third short operetta The Head of the Poll, presented by the German Reeds, with a libretto by Arthur Law. The reviews were good, though they concentrated on the libretto, praising the music in passing as "very spirited", "pretty" and "merry and melodious". In the same year Faning's overture The Holiday was played at the promenade concerts, Covent Garden. In August 1882 Faning married Caroline Pare Galpin. They had one son and three daughters. Faning composed a comic "Savage Dance" (intermezzo) for orchestra, and he conducted it, dressed "in the garb of a savage", for The Savage Club entertainment at the Royal Albert Hall in July 1883. This was a fund-raising concert for the Royal College of Music in the presence of the Prince and Princess of Wales. His other compositions ranged from Buttercups and Daisies, a pastoral cantata for children's voices (1892), a Mass in B minor, works for solo piano, and a variety of songs and choral works. His two most popular songs were "I've something sweet to tell you," and a part song (originally with piano accompaniment, later orchestrated), "The Vikings". In addition to his professorship at the Royal Academy of Music, Faning was a professor of the piano at the Guildhall School of Music from 1882; a professor of the piano and harmony, and conductor of the choral class at the National Training School of Music. He remained in those posts when the School became the Royal College of Music in 1883, continuing there until 1887. In 1885, Faning accepted the post of director of music of Harrow School, where music was given great importance. He had a staff of six assistant music masters, and remained at Harrow until 1901. Faning received the degree Doctor of Music from Trinity College, Cambridge, in January 1900. He retired to Brighton, where he died at the age of 77. Notes External links Text of W. S. Gilbert's Bab Ballad, The Two Majors, on which Faning's 1877 operetta is based. 1850 births 1927 deaths English male classical composers English opera composers Male opera composers Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music Academics of the Royal Academy of Music Academics of the Royal College of Music Academics of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Teachers at Harrow School