201:, was published in 1930. Despite his enduring legacy in ethnomusicology, this book and several publications on musical theatre and western art music illustrate the diversity of his musical work, covering topics such as acoustics, music analysis, music history, and organology. In 1938, Kirby published an article entitled "Saint Cecilia Goes South: A Contribution to the History of Music in South Africa", which serves as a brief overview of the history of Western music in South Africa and highlights how Western music has been adopted within indigenous communities, linking his work and views in musicology, history, and ethnomusicology into one text.
189:
noted by Olwage, David Coplan, and
Struwig, there are also problematic evolutionary attitudes in Kirby's work, depicting non-Western musics as essentialist, historical precursors to Western Music. Nevertheless, scholars like Coplan and Kofi Agawu have praised his work for its thoroughness and its lasting importance in the study of the organology of southern African indigenous music.
181:(1934), is regarded as one of the first comprehensive studies of African musicology. Kirby's research involved extensive fieldwork throughout southern Africa, where he collected and documented various indigenous musical instruments. The text has been republished several times, with the most recent edition,
149:
Kirby was the first person to hold the position of
Professor of Music at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he served for thirty-one years until his retirement in 1952. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in developing the music department and expanding the scope of music education in
240:
and was made president of the association several times. His historical works include texts on local history and
European exploration. Jonathan Hughes has disputed the accuracy of an article published by Kirby on a historic William Hill chamber organ at Wesley Methodist Church, Makhanda. Given that
188:
Despite its impact, Kirby's ethnomusicological work has been critiqued. Scholars like Veit
Erlmann and Grant Olwage have pointed out that Kirby's devotion to—in Olwage's words—"tribe and tradition" created what W.D. Hammond-Tooke described as "static and nostalgic images" of indigenous cultures. As
261:
Following his retirement, Kirby settled in erstwhile
Grahamstown, where he lived until his death on 8 February 1970. His legacy is measured through his influential publications, his collection of African musical instruments, and his role in advancing the study of indigenous music in South Africa.
145:
In early 1914, Kirby relocated to South Africa after being appointed as the Music
Organiser for the Natal Education Department. This role marked the beginning of his influential career in South Africa. After seven years with the Natal Education Department, Kirby was appointed as the Chair of the
113:
Kirby was born in
Aberdeen, Scotland, where he developed an early interest in music. He played the flute and timpani with local orchestras during his youth. Kirby was educated at the Church of Scotland Normal College, Aberdeen, where he trained as a schoolteacher, and later at the
97:(17 April 1887 – 8 February 1970) was a Scottish-born South African ethnomusicologist, musicologist, historian, and professor. He is best known for his work on the study and preservation of southern African indigenous music, particularly his pioneering text
249:
Percival Robson Kirby's contributions to musicology and ethnomusicology have had a lasting impact on the study of
African music. His large collection of more than six hundred musical instruments—many pre-dating 1934—is currently held by the
235:
Kirby's work was not limited to music. As an historian, he published extensively, especially after his retirement as
Professor of Music at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1952. Kirby was involved with the
162:
150:
South Africa. Kirby published extensively throughout his life and in various fields. Kirby's legacy as a lecturer was far-reaching in South
African music studies, with notable students including
788:
Dippenaar, Erik. (2021). "Çonquering the Cape: The Role of Domestic Keyboard Instruments in Colonial Society and the Colonisation Process". PhD thesis. Cape Town: University of Cape Town. p.84.
154:, Rosa Nepgen, and Yvonne Huskisson. Mieke Struwig has discussed Kirby's influential impact as a scholar and supervisor of many music students at the University of the Witwatersrand.
241:
the instrument is currently the oldest playable pipe organ in South Africa, the article has been widely cited, despite several inaccurate claims made by Kirby without evidence.
508:
Struwig, Mieke. (2024) "An Intellectual History of Institutionalised Music Studies in South Africa", PhD thesis, Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University. p.18.
