Edward Bairstow

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 under John Farmer at Balliol College, Oxford, and while articled under Frederick Bridge of Westminster Abbey received tuition from Walter Alcock. After holding posts in London, Wigan and Leeds, he served as organist of York Minster from 1913 to his death. He was knighted in 1932. His anthems include "Blessed City, Heavenly Salem", "I Sat Down Under His Shadow", and "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence". He also wrote music for organ, including a sonata in E flat, and three service settings.

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 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 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.

Key Dates

*1893 Becomes organist of All Saints, Norfolk Square
*1899 Organist of Wigan Parish Church
*1906 Organist of Leeds Parish Church
*1913 Master of Music, York Minster
*1932 Knighted for Services to Music

Key Works

*"Blessed City, Heavenly Salem"
*"The King of Love My Shepherd Is"
*"I Sat Down Under His Shadow"
*"Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence"
*"The Lamentations of Jeremiah"
*"Save Us, O Lord"
* [http://hdl.handle.net/1802/2043 Evening song, for organ] (From the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
* [http://hdl.handle.net/1802/3829 Prelude, Elegy and Toccata for organ] (From the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)

References

Francis Jackson. "Bairstow, Sir Edward C(uthbert)", "Grove Music Online", ed. L. Macy (accessed 19 August 2005), [http://www.grovemusic.com/ grovemusic.com] (subscription access).