Davies, Sir (Henry) Walford

Davies, Sir (Henry) Walford , eminent Welsh organist, educator, and composer; b. Oswestry, Sept. 6, 1869; d. Wrington, Somerset, March 11, 1941. He was a pupil of Walter Parratt at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, where he served as his assistant (1885–90), and then studied with Parry and Stanford at the Royal Coll. of Music in London, where he subsequently taught (1895–1903). He was conductor of the Bach Choir (1903–07), and also held positions as organist at Christ Church, Hampstead (1891–98), Temple Church (1898–1918), and St. George’s Chapel (1927–32). He was a prof. of music at the Univ. of Wales (1919–26). Between 1924 and 1934 he led the novel broadcasting series “Music Lessons in Schools,” He was knighted in 1922, and in 1934 he was appointed Master of the King’s Musick. He publ. The Musical Outlook in Wales (London, 1926), The Pursuit of Music (London, 1935), and Music and Worship (with Harvey Grace, London, 1935). As a composer, Davies is remembered for his Solemn Melody for Organ and Strings (1908) and his march for the Royal Air Force (1917). He also wrote a Sym. (1911), Conversations for Piano and Orch. (London, Oct. 14, 1914), overtures, choral music, chamber music, songs, and many pieces for school performance.

Works

ORCH.: Overtures : Dedication Overture (1893); Festal Overture (1910).O t h e r : Conversations for Piano and Orch. (London, Oct. 14, 1914).CHAMBER: 2 violin sonatas (1894, 1896); Peter Pan for String Quartet (1909).VOCAL: C h o r u s : The Temple (1902); Lift Up Your Hearts (1906); 5 Sayings of Jesus (1911); Heaven’s Gate (1916); Men and Angels (1925); Christ in the Universe (1929).O t h e r V o c a l : Numerous part-songs.OTHER: Many works for school performance, including A Children’s Symphony (1927) and London Calling the Schools for Piano, Orch., and Radio Announcer (1932).

Bibliography

H.C. Colles, W.D., A Biography (London, 1942).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire