Henry Brian Runnett (1935–1970) was a British organist and choral director. He was born in Tyldesley, