Gloria in excelsis

Julius Allan Greenway Harrison (26 March 1885 – 5 April 1963) was best known as a conductor of operatic works. Born in Worcestershire, England, to a musical family, his mother was his first piano teacher. He later took organ and violin lessons from the organist of Wilden parish church, and sang in the church choir. At the ago of 16 Harrison was appointed organist and choirmaster at Areley Kings Church, and at Hartlebury Church at the age of 21. He studied with Granville Bantock at the Birmingham and Midland Institute of Music where he specialised in conducting.

Harrison moved to London, where he conducted amateur ensembles and was organist of the Union Chapel, Islington. In the latter capacity he wrote several pieces for the choir during 1910 and 1911.

For most of his career Harrison was obliged to earn a living by conducting and other musical work, to the detriment of his composing. In early 1913 he was engaged as a répétiteur at Covent Garden, where he had the opportunity of observing the great conductors, and probably doing half their jobs for them in terms of preparation...

In 1916 Harrison joined the Royal Flying Corps and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the technical branch. He was based in London, and was frequently able to substitute for Thomas Beecham, often conducting while wearing his uniform.

After a series of conducting posts, he was appointed director of opera and professor of composition at the Royal Academy of Music in 1924. From 1940 to 1942 Harrison was director of music at Malvern College. He then accepted a post as a conductor with the BBC Northern Orchestra in Manchester.

The onset of deafness forced Harrison to give up conducting. Harrison died in 1963, aged 78.

He composed a significant amount of music in many forms, but his greatest work is usually considered to be his "Mass in C" and the "Requiem". He has several organ works (that I have never heard or seen), especially the "Paean and Tonus Peregrinus: Homage to Cesar Franck."