Durham to Exeter 1968 and final retirement
A farewell presentation from the parish of St Oswald, Durham where Hutchings had for many years been organist. From 1862 to 1876 The Rev John Bacchus Dykes, a musician and composer, was Vicar of the parish. Hutchings's book 'Church Music in the Nineteenth Century' [1967] pays handsome tribute to many of the hymn tunes that Dykes composed and as a member of the Editorial Board of the New English Hymnal, he discusses their respective merits. Privately he found Board discussions almost interminable due to many unresolved viewpoints (see Documents) but broadly the desire was to provide the best collection for the Anglican church that the 1970s could assemble. In a letter he wrote "We shall not include the vulgar and sentimental that is undistinguished just because it happens to be liked".
Some hymn tunes composed by New English Hymnal board members are included in the book; tunes of distinctive quality by Hutchings are 'George', 'Gerard' and 'Dolphin Street', and in the New English Hymnal Service Book 'Fudgie' (named for the family dog). Although Arthur said more than once he wasn't much interested in elaborate church music, it must be said that he composed a number of anthems and service settings which have been widely appreciated and performed, and also the 'Missa Omnium Sanctorum' plus some Benediction motets composed specifically for the Anglo-Catholic church of All Saints, Margaret Street in London. The manuscripts are in the choir library there, performed from time to time, but unpublished. Their composition was no doubt at the suggestion of Michael Fleming (1929-2006), a Hutchings student at Durham, later organist and director of music at All Saints from 1958-1968.
By contrast, during the Durham years Hutchings collaborated with the Very Rev Cyril Alington, Dean of Durham, in a comic operetta eventually entitled 'The Plumber's Arms' (unpublished); it has been performed "in house" by student forces several times. The Dean had written stories intended for the boys of the Choir School and adapted one to be set to music. This delicious opus is expertly done in pastiche manner taking its cues from diverse sources - Delius (of course), Handel, Wagner, Walton et al. Here are the Delian Lullaby, sung by the Princess and the Walton-esque (or is it Gershwin-esque?) "Fol diddly doodly" song from a 1961 performance by student forces.
For programme note, see Documents page no 13.
On a national front over several years BBC Radio 3 presented his engaging, instructive talks peppered with caustic witticisms where no hostages were taken: broadcasts included 'Music on the air' surveying current programmes as also talks on particular composers' music, for example Handel's Op 6 Concerti, Rameau's operas, symphonic structures (see Audio page for recordings)
Over the years much of his time was occupied, in addition to departmental and university matters, with membership of several bodies - the BBC advisory panel, the Governing Board of Trinity College of Music in London, Dartington Hall Trustees and so on. This meant he often relied on competent students and others to deputise for him at the St Oswald's Harrison & Harrison organ. In doing so, he needed to leave instructions as to how the different services should be accompanied. Depending on his relationship with the deputy concerned, the instructions could be highly amusing to say the least (for an example, see the Documents page).
To prepare for the 1968 transfer to Devon and a new appointment, the Hutchings initially purchased a cottage in Dalwood village near Axminster. This entailed a rail commute into Exeter, but he pronounced the location "a little paradise". The manner in which he secured the Exeter professorship is typical. It was offered to composer and academic Kenneth Leighton who turned it down. Arthur, on the selection panel, declared "In that case, I'll take the post myself". Previously he'd been considered for the Oxford and London chairs but withdrew at a late stage having decided he and Marie couldn't afford London property prices. The Exeter brief was to establish a new Music Honours degree course, just as he had done twenty one years previously in Durham. His colleagues were David Cawthra and Donald James. Christopher Gower, assistant organist at Exeter Cathedral, became part time lecturer; he in turn was succeeded in1969 by Paul Morgan who then held the dual role. Perhaps taking on the fledgling Exeter music department was a step too far as Hutchings stayed just three years before taking definitive retirement. A victim of funding cuts, the department was axed in 2007, causing Dame Evelyn Glennie to return her honorary degree.
In his final major book, the 1976 "Mozart -the man and musician", for which Kingsley Amis wrote the foreword, Hutchings returns to his beloved composer. It is a lavishly illustrated and comprehensively researched account of the age when musicians could only survive under patronage and remain in the public eye through a continuous provision of fresh compositions. Amis says the author "is not a populariser; he wants his readers to understand, not just to feel they understand....his distinction is nowhere better shown than in his style - lucid and straightforward, yet varied and graceful; full of happy turns of phrase, yet in firm control of itself; effective without ever striving after effect". Each of these judgments could be applied to Arthur's public lecturing style with the possible exception of the final 'without striving after effect' clause. The defence of this sensitive and cultured man may well be encapsulated in a letter to Graham Marshall when he wrote "I only became (superficially) bold by holding office".
Very sadly his wife Marie died in 1974 and their daughter Jo shortly afterwards, in a road accident. By this time Arthur had moved to Colyton, quite near the Devon coast, at the suggestion of Ronald Burrow (Durham music graduate and close friend, later ordained Anglican priest). It was a congenial spot where Arthur became a well known figure in the village, helping out running the choir at St Andrew's parish church for a spell. To encourage the junior members of the choir he would go along to practice with a pocketful of small change, fire questions at them and throw a coin to the child who gave the correct answer! He also played the organ as he had done in Durham - maybe once in a while allowing his foot to stray onto a loud pedal note during the sermon if he disliked the preacher's drift??
In these latter years Arthur still displayed the generosity that had graced his life. Paul Roberts recounts how he requested musicianship tuition; payment wasn't accepted. He subsequently mailed scores to Paul with the note "I thought you should get to know these works". Tapping into local culinary know-how he collected for publication a number of favourite recipes to which he gave the title "Colynosh". A copy may still be available at the Colyton Heritage Centre.
The final two or three years of life were not of the best, marked by decline and illness. As he left for hospital where he passed away he took with him a bag containing notes for an intended new book on modern music. The funeral requiem was held at St Andrew's Church in Colyton; a memorial service, attended by a large congregation, was later held in Exeter Cathedral. In Durham, the death of Hutchings was marked some five months later by a memorial concert at St Oswald's Church (Mozart, a Handel organ concerto, Elgar and Arensky) when an eloquent tribute was paid from long acquaintance by Professor Peter Evans (see Documents). A collection of the Hutchings papers is held by the British Library in London.
During the Lullaby the Duchess is heard mumbling as she dozes off
