Thurston Dart

Who was Thurston Dart?

Robert Thurston Dart, was a British musicologist, conductor and keyboard player. From 1964 he was Professor of Music at King's College London.

He studied keyboard instruments at the Royal College of Music in London from 1938 to 1939, and also studied mathematics at University College, Exeter. In 1947 he was appointed assistant lecturer in music at the University of Cambridge, subsequently lecturer, and professor. During this time at Cambridge, Dart was the most effective British supporter of the modern early music revival, in part through his influence on those who ultimately formed such groups as the Early Music Consort of London. In 1964 he was appointed King Edward Professor of Music in the University of London.

As a continuo player he made numerous appearances on the harpsichord, and made many harpsichord, clavichord and organ recordings, especially for the L'Oiseau-Lyre label; he was also a conductor. He served as editor of the Galpin Society Journal from 1947 to 1954 and secretary of Musica Britannica from 1950 to 1965.