Notes on the Composers
Sir Alexander Campbell Mackenzie 1847-1935
Edinburgh born composer. From 1865 taught in Edinburgh until moved to Florence. 18881924 principal of Royal Academy of Music, conductor of Royal Choral Society &
Philharmonic Society 1892-9. Knighted 1895.
Sir Frederic Hymen Cowen 1852-1935
Born Hymen Frederick Cohen in Jamaica moving to England aged 4. Conducted
Philharmonic Society 1888-92, Liverpool Philharmonic & Halle 1896-9. Knighted 1911.
Royal commissions: “All Hail the Glorious Reign” 1897, Coronation Ode & March 1902.
Percy Godfrey 1859-1945
Born in Walton on Trent Derbyshire. In 1891 he was a schoolmaster in Bengeo, Hertford but
by 1901 he had moved & was assistant schoolmaster at the King’s School in Canterbury &
also described as a composer.
Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry 1848-1918
Born in Bournemouth, his mother died 12 days after he was born. 1875 appointed by Grove
as assistant for dictionary & 1883 when Grove became first director of Royal College,
appointed professor of composition & musical history. Director Royal College of Music
1895-1918 succeeding Grove, professor at Oxford 1900-8 succeeding Stainer. Knighted
1898, baronet 1902. Died in Spanish flu epidemic 1918, buried in St Paul’s.
Sir Walter Parratt 1841-1924
Born in Huddersfield son of parish organist. Succeeded Stainer as organist of St Paul’s
Huddersfield 1854-61. 1872-82 at Magdalen Oxford thence to St George’s Windsor. 1908
succeeded Parry as professor at Oxford. President of Royal College of Organists. Knighted
1892, 1893 Master of the Queen’s Musick for Victoria & continued under Edward & George
in succession to Sir William Cusins as predecessor to Elgar.
Sir Charles Villiers Stanford 1852-1924
Born in Dublin only child. 1874 appointed organist at Trinity College & graduated classic
degree 65 out of 66 3rd class. 1883 supported Grove’s new Royal College of Music with its
aim of training good orchestral musicians & became professor holding the position for the
rest of his life. 1887 professor at Cambridge & instituted proper degree course. 1894 retired
from Royal College succeeded by Parry. Knighted in 1902.
Sir Frederick Bridge 1844-1924
Born in Worcestershire. 1865 organist at Holy Trinity Windsor. 1869 organist at Manchester
Cathedral & took DMus at Oxford 1874 having become professor of Harmony at Owens
College 1872. 1875 became organist at Westminster Abbey & started to improve quality of
music. Organised music for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887, Edward VII’s
coronation in 1902, his national memorial service in 1910 & George V’s coronation in 1911.
Led revival of Purcell with 1895 bicentenary celebration, & Gibbons in 1907 & Wesley in
1910.
John Ernest Borland 1866-1937
Born in Bromley by Bow. Gained DMus from Oxford & became professor of Music by 1911.
Chaired meetings of the Musical Association eg in 1920 for “Women in Music”, 1922
“Music in the Universities”. Publications include The Ballad of London River 1910,
Coronation Fanfares 1911, Down Under 1927, Musical Foundations 1927, Music in
Elementary Schools 1922-5. Died in Lewisham. Remembered in the Musicians’ chapel St
Sepulchre without Newgate as an organist.
Sir Henry Walford Davies 1869-1941
Born in Oswestry sang as chorister in St George’s Windsor where he met Walter Parratt &
Dean Randall Davidson later Archbishop of Canterbury (1903-28) who officiated at 1911
coronation. 1895 became teacher at Royal College. 1919 moved to Aberystwyth, 1924
Gresham College, then broadcast for BBC & wrote books. Knighted 1922. Master of the
King’s Musick 1934-1941 between Elgar & Bax.
Frederic Cliffe 1857-1931
Born in Bradford 1884-1931 professor of piano at Royal College. Coronation March 1911
one of his half dozen orchestral works.
Sir Edward German 1862-1936
Born Edward German Jones in Whitchurch Shropshire of Welsh descent. 1884 Taught violin
at Royal Academy. 1888 director of Globe Theatre. Knighted 1928. Hon freeman of
Worshipful company of musicians 1936.
Sir Walter Alcock 1861-1947
Walter Galpin Alcock born Edenbridge Kent. After organist at Holy Trinity Sloane Square &
St Margaret’s Westminster became organ professor at Royal College & assistant organist at
Westminster Abbey 1896. From 1902 also organist of Chapels Royal. 1916 moved to be
organist at Salisbury Cathedral till his death, succeeded by David Willcocks. Played the
organ at three coronations in 1902, 1911 & 1937. Knighted 1933.
