The 1880s saw the advent of groundbreaking technologies: sound recording, telephones, and the first motion pictures.  

Gilbert & Sullivan were firm advocates. 

Gilbert referenced the telephone in Iolanthe (1878), a mere two years after its invention. Four years later, he had telephones installed at his home, and at the Savoy Theatre, in order that he might be able to listen in on rehearsals from the comfort of his armchair. 

Having studied The Mikado last year, our Year 8s were intrigued to hear the actual speaking voice of Sir Arthur Sullivan – recorded at a dinner party, 136 years ago.    

Speaking voice of Sir Arthur Sullivan,1888 

This phonograph recording – a message to Thomas Edison – is a fascinating document in more than one respect. We hear the voice of a famous composer, and a distinctly Victorian accent. We hear a master of the after-dinner speech: concise, witty and deliberate. Long pauses allow him to formulate his thoughts with clarity. His points are given time to land.  

Perhaps Rhetoric should make a curricular return? 

Let us home in on the most famous part of Sullivan’s speech: 

“I am astonished and somewhat terrified at the result of this evening's experiment. Astonished at the wonderful power you have developed, and terrified at the thought that so much hideous and bad music may be put on record forever.  But all the same, I think it is the most wonderful thing that I have ever experienced, and I congratulate you with all my heart on this wonderful discovery.” 

Sullivan would doubtless be appalled to discover quite how much “hideous and bad” music has indeed been put on record. Our Year 8s were swift (sic) to cite examples. 

His recognition of the “wonderful power” of this new invention was indeed prophetic. “The most wonderful thing I have ever experienced” reveals a musician who yearned for music to be available to all. But there is a bitter irony he could not have anticipated.  

For most people, music is something that happens when you press a button. The technology that enables us to carry the world’s repertoire in our pockets has tempted us away from playing it ourselves. Today, we listen more than ever. But we make less.  The convenience of passive listening is seductive. It demands nothing more than time and bandwidth. Making music, however, requires patience, vulnerability, camaraderie, dedication, passion, and immense effort.  

How wonderful it is, therefore, that the soundtrack to every day at Pilgrims’ is homemade. Our boys grow up making their own music. Music is a living, breathing, overwhelmingly vital part of our daily routine. Every passerby can hear the truth of this.  

Our boys are not consumers: they are creators. They know the thrill of shaping sound with their own hands and voices, of listening to one another, of building something greater than the sum of its parts. The thrill of live music-making invigorates them, inspires, motivates, and unites them. 

In a world where it is too easy to outsource music to machines, this is beyond precious. We must not take for granted the culture of music-making that flourishes here. This is the sound of a school that values creation over consumption. This is the sound of a school where Music is Made. 

Arthur Sullivan would be proud. 

Russell du Plessis
Director of Music