Curwen

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Curwen. Eng. family of mus. publishers and educationists. John Curwen (b Heckmondwike, 1816; d Manchester, 1880) was a Congregational minister. Adopted tonic sol-fa system propounded by Sarah Glover, a Norwich school-mistress, in her Scheme to Render Psalmody Congregational (1835), and resigned his ministry in 1864 to promote tonic sol-fa movement. Founded pub. firm J. Curwen and Sons in 1863. His son John Spencer Curwen (b London, 1847; d London, 1916) continued the tonic sol-fa work. J. S. Curwen's nephew, John Kenneth Curwen (b London, 1881; d Gerrards Cross, 1935) supervised the pub. firm and added to its catalogue Holst's Planets, Vaughan Williams's Pastoral Symphony and Hugh the Drover, and works by Bantock, Smyth, and Varèse. Published journal The Sackbut (1920–34), at one time edited by Philip Heseltine. In 1971 catalogue was divided between Faber Music and Roberton Publications.

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