Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow(22 August 1874 – 1 May 1946) was an Englishorganistandcomposerin theAnglican church musictradition.
Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 August 1874 Trinity Street, Huddersfield, England |
| Died | 1 May 1946(aged 71) |
| Education | Durham University(external diplomas) |
| Occupation(s) | Organist, choir trainer, teacher and composer |
Life and career
editBairstow was born in Trinity Street,Huddersfieldin 1874. His grandfather Oates Bairstow was founder of the eponymous clothing firm.[1]
He studied the organ withJohn FarmeratBalliol College,Oxford, and while articled underFrederick BridgeofWestminster Abbeyreceived tuition fromWalter Alcock.He studied organ and theory at theUniversity of Durham,receiving the Bachelor of Music in 1894, and the Doctor of Music in 1901.[2]
After holding posts in London,WiganandLeeds,he served as organist ofYork Minsterfrom 1913 to his death, when he was succeeded by his former pupilFrancis Jackson.Jackson went on to write a biography of Bairstow. He wasknightedin 1932. His other pupils includedElsie SuddabyandGerald Finzi.During his time in Wigan, he was publicly acclaimed byHans Richterfor his handling of chorus and orchestra. He was president of theISM,the IAO (Incorporated Association of Organist) and theRCOat various times, he also served on the advisory board of theBBCin its early days. While in Leeds, he had theparish churchorgan rebuilt, to his wishes, by his friendArthur Harrison.[3]
He was held in high esteem by his pupils, according to Jackson, who considered his acceptation as chorister under Bairstow in 1929 'the most fortunate day of my musical life.' His praise of the maestro speaks of 'his ability to do supremely well at whatever he put his hand to... I never heard him play a wrong note.'[3]
Notorious for his terseness and bluntness, Bairstow did not always endear himself to others. Asked whether he would be willing to follow the example of his predecessor at York,Thomas Tertius Noble,and emigrate to the United States, he replied that he would "rather go to the devil". Comfortably ensconced in Yorkshire, where he was a close friend of the equally bluntCharles Harry Moody,organist atRipon Cathedral,he refused an offer to succeedSydney Nicholsonat Westminster Abbey. He instead recommended his erstwhile pupilErnest Bullock,who was duly appointed to the post.
Key dates
edit- 1893 Organist of All Saints, Norfolk Square
- 1899 Organist ofWigan Parish Church
- 1906 Organist ofLeeds Parish Church
- 1913 Master of Music,York Minster
- 1927 13th centenary celebrations of York Minster (multiple choirs). First time the Bach Mass in B minor was heard in York.
- 1932 Knighted for services to music
Compositions
editBairstow's compositions are mainly for the church. He wrote 29 anthems, ranging from large-scale works for choir and organ such asBlessed city, heavenly Salemto miniatures likeI sat down under his shadowandJesu, the very thought of thee.Among his anthems,Let all mortal flesh keep silenceis perhaps the best known. His service music includes published settings in D (Evening 1906, Communion 1913, Morning 1925), E♭ (Full Setting, 1923), and G (Evening, 1940), and several unpublished works. He also composed psalm chants, hymn tunes, and a cantata,The Prodigal Son,for choir and chamber orchestra.
Bairstow was also active as an instrumental composer, mainly for the organ, and some 12 pieces were published in his lifetime, among them the 1937 Sonata in E♭. His small output of chamber music includes a set of variations for two pianos and another set of variations for violin and piano, both long out of print.
Key works
edit- Evening song,for organ (1900)[4]
- Save us, O Lord(1900)
- Let all mortal flesh keep silencefor unaccompanied choir (1906, published 1925)
- Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in D(1906)
- Legendfor organ (1907)
- Prelude in C for organ (1907)
- Variations on an Original Themefor two pianos (1908)
- If the Lord had not helped me(1910)
- Prelude, Elegy and Toccatafor organ (1911)[5]
- Sing ye to the Lord(1911)
- Blessed city, Heavenly Salem(based on the plainsong "Urbs beata") (1914)
- Lord, Thou hast been our refuge(1916)
- Six Variations on an Original Themefor violin and piano (1916)
- I sat down under his shadow(1925)
- Jesu, the Very Thought of Thee(1925)
- Let all mortal flesh keep silence(1925)
- Jesu grant me this I pray(Orlando Gibbons,arr. Bairstow) (1929)
- The King of love my shepherd is(1931)
- Though I speak with the tongues of men(1934)
- Organ Sonata in E♭ (1937)
- The Prodigal Sonfor chorus and small orchestra (1939)
- Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in G(1940)
- The Lamentations of Jeremiah(1942)
- Five Poems of the Spirit(1944)
- 'Come, lovely Name'
- 'O Lord, in me there lieth naught'
- 'Praise'
- 'Purse and Scrip'
- 'L’Envoy'
- Three Short Preludesfor organ (published 1947)
Books
edit- Handel’s Oratorio ‘The Messiah’:(OUP, Musical Pilgrim series, 1928)
- Counterpoint and Harmony:MacMillan/Stainer & Bell, 1937, 1945 (2nd ed). Republished 2007 by the Bairstow Press,ISBN1-4067-6086-2,ISBN978-1-4067-6086-6.
- The Evolution of Musical Form:OUP, 1943.
- Singing Learned from Speech: A Primer for Teachers and Students(withHarry Plunket Greene): (Macmillan, 1945)
References
edit- Francis Jackson."Bairstow, Sir Edward C(uthbert)",Grove Music Online(2001)
- Francis Jackson:Blessed City: The Life and Works of Edward C. Bairstow 1874-1946.York, William Sessions Ltd., 1993.ISBN1-85072-182-3,ISBN978-1-85072-182-6;2nd rev. ed. Hyperion Books, 1997.ISBN1-85072-192-0,ISBN978-1-85072-192-5