendall created a special award called the Harriet Kendall prize. This was a gold medal given for excellence in elocution. These prizes were awarded from 1934 until 1962.
Books
- A Lakeland Story. (1888). Illustrated by Tom Taylor, Alfred Woodruff. London:J. Walker & Co
- Synariss, and Other Poems for Recitation. (1894). London:Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co.
External Sites
- Digital Victorian Periodical Poetry, Harriet Kendall
- Compositions by: Kendall, Harriet. International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
