Basil Harwood (11 April 1859 – 3 April 1949) was an organist and composer in the English church music tradition, best known today for his liturgical works, particularly his anthem O How Glorious is the Kingdom (1898) and his Service in A flat (1892), which still remain popular in English churches. He wrote numerous hymn tunes, several of which became well-known including Luckington ("Let All the World in Every Corner Sing") and Thornbury ("O Jesus I Have Promised" and "Thy hand, O God, has Guided").
Basil Harwood
Background information
Birth name
Basil Harwood
Born
(1859-04-11)11 April 1859 Woodhouse, Gloucestershire, England
Basil Harwood was born on 11 April 1859 at Woodhouse, Olveston, Gloucestershire, the youngest child of Edward Harwood (1818–1907), a banker.[1] His mother Mary, née Sturge (1840–1867), was of Quaker extraction, and Harwood was brought up in that faith until a switch to Anglicanism in 1869 following his father's second marriage.[1]
Education
As a boy, Harwood attended Walton Lodge preparatory school in Clevedon, followed in 1864 by Charterhouse.[1] In 1876 he won a scholarship to Trinity College, Oxford, where he was placed in the second class in classical moderations (1879) and the third in modern history (1881).[1] He took his music degree (BMus) in 1880, studying with C. W. Corfe, then the university's Choragus.[1]
After Oxford, Harwood spent a year in Leipzig studying composition with Jadassohn and the organ with Papperitz.[1]
Career
Harwood's first professional position was organist of St Barnabas', Pimlico in 1883, a post he held until 1887.[2] He then served as organist at Ely Cathedral for five years, followed by a final move to Oxford in 1892 where he remained organist of Christ Church Cathedral until his retirement in 1909.[2][1]
He became Doctor of Music (DMus) in 1896, submitting as his doctoral work a setting of Psalm 86, Inclina domine.[1]
During his time in Oxford Harwood acted as conductor of the Oxford Orchestral Association (1892–8), and became the first conductor of the Oxford Bach Choir in 1896.[1] He held the position of Precentor of Keble College between 1892 and 1903, and was Choragus at the University from 1900 until his retirement.[2][1] He edited The Oxford Hymn Book (1908)[1] as well as acting as an Oxford examiner for several academic years between 1900 and 1915.[2]
Works
Harwood's musical works sit within the 'English' tradition established by Wesley, Stainer, Parry and Stanford.[1] He is best known today for his liturgical works, particularly his anthem O How Glorious is the Kingdom (1898) and his Service in A flat (1892), which still remain popular with English choirs.[1] He wrote numerous hymn tunes, several of which became well-known including Luckington ("Let All the World in Every Corner Sing"), Thornbury ("O Jesus I Have Promised" and "Thy hand, O God, has Guided"), and St Audrey ("Sing ye Faithful, Sing with Gladness").[3][1]
He produced a number of choral works, often for church festivals, including Inclina Domine (Gloucester Festival 1898); As by the Streams of Babylon (Oxford Bach Choir 1907); Jesus, Thy Boundless Love (St Paul's Cathedral 1909); Song on May Morning (Leeds Festival 1913); Love Incarnate (Gloucester Festival 1925); Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem (Gloucester Festival 1928); and Sacrifice Triumphant (1939).[2]
Harwood's organ style was distinctive and technically challenging.[1] He made significant contributions to the repertory of English Romantic music with works requiring considerable virtuoso technique such as Sonata no.1 in C sharp minor op.5, Dithyramb op.7, and Toccata op.49.[3] His love of plainchant and hymn tunes is often evident in his organ works.[1]
Personal life
Harwood was deeply religious and was said to have had a quiet, gentle, and reserved personality.[1] On 27 December 1899 he married one of his former pupils, Mabel Ada Jennings (1871–1974). The couple had two sons, John Edward Godfrey (born 1900) and Basil Anthony (born 1903).[1] In 1909 Harwood took early retirement and returned to Gloucestershire to manage his family estate there.[3]
In 1936 Harwood and his wife moved to London, where they remained except for some temporary absences in Bournemouth and then Shiplake during the war.[1] Harwood died on 3 April 1949 at his home, 50 Courtfield Gardens, Kensington, aged 89.[1] His ashes were interred in St Barnabas's Church, Pimlico.[1]
Dibble, Jeremy (20 January 2001). "Harwood, Basil". Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.12494.
