Rhapsody on "King's Lynn"

Richard Henry Pinwill Coleman (April 3, 1888, Dartmouth, England - February 17, 1965, Eastbourne, England) was a chorister in St George's Church, Ramsgate before going to Denstone College. He studied organ under Sydney H. Nicholson at Carlisle Cathedral and Manchester Cathedral. While at Carlisle he was organist of St Stephen's Church.

On completing his apprenticeship Richard Henry Coleman was appointed Assistant Organist of Manchester Cathedral (1908-1912). He was then Organist of Blackburn Parish Church (St. Mary the Virgin, now the Cathedral) (1912-1914), and of Derry Cathedral (St Columb's Cathedral), Londonderry (1914-1920). He succeeded Haydn Keeton as organist of at Peterborough Cathedral (1921-1944).

After nearly 25 years of service, Richard Henry Coleman left Peterborough under unhappy domestic circumstances for which he could not be held responsible.

Subsequently he was county music organiser for Staffordshire (1944-1947), Organist of Hatfield Parish Church, Hertfordshire (1947-1948), Organist of All Saints', Eastbourne (1949-1959), and then Director of Music at the Chapel Royal, Brighton.

He took the Dublin degree of Mus.B. in 1919, followed by that of Mus.D. in 1924, also holding the FRCO diploma in 1911. His book, The Amateur Choir Trainer (1932), reissued in 1964 as The Church Choir Trainer, is still "on the mark," but of course, MUCH has changed since the days when Coleman wrote it.

His music is "conservative," but always well-written. He often wrote with "amateur" organists and "village choirs" in mind.

The score is attached below, as well as a copy of the hymn upon which the piece is based. There is also a photo (not very clear) of Coleman, but it is the only one I've ever seen. In addition, there are a number of photos of Hatfield Parish Church, where I THINK Coleman was organist when he wrote this piece in 1947.

Musical and performance notes are given in the First Comment.