7 February 1998
A Directory of Composers for Organ
Visit John Henderson's site
for details - originally designed as an advertisement for his book, A Directory of Composers for Organ. However it has now become an "appendix" to the book with brief bios of over 1000 composers, links to all current publishers of organ music who have web-sites and a regularly updated composer necrology. Another 130
composer bios and worklists will be added in February 98.
Cathedral Organists
20th Century English Cathedral Organists, 96 pages, by Enid Bird, ISBN 0 9516550 0 0. This gives biographies and photographs of most of the organists but, unfortunately, is now out of print, though under revision at present. If a new edition becomes available, I will publicise it here. Sadly, I learned on 7 Feb 98, that Enid is too ill to continue her invaluable work.
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Copies are available of her second work, The Organists and Organs of the Welsh Cathedrals in the Twentieth Century, ISBN 0 9516550 1 9. If you would like one, send a cheque for £5.50 (sorry, UK pounds only) made payable to Enid Bird, 16 Miller Avenue, Sandal, Wakefield, WF2 7DJ, England. This 36-page booklet is a mine of information about the music of Bangor, Brecon, St David's, Llandaff, St Asaph and St Woolos Cathedrals. |
Guildford Cathedral
 Available from M.R. Barry, Honorary Secretary of the Guildford Cathedral Old Choristers' Association, 4 King Georges Lodge, Monro Drive, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 6PF, price £12.95. |
The Beat is Irrelevant ISBN 0 9527379 0 6 This unique book relates the extraordinary story of the creation of Guildford Cathedral Choir in eight months, not only to sing at the Consecration of the Cathedral on 17 May 1961, but to sing the Daily Office ever since, taking its place amongst the formemost cathedral choirs in the country. The excitement and tension of those early days is vividly recounted by Simon Carpenter, a chorister at the Cathedral in the 1960s, and is illustrated by an accompanying CD containing 24 tracks of performances by the Cathedral Choir, not previously released, encompassing the first fourteen years. It documents in sound Barry Rose's search for his ideal cathedral choir. With 128 pages and 18 photographs, this book is essential reading for anyone who has been involved in music making or choral singing - even as a listener. |
Choirs and Cloisters
Available from bookshops, and was £12.50 in 1989! |
Choirs and Cloisters by Frederic Hodgson ISBN 0 905210 51 4, Thames Publishing No one knows the world of cathedral music with all its foibles, better than Frederic Hodgson, an alto singer with a national reputation who has had a distinguished career extending over half a century as a member of many famous choirs. He has taken part in numerous Royal and State occasions, including the Coronation in Westminster Abbey in 1953, and at services of the Order of the Garter in St George's Chapel, Windsor castle. As a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal he has sing at Royal Maundy Services, and at the Queen's Silver Jubilee Thanksgiving Service in St Paul's Cathedral in 1977. He was also a member of Lichfield Cathedral Choir. Choirs and Cloisters is a unique recollection of the life of a cathedral lay-clerk. |
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