Dibble, Jeremy (23 September 2004). "Harwood, Basil (1859–1949)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33749. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
"Harwood, Basil". Who's Who. 29 March 2021. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U226553.
basil, harwood, april, 1859, april, 1949, organist, composer, english, church, music, tradition, best, known, today, liturgical, works, particularly, anthem, glorious, kingdom, 1898, service, flat, 1892, which, still, remain, popular, english, churches, wrote,. Basil Harwood 11 April 1859 3 April 1949 was an organist and composer in the English church music tradition best known today for his liturgical works particularly his anthem O How Glorious is the Kingdom 1898 and his Service in A flat 1892 which still remain popular in English churches He wrote numerous hymn tunes several of which became well known including Luckington Let All the World in Every Corner Sing and Thornbury O Jesus I Have Promised and Thy hand O God has Guided Basil HarwoodBackground informationBirth nameBasil HarwoodBorn 1859 04 11 11 April 1859Woodhouse Gloucestershire EnglandDied3 April 1949 1949 04 03 aged 89 LondonGenresOrgan music choral musicOccupation s Organist and composerInstrument s OrganYears active1883 1939 Contents 1 Early life 2 Education 3 Career 4 Works 5 Personal life 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksEarly life EditBasil Harwood was born on 11 April 1859 at Woodhouse Olveston Gloucestershire the youngest child of Edward Harwood 1818 1907 a banker 1 His mother Mary nee Sturge 1840 1867 was of Quaker extraction and Harwood was brought up in that faith until a switch to Anglicanism in 1869 following his father s second marriage 1 Education EditAs a boy Harwood attended Walton Lodge preparatory school in Clevedon followed in 1864 by Charterhouse 1 In 1876 he won a scholarship to Trinity College Oxford where he was placed in the second class in classical moderations 1879 and the third in modern history 1881 1 He took his music degree BMus in 1880 studying with C W Corfe then the university s Choragus 1 After Oxford Harwood spent a year in Leipzig studying composition with Jadassohn and the organ with Papperitz 1 Career EditHarwood s first professional position was organist of St Barnabas Pimlico in 1883 a post he held until 1887 2 He then served as organist at Ely Cathedral for five years followed by a final move to Oxford in 1892 where he remained organist of Christ Church Cathedral until his retirement in 1909 2 1 He became Doctor of Music DMus in 1896 submitting as his doctoral work a setting of Psalm 86 Inclina domine 1 During his time in Oxford Harwood acted as conductor of the Oxford Orchestral Association 1892 8 and became the first conductor of the Oxford Bach Choir in 1896 1 He held the position of Precentor of Keble College between 1892 and 1903 and was Choragus at the University from 1900 until his retirement 2 1 He edited The Oxford Hymn Book 1908 1 as well as acting as an Oxford examiner for several academic years between 1900 and 1915 2 Works EditHarwood s musical works sit within the English tradition established by Wesley Stainer Parry and Stanford 1 He is best known today for his liturgical works particularly his anthem O How Glorious is the Kingdom 1898 and his Service in A flat 1892 which still remain popular with English choirs 1 He wrote numerous hymn tunes several of which became well known including Luckington Let All the World in Every Corner Sing Thornbury O Jesus I Have Promised and Thy hand O God has Guided and St Audrey Sing ye Faithful Sing with Gladness 3 1 He produced a number of choral works often for church festivals including Inclina Domine Gloucester Festival 1898 As by the Streams of Babylon Oxford Bach Choir 1907 Jesus Thy Boundless Love St Paul s Cathedral 1909 Song on May Morning Leeds Festival 1913 Love Incarnate Gloucester Festival 1925 Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem Gloucester Festival 1928 and Sacrifice Triumphant 1939 2 Harwood s organ style was distinctive and technically challenging 1 He made significant contributions to the repertory of English Romantic music with works requiring considerable virtuoso technique such as Sonata no 1 in C sharp minor op 5 Dithyramb op 7 and Toccata op 49 3 His love of plainchant and hymn tunes is often evident in his organ works 1 Personal life EditHarwood was deeply religious and was said to have had a quiet gentle and reserved personality 1 On 27 December 1899 he married one of his former pupils Mabel Ada Jennings 1871 1974 The couple had two sons John Edward Godfrey born 1900 and Basil Anthony born 1903 1 In 1909 Harwood took early retirement and returned to Gloucestershire to manage his family estate there 3 In 1936 Harwood and his wife moved to London where they remained except for some temporary absences in Bournemouth and then Shiplake during the war 1 Harwood died on 3 April 1949 at his home 50 Courtfield Gardens Kensington aged 89 1 His ashes were interred in St Barnabas s Church Pimlico 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Dibble 2004 a b c d e Who s Who 2021 a b c Dibble 2001 Bibliography EditDibble Jeremy 20 January 2001 Harwood Basil Grove Music Online doi 10 1093 gmo 9781561592630 article 12494 Dibble Jeremy 23 September 2004 Harwood Basil 1859 1949 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 33749 Subscription or UK public library membership required Harwood Basil Who s Who 29 March 2021 doi 10 1093 ww 9780199540884 013 U226553 External links EditFree scores by Basil Harwood at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP Free scores by Basil Harwood in the Choral Public Domain Library ChoralWiki Cultural officesPreceded byEdmund Thomas Chipp Organist and Master of the Choristers of Ely Cathedral1887 1892 Succeeded byThomas Tertius NoblePreceded byCharles Harford Lloyd Organist and Master of the Choristers of Christ Church Cathedral Oxford1892 1909 Succeeded byHenry Ley Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Basil Harwood amp oldid 1113366273, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