161:
in 1931 on the merits of a thesis entitled "Literary Contributions to the Study of Music" and was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Music (1924) and the
177:
Kirby's ethnomusicological research, particularly his work on African musical instruments, remains a cornerstone in the field. His most famous publication,
258:. Kirby's work has been instrumental in preserving the rich musical heritage of southern Africa and continues to influence the field of ethnomusicology.
101:(1934). Kirby played a significant role in documenting and preserving African musical traditions during his tenure as Professor of Music at the
146:
Music Department at the University College, Johannesburg, in 1921. This institution would later become the University of the Witwatersrand.
840:
835:
237:
211:
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Hughes, Jonathan E. (2023) "Addressing the Pipework in South Africa's Oldest Playable Organ: A Materialist-Political History".
102:
251:
215:(vol. 3, 1984), includes a long list of compositions, most existing only in manuscript form. Only two of his compositions—
313:
Kirby, Percival R. 1953. "A Sourcebook on the Wreck of the Grosvenor East Indiaman". Cape Town: The Van Riebeeck Society.
749:
Kirby, Percival R. (1984) "Organs in South Africa: Grahamstown, (ii) Wesley Church". In Malan, Jacques P. (ed.).
137:(composition). Kirby was awarded the Diploma of Associate of the Royal College of Music in 1913 for composition.
134:
697:
Kirby, Percival R. (1938) "Saint Cecilia Goes South: A Contribution to the History of Music in South Africa".
285:
Kirby, Percival R. 1938. "Saint Cecilia Goes South: A Contribution to the History of Music in South Africa."
255:
130:
219:, for soprano solo with piano accompaniment (Witwatersrand University Press, Johannesburg, 1939/1940), and
122:
115:
47:
613:
Olwage, Grant. (2002) "Scriptions of the Choral: The Historiography of Black South African Choralism".
830:
825:
471:
278:
Kirby, Percival R. 1934. "The Effect of Western Civilization on Bantu Music", in Schapera, I. (ed.)
224:
166:
158:
657:
Struwig, "An Intellectual History of Institutionalised Music Studies in South Africa", p.21.
630:
Struwig, "An Intellectual History of Institutionalised Music Studies in South Africa", p.19.
126:
819:
151:
526:
Malan, Jacques P. (1984). "Kirby, Percival Robson". In Malan, Jacques P. (ed.).
280:
Western Civilization and the Natives of South Africa: Studies in Culture Contact
798:
169:
conferred upon Kirby the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature in 1965.
32:
199:
The Kettledrums: A Book for Composers, Conductors and Kettledrummers
554:
Representing African music: Postcolonial Notes, Queries, Positions.
373:
MacCrone, I.D. (July 1971). "Percival R. Kirby - An Appreciation".
602:
Imperfect Interpreters: South Africa's Anthropologists, 1920–1990
118:, from which he graduated with a Master of Arts degree in 1910.
223:, for unaccompanied mixed chorus, text by William Shakespeare (
299:
Kirby, Percival R. 1952. "La VĂ©nus Hottentote en Angleterre",
183:
Musical Instruments of the Indigenous People of South Africa
163:
Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
316:
Kirby, Percival R. 1958. "An Early Organ by William Hill."
273:
The Musical Instruments of the Native Races of South Africa
179:
The Musical Instruments of the Native Races of South Africa
125:
in London. There, he studied under Daniel S. Wood (flute),
99:
The Musical Instruments of the Native Races of South Africa
86:
The Musical Instruments of the Native Races of South Africa
75:
Study and preservation of southern African indigenous music
306:
Kirby, Percival R. 1953. "More about the Hottentot Venus,
589:
African stars: Studies in Black South African Performance
121:
In 1910, Kirby received a scholarship to study at the
67:
Ethnomusicologist, Musicologist, Historian, Professor
604:. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press. p.7.
79:
71:
63:
55:
40:
25:
18:
452:Walton, Chris. (Summer 2004). "Band of Broeders".
292:Kirby, Percival R. 1949. "The Hottentot Venus",
539:Coplan, David B. (2002) "Music: Anthropology".
530:. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. p. 104.
8:
753:. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. p.349.
751:South African Music Encyclopedia, Volume III
688:Malan, "Kirby, Percival Robson", p. 105-106.
591:. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p.1.
528:South African Music Encyclopedia, Volume III
714:Malan, "Kirby, Percival Robson", p.107-109.
15:
799:https://ibali.uct.ac.za/s/pkmi/page/index
639:Olwage, "Scriptions of the Choral", p.34.
227:, London, 1961)—are listed as published.
349:. Cape Town: Howard Timmins. p. 22.
777:The Pipe Organ Heritage of South Africa
337:
779:. Port Elizabeth: Albert Troskie. §53.
699:Proceedings of the Musical Association
287:Proceedings of the Musical Association
809:MacCrone, "Percival R. Kirby", p.374.
734:Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa
723:MacCrone, "Percival R. Kirby", p.374.
443:MacCrone, "Percival R. Kirby", p.374.
7:
517:MacCrone,"Percival R. Kirby", p.374.
50:(formerly Grahamstown), South Africa
666:Coplan, "Music: Anthropology", p.1.
648:Coplan, "Music: Anthropology", p.2.
615:South African Journal of Musicology
565:Coplan, "Music: Anthropology", p.1.
541:South African Journal of Musicology
275:. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
238:South African Museums' Association
197:Kirby's first monograph, entitled
14:
766:. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik. p.8.
375:South African Journal of Science
212:South African Music Encyclopedia
133:(counterpoint and harmony), and
103:University of the Witwatersrand
472:"Nepgen, Rosa Sophia Cornelia"
252:South African College of Music
1:
470:Robijns, J.; Zijlstra, Miep.
303:33(new series)(1): 14–21. 207
282:. London: Routledge, 131–140.
157:Kirby was awarded the degree
327:. Cape Town: Howard Timmins.
841:South African musicologists
600:Hammond-Tooke, W.D. (1997)
345:Kirby, Percival R. (1967).
857:
677:Representing African music
576:Representing African music
556:New York: Routledge. p.19.
775:Troskie, Albert. (2010).
762:Troskie, Albert. (1992).
323:Kirby, Percival R. 1967.
271:Kirby, Percival R. 1934.
135:Charles Villiers Stanford
836:South African historians
764:Pyporrels in Suid Africa
476:RILM Music Encyclopedias
109:Early life and education
308:Africana Notes and News
294:Africana Notes and News
256:University of Cape Town
173:Ethnomusicological work
587:Erlmann, Veit. (1991)
141:Career in South Africa
123:Royal College of Music
116:University of Aberdeen
59:British, South African
266:Selected publications
209:Kirby's entry in the
95:Percival Robson Kirby
20:Percival Robson Kirby
225:J. Curwen & Sons
217:Three African Idylls
185:, released in 2013.
193:Musicological work
552:Agawu, K. (2003)
167:Rhodes University
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29:17 April 1887
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81:Notable work
831:1970 deaths
826:1887 births
460:(1887): 65.
320:150: 87–91.
56:Nationality
820:Categories
434:, p.79-80.
408:, p.42-46.
363:, p.24-25.
332:References
35:, Scotland
740:(1): 118.
621:(4): 30.
617:(SAMUS).
381:(7): 374.
318:The Organ
301:Aesculape
129:(piano),
497:Wits End
432:Wits End
419:Wits End
406:Wits End
393:Wits End
361:Wits End
347:Wits End
325:Wits End
205:Composer
165:(1936).
48:Makhanda
33:Aberdeen
679:, p.19.
675:Agawu,
578:, p.19.
574:Agawu,
495:Kirby,
430:Kirby,
421:, p.74.
417:Kirby,
404:Kirby,
395:, p.39.
391:Kirby,
359:Kirby,
159:D.Litt.
705:: 32.
245:Legacy
88:(1934)
797:See:
483:2024
41:Died
26:Born
458:145
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