Rather slowly (No. 10, "A Little Organ book in memory of Hubert Parry")

1861 – 11 September 1947) was an English organist and composer. He held a number of important posts as an organist, playing at the coronations of three monarchs. He was also professor of organ at the Royal College of Music, London. Born at at Edenbridge, Kent, at the age of 15 he won a scholarship to the National Training School for Music, where he studied composition with Arthur Sullivan and the organ with John Stainer. After a brief series of posts (Holy Trinity Sloane Street and St. Margaret's, Westminster), in 1893 he was appointed Organ Professor at the Royal College of Music. He was assistant organist of Westminster Abbey from 1896, and was concurrently organist of the Chapels Royal from 1902. In 1916 he became organist of Salisbury Cathedral where he oversaw a strictly faithful restoration of the famous Father Willis organ.

Alcock had the unique distinction of playing the organ at Westminster Abbey at the coronations of three kings: Edward VII (1902), George V (1911) and George VI (1937). He was knighted in 1933 for services to music. He was a noted teacher, whose published material for organ students is still thought valuable. Among his notable pupils were Edward Bairstow, Ralph Downes, and S. Drummond Wolff.

This sadly sweet and flowing piece in the key of B minor helps to show the admirable craftsmanship that Alcock always displayed. It is particularly at home on the Salisbury Willis, since this most likely the organ upon which it was conceived.

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Sir Walter Alcock - and, I'm pleased to say that he DOES have the "required" moustache that all English cathedral organists at the time seemed to have.

As someone I knew once called them, he was a "Moustache Jimmy..." ;-)