Edward Bairstow
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow was born in Huddersfield
on 22 August 1874 and died in York on 1 May 1946. He was an English
organist
and composer
in the Anglican church music
tradition.
He studied organ with John Farmer
at Balliol College, Oxford, and while articled under Frederick Bridge
of Westminster Abbey
received tuition from Walter Alcock
. He studied organ and theory at the University of Durham, receiving the Bachelor of Music in 1894, and the Doctor of Music in 1901.
After holding posts in London
, Wigan
and Leeds
, he served as organist of York Minster
from 1913 to his death, when he was succeeded by his former pupil Francis Jackson. He was knighted
in 1932.
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 go to the USA, he replied that he would "rather go to the devil". Comfortably ensconced in Yorkshire, where he was a close friend of the equally blunt Dr Moody, Organist at Ripon Cathedral
, he refused the offer to succeed Frederick Bridge at Westminster Abbey. He instead recommended his erstwhile pupil Ernest Bullock
, who was duly appointed to the post.
is perhaps the best known. His service music includes published settings in D (Evening 1906, Communion 1913, Morning 1925), E flat (Full Setting, 1923), and G (Evening, 1940), and several unpublished works.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, the finest being the 1937 Sonata in E flat. 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.
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
on 22 August 1874 and died in York on 1 May 1946. He was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
in the Anglican church music
Anglican church music
Anglican church music is music that is written for liturgical performance in Anglican church services.Almost all of it is written for choir with or without organ accompaniment...
tradition.
He studied organ with John Farmer
John Farmer (1835-1901)
John Farmer , from Nottingham, composed oratorios, cantatas, and other church music, and chamber music.His father, also John , was a Nottingham lacemaker and a cellist...
at Balliol College, Oxford, and while articled under Frederick Bridge
Frederick Bridge
Sir John Frederick Bridge was an English organist, composer, teacher and writer.From a musical family, Bridge became a church organist before he was 20, and he achieved his ambition to become a cathedral organist by the age of 24, at Manchester Cathedral...
of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
received tuition from Walter Alcock
Walter Alcock
Sir Walter Galpin Alcock was an English organist and composer born at Edenbridge, Kent.He studied at the Royal College of Music under Sir Arthur Sullivan and Sir John Stainer....
. He studied organ and theory at the University of Durham, receiving the Bachelor of Music in 1894, and the Doctor of Music in 1901.
After holding posts in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
and Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, he served as organist of York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
from 1913 to his death, when he was succeeded by his former pupil Francis Jackson. He was knighted
British honours system
The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories...
in 1932.
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 go to the USA, he replied that he would "rather go to the devil". Comfortably ensconced in Yorkshire, where he was a close friend of the equally blunt Dr Moody, Organist at Ripon Cathedral
Ripon Cathedral
Ripon Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds and the mother church of the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds, situated in the small North Yorkshire city of Ripon, England.-Background:...
, he refused the offer to succeed Frederick Bridge at Westminster Abbey. He instead recommended his erstwhile pupil Ernest Bullock
Ernest Bullock
Sir Ernest Bullock was an English organist, composer, and educator.-Education:...
, who was duly appointed to the post.
Key Dates
- 1893 Becomes organist of All Saints, Norfolk Square
- 1899 Organist of Wigan Parish ChurchWigan Parish ChurchAll Saints' Church, Wigan is the Church of England parish church in Wigan, Greater Manchester.It is a Grade II* listed building.-History:The church is medieval but most of the present building was erected between 1845 and 1850 by the Lancaster partnership of Sharpe and Paley, when it was almost...
- 1906 Organist of Leeds Parish ChurchLeeds Parish ChurchLeeds Parish Church, or the Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds, in Leeds, West Yorkshire is a large Church of England parish church of major architectural and liturgical significance. It has been designated a grade I listed building by English Heritage...
- 1913 Master of Music, York MinsterYork MinsterYork Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
- 1932 Knighted for Services to Music
Compositions
Bairstow's compositions are mainly for the church. He wrote 29 anthems, ranging from large-scale works for choir and organ such as Blessed city, heavenly Salem to elegant miniatures like I sat down under his shadow and Jesu, the very thought of thee. Among his anthems, the masterly Let all mortal flesh keep silenceLet All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Let all mortal flesh keep silence is an ancient chant of Eucharistic devotion based on the verses taken from Habakkuk 2:20 "Let all the earth keep silence before Him"taken from one of the books of the 12 minor prophets of Bible...
is perhaps the best known. His service music includes published settings in D (Evening 1906, Communion 1913, Morning 1925), E flat (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, the finest being the 1937 Sonata in E flat. 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
- If the Lord Had Not Helped Me
- Blessed city, Heavenly Salem (based on the plainsong "Urbs beataUrbs beata Jerusalem dicta pacis visioUrbs beata Jerusalem dicta pacis visio is the first line of a 7th or 8th-century hymn sung in the Office of the Dedication of a Roman Catholic church.-Text:...
") - The King of love my shepherd is
- I sat down under his shadow
- Let all mortal flesh keep silenceLet All Mortal Flesh Keep SilenceLet all mortal flesh keep silence is an ancient chant of Eucharistic devotion based on the verses taken from Habakkuk 2:20 "Let all the earth keep silence before Him"taken from one of the books of the 12 minor prophets of Bible...
- The Lamentations of Jeremiah
- Sing ye to the Lord
- Save us, O Lord
- Evening Service in G
- Evening Service in D
- Evening song, for organ (From the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
- Prelude, Elegy and Toccata for organ (From the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
Books
- Counterpoint and Harmony: MacMillan/Stainer & Bell, 1937, 1945 (2nd ed). Republished 2007 by the Bairstow Press, ISBN 1406760862, ISBN 978-1406760866.
- The Evolution of Musical Form: Oxford University Press, 1943.
- Singing Learned from Speech: A Primer for Teachers and Students: Macmillan, 1945.