Cyril Scott

From Theosophy Wiki

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Detail of Cyril Scott painting by George Hall Neale, National Portrait Gallery, London

Cyril Scott was an English composer, author, poet and Theosophist. Dr. James Cousins described him as "the charming lyricist in sound."[1]

Personal life and education

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Cyril Meir Scott was born on September 27, 1879 in the village of Oxton near Liverpool, England. Gifted in music, his parents sent him to the famous Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt, Germany when he was 12 to study piano. During his time in Frankfurt, he joined other student composers in the Frankfurt Group[2] and began to meet individuals who would become heavily influential in his life. This included German poet Stefan George and artist Melchior Lechter.[3] When Scott finished his studies, he returned to England and began composing a number of works.

In 1902, he met pianist Evelyn Suart. She was a Christian Scientist and it is believed that through her, Scott became interested in metaphysics. In 1903, he started attending lectures by Annie Besant in London and became interested in Theosophy. Soon after, he started exploring Raja Yoga and occultism. In the ensuing years, Scott traveled through Europe, Canada, and the United States, composed numerous works, and began to write books and poetry. Between 1903 and 1914, his reputation as a composer reached its peak.[4]

In 1921, he married Rose Allatini who was also known as novelist Eunice Buckley. They had a daughter in 1923 and a son in 1926. Scott left London during WWII and later separated from Rose. In 1943, he met clairvoyant Marjorie Hartston and moved to Sussex with her.[5] He composed his final work in 1970 and passed away in December of that year.

Musical career

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Scott wrote over 400 works including four symphonies, three operas, and concerti for piano, violin, cello, oboe, and harpsichord. He was often described as a mystical composer because his musical compositions were linked to esoteric concepts such as initiation, Masters, and the spiritual path. He was aware of the book Thought Forms, and he connected music with color, light, and vibration.

Early in his career, at the age of 20, Scott organized his first symphony performance after the poet Stefan George introduced him to conductor Willem de Haan.[6] n 1902, Scott and pianist Evelyn Suart develop an artistic collaboration. Suart played music composed by Scott on the piano and became a champion of his work. She also introduced him to the music publisher Elkin, and Scott subsequently signed a contract with Elkin to produce a number of works each year.

In 1904, on a trip to Paris, he met renowned French composers Gabriel Faure, Joseph Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy. In 1904 and 1905, he composed two of his best known pieces, Don’t Come in Sir, Please! and Lotus Land. His experiments in free rhythm led to his revolutionary piano sonata of 1909 that influenced many composers including Igor Stravinsky. In 1920, Scott visited the United States and Canada, making his New York debut at Carnegie Hall.

Scott was called the “Father of modern British music” by British composer Eugene Goossens.[7] His many admirers included Claude Debussy, Joseph Maurice Ravel, Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, and his close friend Percy Grainger.

Involvement with Theosophical Society

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Scott first learned of Theosophy when he started attending lectures by Annie Besant in London. His friend Melchior Lechter was keen on the Secret Doctrine and that convinced Scott to start reading the book in 1905. Scott met several spiritual people that he considered to be Masters during his life. He saw himself as a disciple or initiate. For example, Scott developed a friendship with the clairvoyant Theosophist Robert King. Scott would play the piano and King would tell him what he saw. King was Scott’s sponsor when he formally joined the Theosophical Society in 1914.[8]

Another person Scott met was the clairvoyant healer and medium, Nelsa Chaplin, who had a profound influence on his spiritual development. She claimed to speak for Master Koot Hoomi (KH) and Scott thought of himself as a disciple of Master KH. The material in his book Music: It’s Secret Influence Throughout the Ages was thought to be channeled through Nelsa from Master KH. It was first published in 1933 and remained in print for 50 years.[9] Clairvoyant Marjorie Hartston, whom Scott spent his later years with, also had the ability to communicate with Master KH.


