Herbert Bunning | |
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.png) InThe Sketch, 16 April 1902 | |
| Born | George Herbert Bunning (1863-05-02)2 May 1863 London, England |
| Died | 26 November 1937(1937-11-26) (aged 74) Thundersley, England |
| Burial place | City of London Cemetery |
| Education | |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, musical director |
| Spouse(s) | Marguerite Wilhelmine, Marquise de Moligny (died 1937) |
George Herbert Bunning (2 May 1863 – 26 November 1937) was an English composer and musical director active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He had one opera produced atCovent Garden, but was better known as a composer of lighter works and incidental music for stage productions.
Bunning was born in London, and educated atHarrow School andBrasenose College, Oxford. On leaving the latter he was commissioned into theBritish Army as alieutenant in theQueen's Own Hussars, serving from 1884 to 1886.[1] He resigned his commission and studied music in France, withJules Massenet,[2] and later in Italy (Milan) between 1886 and 1890. He was musical director of theLyric Theatre, London (1892–1893), and thePrince of Wales Theatre, (1895–1896).[1]
In 1902 Bunning's operaLa Princesse Osra was produced at Covent Garden. The libretto was an Anglicised version of a French text based onAnthony Hope'sRuritanian novelThe Heart of Princess Osra, and was ineffective.[2][3] Despite a cast headed byMary Garden,Adolphe Maréchal andPol Plançon, conducted byAndré Messager, the piece was not a success.[3]The Musical Times commented that Bunning's gifts were lyrical rather than dramatic.[4] In a 2013 survey of opera in Britain between 1875 and 1918, Paul Rodmell citesSaint-Saëns and Massenet as influences on Bunning's musical style.[5]
In addition toLa Princesse Osra, Bunning published two orchestral suites,Shepherd's Call, 1893, andVillage Suite, 1896; ascena,Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere, 1905; incidental music for a 1906 stage playRobin Hood; and a quantity of vocal and instrumental music.[1] TheBritish Library lists 97 compositions by Bunning in its holdings, mostly songs.[6]
Bunning, who was half French, was married to Marguerite Wilhelmine, Marquise de Moligny.[1] They had one child, who died in infancy.[7] Bunning died at his home inThundersley, Essex on 26 November 1937, aged 74, five weeks after the death of his wife.[8] He was cremated and buried atCity of London Cemetery.[9]
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