Adam Carse

Adam (von Ahn) Carse (19 May 1878 – 2 November 1958)^[1] was born in Newcastle upon Tyne. He was educated in Hanover and was a Macfarren scholar at the Royal Academy of Music, London where he studied composition with Frederick Corder.

He occasionally used William Kent as an alias, likewise Adam Ahn-Carse.^[1]

While Carse is perhaps best known for his study of the history of instruments and the orchestra, the wealth of material he wrote for young string players and pianists is still played today.

He wrote at least two symphonies, the second, in G minor, premiered by the orchestra of the Royal College of Music in London in 1908 (November 19) with the composer conducting.^[2]

Donation to the Horniman

In 1947 he donated his collection of 350 wind instruments to the Horniman Museum in South London in memory of his son Edward Adam (Peter) Carse who was killed in action in Germany on 27 February 1945, and there is a plaque commemorating his gift in the Horniman Music Gallery.^[3] He dedicated his Fifth Symphony written in June 1945 to the memory of his son.^[4]

Alongside the donated instruments is the personal library of Adam Carse, containing research papers, manuscript notes, copies of lectures, correspondence, makers catalogues, sales lists and concert programmes.^[5]

References