Book cover art

Scott was admitted as a member of the Theosophical Society in London on December 27, 1914.[10] He associated with a large group of Theosophists: lawyer and portrait painter Vaman Shankar Pandit[11], German painter Melchior Lechter[12]; German poet Dr. Karl Wolfskehl[13]; astrologer Brian Anrias Ross[14]; Swiss members Mlle. Maya Heermann[15], Mme. Isabel Heermann[16], and Mlle. Belli Heermann[17]; osteopath Dr. Frederick Grantham-Browne[18]; Mrs. Janette Mary Fernie Thesiger[19]; photograph Alfred Langdon Coburn[20]; Mrs. Edith W. Coburn[21]; medium Mrs. Nelsa Chaplin[22]; healer Alexander Chaplin[23]; Mrs. Eugene Goossens[24]; and Scott's first wife Mrs. Rose L. Scott[25].

Writings

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Scott wrote poems, books, and plays. He first experimented with poetry in 1901. Encouraged and guided by the French poet Charles Bonnier, Scott began composing poetry.[26] Between 1904 and 1905, he published his first volume of poetry, The Shadows of Silence and the Songs of Yesterday. In 1910, his second volume of poetry, The Voice of the Ancient, was published followed by his third volume, The Vales of Unity. He also translated works of other poets such as Stefan George.

Scott wrote 41 books about various topics including music, alternative medicine, occultism, and Theosophy.[27] Among the best known is his initiate series, portraying the path of initiation and human spiritual development. The first book of his trilogy, The Initiate, Some Impressions of a Great Soul, was published anonymously in 1920. In 1927, he wrote the second volume in the Initiate trilogy, The Initiate in the New World, followed in 1932 by the final volume of his trilogy series, Initiate in the Dark Cycle.

He also wrote the introduction to astrologer David Anrias’ book Through the Eyes of the Masters. In 1935, he wrote An Outline of Modern Occultism which listed the characteristics of initiates and masters. Scott wrote two autobiographies, the second entitled Bone of Contention was published a year before his death. A full list of books he authored can be found here.

Additional resources

  • A selective list of compositions and books by Cyril Scott can be found on Wikipedia.

Musical Performances

  • Piano Sonato No. 1, original version (1909), Performance by pianist Michael Schafer, YouTube, August 15, 2020

Notes

  1. ↑ James H. Cousins, "The Life and Work of Jean Delville, Theosophist Painter-Poet." The Theosophist47.3 (December 1925), 396.
  2. ↑ Other members were Norman O’Neill, Roger Quilter, Henry Balfour Gardiner, and Percy Grainger
  3. ↑ https://www.cyrilscott.net/about-cyril-scott#/chronology/
  4. ↑ Scott, Desmond, “Cyril Scott: Author, Poet, and Philosopher”, https://www.cyrilscott.net/cyrilscott-author-poet-philosopher
  5. ↑ https://www.cyrilscott.net/about-cyril-scott#/scotts-contemporaries-family/
  6. ↑ https://www.cyrilscott.net/about-cyril-scott#/chronology/
  7. ↑ https://www.cyrilscott.net/music#/about-scott-music/
  8. ↑ Leland, Kurt, "The Multiple Masters of Cyril Scott " Quest 108:2, pg 21-27, https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/the-multiple-masters-of-cyril-scott
  9. ↑ https://www.cyrilscott.net/cyrilscott-author-poet-philosopher
  10. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 57258 (website file: 4E/66).
  11. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 23481 (website file: 2C/5).
  12. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 42345 (website file: 4A/10).
  13. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 42553 (website file: 4A/15).
  14. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 49417 (website file: 4C/33).
  15. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 58294 (website file: 4C/33).
  16. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 58296 (website file: 4C/33).
  17. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 58295 (website file: 5A/26).
  18. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 60351 (website file: 5A/77).
  19. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 70035 (website file: 6B/30).
  20. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 74185 (website file: 6C/50).
  21. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 74187 (website file: 6C/50).
  22. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 74224 (website file: 6C/51).
  23. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 74225 (website file: 6C/51).
  24. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 79948 (website file: 7B/28).
  25. ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 109392 (website file: 10B/17).
  26. ↑ Kurt Leland, "The Multiple Masters of Cyril Scott " Quest 108 no.2 (Spring, 2020): 21-27.
  27. ↑ Writings in Cyrilscott.net.
Retrieved from "https://theosophy.wiki/w-en/index.php?title=Cyril_Scott&oldid=58540"