Concluding Voluntary

I share this piece with you because of its historical significance ... not to the world in general, but to me. It wouldn't be true to say that I took up the organ because of it - the timing of the events that led to that suggest that the universe, for better or worse, intended that - but this piece was almost certainly the first I ever learnt. It was a favourite of the local organist (I don't think she actually played it every week, really) and something about it appealed to the 10 year old me in the church choir. I think it's the movement in thirds in the LH and pedal. In any event, when I got on to the organ, I immediately set about learning it.
It appears in a collection of miscellaneous, "useful" pieces called "The Village Organist." It must be 40 years ago since my copy went astray, so when I spotted it whilst looking for something on IMSLP, I obviously had to download it.
Cuthbert Harris was born in London in 1870. After studying music privately, he attended the London Organ School and the London Academy of Music; he graduated from the University of Durham with a MusB in 1894 and a MusD in 1899. He became an Associate of the Royal College of Organists in January 1889 and a Fellow in July 1889. He held organist positions at the Presbyterian Church, Haverstock Hill, London Welwyn Parish Church, Hertfordshire, St. Andrew's, Streatham, London (from 1893) and St. Leonard's Parish Church, Streatham, London (from 1903) where he played a III/31 stop Walker organ. Harris was music master at the London College for Ladies and was professor of organ and composition at the London Organ School from about 1896 until at least 1901. In 1904, he was appointed conductor of the Streatham Choral Society. He taught harmony and voice at the London Academy of Music, taught music by correspondence, prepared students for music examinations, and wrote articles for music periodicals. He died at Gorleston-at-Sea on June 17, 1932.