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van Alstyne, Frances (Fanny Crosby; see Alstyne, Frances van)
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von Brethorst, Leona (see Brethorst, Leona von)
von Christierson, Frank (see Christierson, Frank von)
He is probably the most significant English composer of the 20th century. His father was vicar of Down Ampney; and he was educated at Charterhouse, the Royal College of Music, and Trinity College Cambridge where he read history and music. Returning to the RCM, he studied with Walter Parratt, C.H.H.Parry, C.V.Stanford and Charles Wood, and became a close friend of Gustav Holst. Later he studied with Max Bruch in Berlin and Ravel in Paris. He was organist of St Barnabas, South Lambeth 1895-98; but thereafter devoted himself to teaching and composition, being Professor of Composition at the RCM from 1920.
He was a pioneer in collecting and editing English folk-songs, many of which he adapted as hymn tunes. he was music editor of The English Hymnal 1906, which set new standards of taste and scholarship and greatly influenced the hymnody of all denominations thereafter. With Martin Shaw he edited the music of Songs of Praise (1925, 1931), the Oxford Book of Carols 1928, and a revised edition of The English Hymnal 1933.
His compositions include nine symphonies and other orchestral works, operas, choral works, songs, chamber music, and music for ballet, theatre and films. His Three [organ] Preludes on Welsh Hymn Tunes - Bryn Calfaria, Rhosymedre and Hyfrydol, should be in the repertoire of any reasonably competent organist.
He received the O.M. in 1935.
(See also DNB, under `V'; GDM; OCM, under V)
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He taught Latin at the school in Schleusingen, where he was known as a composer, and he later became Lutheran Cantor there. From 1596-1615 he held similar appointments in Weimar.
He wrote nearly 200 motets and about 400 hymns and similar pieces. Even more distinguished than his own melodies were his contrapuntal settings of existing tunes. He composed a setting of the Passion according to St Matthew (1612-14), and in 1608 published a German translation and expansion of Heinrich Faber's Musicae Compendium.
(See also GDM)
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(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 18/5/03)