Pastorale

Sydney Watson OBE (1903–1991) was an English church musician. Watson studied at Keble College, Oxford, and at the Royal College of Music. He was the Organist of New College, Oxford, from 1933 and left in 1938 to become Musical Director at Winchester College where he stayed until 1946. He then moved to become Precentor at Eton College, leaving in 1955 to take up a post as music lecturer at Christ Church, Oxford, and organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, which posts he held until 1970. He was also Professor of Organ at the RCM from 1946 to 1971, and he conducted the Oxford Bach Choir between 1955 and 1970.

In 1965 he conducted the first performance of Walton's "The Twelve," and in 1967 he directed what was probably the first liturgical performance of Taverner's "Missa Corona Spinea" for four hundred years. He composed an "Evening Service in E" which is regularly sung in the evening liturgy of the Anglican Church, and while at Winchester he composed the hymn tune "Morestead". He was appointed an OBE in 1970 for his services to music.

"Pastorale" comes from "An Easy Album," published by Oxford University Press in 1956.

This little gem will show Watson's individual approach to melody and harmony. The flow and balance are perfect, and the piece takes more than one unexpected turns!

This performance features the Hohl Flote (Harmonic Flute) of the Great.

Despite the fame and importance of Sydney Watson, I could find no pictures of him. I did attach two photos of the chapel at New College, Oxford.