Night

Cyril Jenkins (1885-1978) was born in Dunvant, Swansea, on 9 October 1885, the son of John Jenkins, a coal miner. He took lessons in music theory with Harry Evans and organ lessons with W. G. Alcock.

Shortly before the First World War he moved to London where he found work as an insurance underwriter which provided sustenance as he took composition lessons with Stanford and Prout. Some sources refer to his having been a pupil of Ravel, but this is not mentioned in Jenkins's writings, and if true, it would be something he would have been likely to flaunt.

In 1921/2 he succeeded the light music composer Hubert Bath (1883-1945) as director of music to the London County Council, in which capacity he organised band concerts in London's various parks.

Late in 1929 he moved to Australia. The move may have been prompted by ill-health and the prospect of its remedy in a more temperate climate. In any case, he quickly established himself, finding plenty of work as a conductor, teacher and adjudicator.

In the years following the Second World War Jenkins travelled frequently between Australia, North America and Britain. He was regularly invited to adjudicate in the USA and Canada and was a frequent guest conductor with the celebrated Tabernacle Choir of Salt Lake City, Iowa.

Jenkins was not a great composer but he was efficient and extremely prolific. He regarded his larger-scale choral works, tone poems and part songs as his greatest achievements. Apparently, he carried a chip on his shoulder, and this is just one of the reasons why his correspondence and published writings reveal him to be a perpetually irritable, impatient man who felt let down by others.

Please see the FIRST COMMENT for brief notes.

The score is attached below, but unfortunately, I could find no photos of Cyril Jenkins.