Eugene Cruft

Eugene John Cruft (June 8 1887 – 4 June 1976) was a British double bass player. He has been called the "leading double-bass player of his generation". [Roderick Swanston, "The music of Adrian Cruft", "The Musical Times", 1991, p. 119]

Eugene Cruft was born in London, son of John Cruft (1857-1937), principal violinist in the Royal Carl Rosa Opera Company. Eugene Cruft started in the London Symphony Orchestra in 1912, and was principal double-bass player in the BBC Symphony Orchestra 1929-1949, as well as in several other orchestras such as the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden) and the Bath Festival Orchestra. [Anon., "Mr Eugene Cruft", "The Times", Tuesday, Jun 08, 1976; pg. 16; Issue 59724; col F.] Cruft, whose great influence as a teacher of his instrument is pointed out by Grove's music dictionary, taught as professor of double-bass at the Royal College of Music and at the National Youth Orchestra. He also published "The Eugene Cruft School of Double-Bass Playing", in the introduction of which he wrote: 'We never hear anyone say "I like music, so I think I'll learn the double-bass" but there is rally no reason why they should not.' [Quoted by John Steer in his review of the book in "The Musical Times" 1967, p. 43.]

He was responsible for the organization of the orchestras at the coronations of both George VI and Elizabeth II. He was made a MVO and an OBE.

Eugene Cruft's son Adrian Cruft was a notable composer, and another son, John Cruft, an oboist. A grandson, Benedict Cruft, is a violinist.

Notes

References

*Anon., "Mr Eugene Cruft", "The Times", Tuesday, Jun 08, 1976; pg. 16; Issue 59724; col F. Letters from readers supplementing this obituary were published in "The Times" on Tuesday, June 15, 1976; pg. 16; Issue 59730; col F, and Thursday, June 17, 1976; pg. 20; Issue 59732; col F.
*Firbes, Watson & Slatford, Rodney, "Cruft, Eugene (John)", " [http://www.grovemusic.com Grove Music Online] ", ed. L. Macy (Accessed 3 May 2006).
*Steer, John, "Cruft's School" (review of "The Eugene Cruft School of Double-Bass Playing"), "The Musical Times" 1967, p. 43.
*Swanston, Roderick, "The music of Adrian Cruft", "The Musical Times", 1991, p. 119. (On his son Adrian Cruft.)