Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat

Sir Sydney Hugo Nicholson MVO (9 February 1875 – 30 May 1947) was an English choir director, organist, composer, and founder of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).

Nicholson was educated at New College, Oxford before going on to study the organ at the Royal College of Music. He then served as organist at Barnet Parish Church (1897–1903), Carlisle Cathedral (1904), Lower Chapel, Eton College (1904–1908), Manchester Cathedral (1908–1919), and Westminster Abbey (1919–1928). Along with maintaining his organist posts, he edited the Hymns Ancient and Modern supplement that was published in 1916; he did not live to see the 1950 revised edition.

In 1927 Nicholson founded the School of English Church Music (now the RSCM). The School's members initially met at St Sepulchre-without-Newgate. He was warden of St Nicholas College, Chislehurst, Kent (1928–1939).

In addition to having edited Hymns Ancient and Modern, still the standard hymn book in many Anglican churches today, Nicholson wrote several hymn tunes. Of these, the most famous is"Crucifer" for the popular processional hymn "Lift High the Cross".

In 1928 he received the Lambeth DMus, and a decade later he was knighted for his services to Church music. He died at Ashford, Kent at the age of 72, and was buried at Westminster Abbey.

Impromptu No. 1 was published by Stainer & Bell Ltd. and is dedicated: "To Theodore Walrond." Born in Glasgow, Theodore Hunter Hastings Walrond (1872–1935) was briefly Nicholson’s assistant at Carlisle Cathedral and then succeeded
him as Acting-Organist in 1908, the year that this work was published. He later was organist of St. Cross in Winchester, as well as being assistant at the cathedral there.

"Impromptu No. 1" is an attractive work and a nice example of the composer's work. It is multi-sectional, with a nice feel for melody and cohesiveness.

The score is attached below, as well as photos of Nicholson, Walrond, the dedicatee, and photos of Carlisle and Manchester cathedrals.