RAMSEY, Robert, organist of Trinity College, Cambridge, from 1628 to 1644 inclusive, and 'Magister Choristarum' from 1637 to 1644 inclusive; but whether before or after those dates is not certain in either case. He took the degree of Mus. Bac. at Cambridge about 1639. A Morning and Evening Service in F by him is contained in the Tudway Collection (Harl. MS. 7340) and in the Ely Library, where, and at Peterhouse College, Cambridge, there are also two anthems of his. Add. MS. 11,608 in the British Museum also contains a dialogue between Saul, the witch, and Samuel—'In guiltie night.' Tudway miscalls him John.
RANDALL, John, Mus. Doc., born 1715, was a chorister of the Chapel Royal under Bernard Gates. He was one of the boys who shared in the representation of Handel's 'Esther' at Gates's house, Feb. 23, 1732, he himself taking the part of Esther. He graduated as Mus. Bac. at Cambridge in 1744, his exercise being an anthem. About 1745 he was appointed organist of King's College, and on the death of Dr. Greene in 1755 was elected Professor of Music at Cambridge. In 1756 he proceeded Mus. Doc. He composed music for Gray's Ode for the Installation of the Duke of Grafton as Chancellor of the University in 1768, and some church music. He died March 18, 1799. His name is preserved in England by his two Double Chants.
RANDALL, Richard, a tenor singer, born Sept. 1, 1736, whose life is sufficiently described in the inscription to his portrait, published May 1812:—'This celebrated tenor singer so remarkable for his great strength of voice and unrivalled comic humour was born Sepbr 1st 1736 and educated under Mr Bernd Gates in the Chapel Royal where he was early noticed and became a great favourite of his late Majesty George the second, by whose command he sung many Solo Anthems, he is the only remaining chorister who sung with M. Handel in his Oratorios, and whose compositions he still performs with most wonderfull effect at the age of 76.'
Randall died April 15, 1828, aged 92. In his last days he was an object of much curiosity as having known Handel, regarding whom he told several anecdotes.
RANDALL, William, an eminent publisher of music. [See Walsh, John.]
RANDALL. The name of Randall is attached to an anthem for 6 voices in the British Museum, Add. MS. 17,792, probably dating from the beginning of the 18th century.
RANDEGGER, Alberto, composer, conductor, and singing-master, was born at Trieste, April 13, 1832. He began the study of music at the age of 13, under Lafont for the PF., and L. Ricci for composition, soon began to write, and by the year 1852 was known as the composer of several masses and smaller pieces of Church music, and of two ballets—'La Fidanzata di Castellainare' and 'La Sposa d'Appenzello,' both produced at the Teatro grande of his native town. In the latter year he joined three other of Ricci's pupils in the composition of a buffo opera to a libretto by Gaetano Rossi, entitled 'Il Lazzarone,' which had much success, first at the Teatro Maurona [App. p.766 "Mauroner"] at Trieste, and then elsewhere. The next two years were occupied as musical director of theatres at Fiume, Zera [App. p.766 "Zara"], Sinigaglia, Brescia, and Venice. In the winter of 1854 he brought out a tragic opera in 4 acts called 'Bianca Capello' at the chief theatre of Brescia. At this time Signor Randegger was induced to come to London. He gradually took a high position there, and has become widely known as a teacher of singing, conductor, and composer, and an enthusiastic lover of good music of whatever school or country. He has resided in England ever since, and is one of the most prominent musical figures in the metropolis. In 1864 he produced at the Theatre Royal, Leeds, 'The Rival Beauties,' a comic operetta in 2 acts, which has had much success in London and many other places. In 1868 he became Professor of Singing at the Royal Academy of Music, and has since been made a director [App. p.766 "an honorary member and director"] of that institution and a member of the Committee of Management. In the autumn of 1857 he conducted a series of Italian operas at St. James's Theatre, and in 1879–80 the Carl Rosa company at Her Majesty's Theatre. [App. p.766 "for 1879–80 read 1879–85, omitting the words Her Majesty's Theatre from the next line. He superintended the productions and conducted the performances of the following operas, produced for the first time in English:—'Carmen,' 'Taming of the Shrew,' 'Lohengrin,' and 'Tannhäuser,' besides 'Esmeralda' and 'Nadeschda' by A. Goring Thomas."] He has recently been appointed conductor of the Norwich Festival vice Sir Julius Benedict resigned.
Mr. Randegger's published works are numerous and important. They comprise a large dramatic cantata (words by Mad. Rudersdorff), entitled 'Fridolin,' composed for the Birmingham Festival, and produced there with great success, Aug. 28, 1873 (Chappell); two soprano scenas—'Medea,' sung by Mad. Rudersdorff at the Gewandhaus, Leipzig, in 1869, and 'Saffo,' sung by Mad. Lemmens at the British Orchestral Society, March 31, 1875; the 150th Psalm, for soprano solo, chorus, orchestra and organ, for the Boston Festival, 1872; Funeral Anthem for the death of the Prince Consort, twice performed in London; and a large number of songs and concerted vocal music for voice and orchestra or PF. [App. p.766–7 "A scena by him, set to words from Byron's 'Prayer of Nature,' for tenor and orchestra, was given at a Philharmonic Concert in 1887."] He is also the author of the Primer of Singing, in Dr. Stainer's series (Novello). As a teacher of singing Mr. Randegger has a large number of pupils now before the English public as popular singers.
RANDHARTINGER, Benedict, an Austrian musician, memorable for his connexion with Schubert. He was born at Ruprechtshofen, in Lower Austria, July 27, 1802; at 10 years old came to the Konvict school at Vienna, and was then a pupil of Salieri's. He afterwards studied for the law, and for ten years was Secretary to Count Széchényi, an official about the Court. But he forsook this line of life for music; in 1832 entered the Court Chapel as a tenor singer: in 1844 became Vice-Court-Capellmeister, and in 1862, after Assmayer's death, entered on the full enjoyment of that dignity. His compositions are more than 600 in number, comprising an opera, 'König Enzio'; 20 masses; 60 motets; symphonies; quartets, etc.; 400 songs, 76 4-part songs, etc. Of all these, 124, chiefly songs,
