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(See also DNB; Julian p.722)
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He was the son of a Jewish banker who converted to Lutheranism. Felix's great musical gifts were soon revealed; he was a concert pianist at nine, and at ten his setting of Psalm 19 was publicly performed. By 16 he had composed his Octet for strings and a number of symphonies; his Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream followed a year later. At 20 he arranged and conducted the centenary revival of Bach's St Matthew Passion, and became largely responsible for the reawakening of interest in Bach's music generally.
From 1833 he held various official appointments in Düsseldorf, Leipzig and Berlin. He travelled widely, and between 1829 and 1847 made ten visits to Britain, where he was very popular in all circles. He left a vast quantity of music in all forms; his contributions to hymnody are mostly harmonizations and adaptations from other composers.
(See also GDM; OCM)
For notes on Mendelssohn's choral and orchestral works, click here > > .
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At first he followed his father's trade as a paviour; but then ran away from home to study music. He studied under Charles Burney at King's Lynn, was a flautist in Handel's orchestra, and became organist of Doncaster Parish Church 1756-1807. He published a history of Doncaster (1804) and many articles and collections of church music; these included The Psalms of David set to New Music 1744 (for which he had obtained about 5000 subscribers including King George III), The Psalms of David with Tunes for the use of Parish Churches 1790, Thoughts on the Present Performance of Psalmody . . . 1791, The Psalms of Watts and Wesley . . . for the use of Methodists 1801, and Sacred Music . . . an Appendix to Dr Watts's Psalms and Hymns 1802.
(See also DNB; GDM; OCM)
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(See also DNB; Julian p.736b-737a)
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See the chapter on John Milton in Aubrey's Brief Lives.
(See also DNB; OCEL; Julian p.737a)
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He studied under J.P.Hullah, Henry Phillips and G.A.Macfarren. He was organist of Midsomer Norton Parish Church; Christ Church, Frome; and was then the first precentor and master of music at St Columba's College, the Protestant public school near Dublin (1844-46). After a year in Oxford as conductor of the University Motet and Madrigal Society, he became precentor of St Peter's College, Radley 1848-59; then organist of York Minster 1859-83; and retired to Radley in 1883. He was Oxford University examiner in music, 1871-83.
A keen amateur astronomer, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1871. He wrote many songs and anthems, published editions of chants and hymns, and was librettist for three of Macfarren's oratorios.
(See also GDM; OCM)
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He held organ appointments in various London churches; then in 1852 became organist at the new church of St Matthias, Stoke Newington, where he established a daily choral service with a volunteer choir. Concurrently he was choir director (from 1847) and organist (from 1849) at King's College, London, and in 1874 succeeded John Hullah as Professor of vocal music there. He was also Professor of Music at the School for the Indigent Blind, 1851, the National Training School for Music, 1876, and Bedford College, London, 1878.
He edited several hymnals and anthem books, and from 1849-51 edited the periodical The Parish Choir. He composed many anthems and other church music, but he is chiefly remembered as the first music editor of Hymns Ancient & Modern (whose title was suggested by him). Although he composed nearly sixty original hymn-tunes, his chief influence was through his editorial work for successive editions of A.& M. and for other hymnals.
(See also DNB; GDM; OCM)
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(See also DNB; Julian pp.762b-763a)
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(See also DNB; Julian pp.763b-765a)
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He is first heard of as a music teacher in Manchester in 1740. He became precentor of Blackfriars Parish Church Glasgow from 1755-87, and teacher of free music classes in Hutcheson's Hospital there from 1756-87. He was elected a burgess in 1759, and was in business as a bookseller and publisher. He edited several collections of psalmody in both Manchester and Glasgow.
(See also DNB)
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He was for many years a draper and house-furnisher in Reading, before moving to Leamington on 1901. He was a life-long Congregationalist and a talented amateur musician; and was organist for the afternoon services at Spencer Street Congregational Church, Leamington.
He was connected with choral, lecture and entertainment societies and with various charitable bodies in Leamington, and was a keen supporter of the Leamington and County Competitive Music Festival and for several years vice-chairman of its committee.
Towards the end of his life he lost both his sight and his hearing.
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An obituary notice appeared in the Year Book of the Congregational Union of England & Wales, 1884.
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(See also DNB; Julian p.770a)
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He was educated at Harrow School, then New College Oxford and the Royal College of Music. After war service in the 1914-18 war he became a journalist, and then taught composition at the RCM from 1920-48 (with an interval from 1926-28 as head of the Theory Department at the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia USA).
He wrote orchestral music, chamber music and part-songs, but was pre-eminently a teacher and the author of a number of music text-books. He was the brother-in-law of Vaughan Williams; and for many years compiled crossword puzzles for The Times.
(See also GDM; OCM)
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He showed prodigious musical talent and became head chorister at Westminster Cathedral under R.R.Terry. A brilliant organist, he obtained his FRCO when only 17.
On entering the Benedictine Abbey at Downside in 1922 he took the monastic name Gregory. After studying history at Cambridge University he was ordained priest, and appointed Director of Music at Downside Abbey and School, holding this post from 1932-40. During this period he became nationally known through his frequent braodcast recitals on the then new Abbey organ.
Apart from brief periods at Ealing Priory during the 1939-45 war and as parish priest at Hindley, Leicestershire 1948-52, he spent the rest of his life at Downside, serving also as parish priest at Stratton-on-le-Fosse (near Downside) from 1952-87.
He did much editorial work for the Westminster Hymnal of 1940, contributing many harmonizations and 21 original tunes. As music consultant for the `Grail' version of the Gelineau psalmody, he composed many antiphons for these psalms. He was also a biblical scholar, an authority on Gregorian chant, and a composer of liturgical, choral, organ and other instrumental music.
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(See also DNB; OCEL)
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End of Biographies M (M2). Return to Top . . .
(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 11/6/03)