Adagio

Posted on May Day 2026, Percy Whitlock's 'year's mind' or 'gēargemynd' (d.1st May 1946 age 43).

In July 1930, Percy Whitlock left Kent to take up his post at St. Stephen's Church Bournemouth. At this time, his friend George Jessup found the original manuscript of Adagio in an organ loft cupboard at Rochester Cathedral. He made a copy of it and noted that had been written in c.1926 and was dedicated to R.P.T. - Robert Percy Tong.

Jessup was a King's Scholar at the King's School Rochester, becoming a pupil of Hylton Stewart in 1925. He covered for Whitlock at St. Mary's Chatham when Whitlock was sent for treatment at Midhurst Sanatorium. It was Jessup who took the photos of Whitlock seated at the Bournemouth Pavilion Organ and at the console of St. Stephen's.

Information about Lieutenant Colonel Robert Percy Tong O.B.E. may be found on the youtube video and in the video description. His obituary is attached.

Whitlock's original manuscript of his Adagio has never been found, and it was not until 1995 that the piece was published as part of 'In Homage to Whitlock' Volume 2, which was edited by Malcolm Riley and published by Banks Music Publications in association with The Percy Whitlock Trust. George Jessup's manuscript was held in his widow Doris's private collection until her death in 2012.

We are so fortunate that George took care of this beautiful composition and the story behind its origins. The longevity of the Jessups, Cln. Tong (d.1994), his widow Edna, and many more friends and colleagues of Whitlock makes us more painfully aware his premature death.

Due to his quick-silver mind and a Mozartian ability to pen compositions already formed in his head, we do have a substantial collection of his musical outpourings, including, with help from George Jessup, this Adagio.