Sir Arnold Bax 1883-1953
Born in Streatham London to family of Dutch descent. Knighted 1937, 1942 Master of the
King’s Musick between Walford Davies & Bliss. 1953 KVCO having completed march for
coronation, one of his last works.
Thomas Dunhill 1877-1946
Born at Swiss Cottage London. Music master at Eton before professor at Royal College in
1905. 1907-19 chamber concerts in London. Died in Scunthorpe.
Herbert Howells 1892-1983
Born in Lydney Gloucestershire. Assistant organist Salisbury Cathedral 1917. 1920-1979 on
staff at Royal College, from 1925 also director of music at St Paul’s girls school & 1941
acting organist at St John’s Cambridge. CBE 1953 & CH 1972.
Sir Ernest Bullock 1890-1979
Born in Wigan Lancashire. Assistant organist Leeds Parish Church 1907-12 having studied
there under Bairstow. Sub-organist Manchester Cathedral 1912-19 & Exeter 1919-27. 1928
organist & master of choristers at Westminster Abbey presided over coronation of George VI.
1941 professor at Glasgow & director of Royal College in London 1952-60. Knighted 1951.
Sir Edward Bairstow 1874-1946
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow born in Huddersfield. Organist of Wigan Parish Church 18991906, then Leeds Parish Church 1906-13 & York Minster 1913 to his death. Knighted 1932.
Turned down offer to succeed his old teacher Frederick Bridge as organist at Westminster
Abbey but recommended his pupil Ernest Bullock instead.
Sir George Dyson 1883-1964
Born in Halifax. 1905 Mendelssohn scholarship to Germany. 1914 joined Royal Fusiliers &
1916 RAF after recovering from shell shock. 1921 music master at Wellington College &
professor of composition at Royal College. Knighted 1941 KCVO 1953.
Sir William Harris 1883-1973
William Henry Harris born in Fulham. At 14 assistant organist St David’s cathedral Wales.
Professor of organ & harmony Royal College 1921-55. Organist at St Augustine’s
Edgbaston, Lichfield Cathedral, New College & Christ Church Oxford moving the St
George’s Windsor in 1933. Conducted at two coronations 1937 & 1953. KCVO 1954.
Gordon Jacob 1895-1984
Gordon Percival Septimus Jacob born London. Served in field Artillery in WW1 & was a
POW. Taught at Royal College 1924-66. Commissioned to write music for Festival of
Britain 1951 & arranged national anthem for 1953 coronation.
Charles Wood 1866-1926
Born in Vicar’s Hill, Armagh, Northern Ireland. After coming to England to study at Royal
College taught harmony & counterpoint at Selwyn College Cambridge in 1889 continuing at
Gonville & Caius in 1894 eventually succeeding Stanford as professor in 1924.
George Butterworth 1885-1916
George Sainton Kaye Butterworth born in Paddington. Taught composition at Radley
College Oxford but enlisted in army at outbreak of WW1 & received Military Cross but
killed on the Somme before he collected it.
Sir Arthur Bliss 1891-1975
Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss born in Barnes son of Massachusetts businessman by
second wife who died when Arthur was 4. Fought in Royal Fusiliers in WW1 to 1917 &
then Grenadier Guards, mentioned in dispatches & wounded & gassed, lost younger brother.
1918 converted to RC. 1923-5 in US & again when WW2 broke out returning in 1941 joined
BBC becoming music director 1942-4 succeeding Boult. Knighted 1950 & succeeded Bax as
Master of Queen’s Music in 1953 having written a processional for the coronation. KCVO
1969 (Prince of Wales Investiture Music) CH 1971.
John Ireland 1879-1972
John Nicholson Ireland born in Bowdon near Manchester into family of Scottish descent.
Taught at Royal College to 1953 where he had been a pupil under Stanford.
Healey Willan 1880-1968
Born in Balham became organist at St John the Baptist on Holland Road in 1903 to 1913
when he emigrated to Canada where he held various posts at the Toronto Conservatory &
University, as professor at the latter from 1937 to 1950. 1956 awarded Lambeth DMus from
Archbishop of Canterbury. 1967 Companion of the Order of Canada. 1953 commissioned to
write anthem for coronation. Died in Toronto where a park is named after him.