Gideon Fagan’s studies at the Royal College of Music in London, 1922-1926

Abstract

The South African composer Gideon Fagan (1904-1980) studied at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London between 1922 and 1926. Fagan followed in the footsteps of his elder brother Johannes (1898-1920) who had committed suicide in 1920 while a student at the RCM. Considering his brother’s tragic death, beginning his studies must have been emotionally extremely difficult for the 17-year-old Gideon. Gideon Fagan became a well-known composer and the first South African born conductor who gained international recognition. The death of his brother Johannes was not in vain: It is reflected in Gideon’s revision of some of Johannes’s works and in the setting of the song Klein Sonneskyn.

Key words: Gideon Fagan, Johannes Fagan, Royal College of Music, South African composers