© Robin S. Stevens 2018
Hugo Alpen (1842-1917) - New South Wales
Hugo Alpen (born at Kellinghusen, Germany, 26 October 1842; died at
Sydney, 20 June 1917), music educator. Studied with Jacques Schmidt in
Germany and with Charles Horsley in Australia. Emigrated to Melbourne in
1858 and was a choral conductor, pianist and public school singing master in
rural NSW, before succeeding James Fisher as singing master at teacher
training colleges in Sydney. Appointed as Superintendent of Music in the
Department of Public Instruction (1884-1908). Developed a 'movable-doh'
staff notation method of teaching music for NSW schools almost a decade
before similar developments in English education. Composed several school
cantatas including Arbor Day Cantata (1891), patriotic songs and sacred
works, and published school songbooks.
Biographical summary by Robin S. Stevens.
References:
Stevens, R. S., Music in State-Supported Education in New South Wales and
Victoria, 1848-1920 (PhD thesis, University of Melbourne, 1978). University
Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1980, No. 80-24820.
Stevens, R. S., 'Hugo Alpen—New South Wales Superintendent
of Music, 1884-1908', Unicorn, vol.19, no.3, September 1993.