George Oldroyd
Encyclopedia
Dr. George Oldroyd was an English
organist
and composer
of Anglican
church music. He was organist of St. Alban's Church, Holborn
from 1919 to 1920, and then of St Michael's Church, Croydon
from 1920 until his death in 1956. Both are churches firmly rooted within the Anglo-Catholic tradition in the Church of England
. He composed numerous settings of the mass
, but is best remembered for his "Mass of the Quiet Hour" composed in 1928, whose swooping melodies and lush harmonies recall the Palm Court
style of that era. It was dedicated to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, in whose diocese St. Michael's at that time lay, and is still part of the repertoire of many English cathedral
s and parish church
es.
He was the author of The Technique And Spirit Of Fugue: An Historical Study, published in 1948.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
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...
of Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church music. He was organist of St. Alban's Church, Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
from 1919 to 1920, and then of St Michael's Church, Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
from 1920 until his death in 1956. Both are churches firmly rooted within the Anglo-Catholic tradition in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He composed numerous settings of the mass
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
, but is best remembered for his "Mass of the Quiet Hour" composed in 1928, whose swooping melodies and lush harmonies recall the Palm Court
Palm Court
Palm Court may refer to:* Palm court - a large room, usually in a prestigious hotel, where functions are staged* Palm Court - historic ballroom in Los Angeles, California...
style of that era. It was dedicated to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, in whose diocese St. Michael's at that time lay, and is still part of the repertoire of many English cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
s and parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
es.
He was the author of The Technique And Spirit Of Fugue: An Historical Study, published in 1948.