Solemn Melody

Sir Henry Walford Davies, born, Oswestry, Shropshire, 6 Sep 1869; trained in choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor, and was pupil assistant to Walter Parratt; entered Royal College of Music under a composition scholarship, 1890; studied with Charles Parry and Charles Stanford; became teacher of counterpoint, RCM, 1895-1918; organist at St George's Kensington, St Anne's, Soho, and Christ Church, Hampstead; organist and choirmaster at the Temple Church, 1898-1919; conductor of the Bach Choir, 1903-1907; appointed director of music to the Royal Air Force, 1918; professor of music, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1919-1926; chairman of the Welsh National Council of Music; knighted, 1922; appointed Gresham Professor of Music in the University of London, 1926; made his first radio broadcast to schools, 1924; his popular radio series 'Music and the Ordinary Listener' commenced, 1926; records for His Master's Voice Melody Lectures and Twelve Talks on Melody ; organist, St George's Chapel, Windsor, 1927-1932; music advisor at the BBC, 1927-1939; appointed Master of the King's Musick, 1934; died, Wrington, Somerset, 11 Mar 1941.

"Solemn Melody" is well-known, especially in the arrangement for organ, skillfully done by John Ebeneezer West, himself an important figure on the British organ scene. West, John Ebenezer William (1863-1929), who was an F.R.A.M., F.R.C.O. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London, under Sir Frederick Bridge (organ) and Dr Ebenezer Prout.

West was Editor of Novello's Old English Organ Series; was on musical staff of Novellos, 1885, and musical advisor, 1897. Composed cantatas, services, anthems, incidental music, organ pieces songs, &c. Author of “Cathedral organists, past and present”, 1899. Nephew of Dr Ebenezer Prout. b. South Hackney, London, England, Dec. 7th, 1863; d. London, Feb. 28th, 1929.

The score, first published in 1910 is attached below, as well as photos of H. Walford Davies and one of John E. West.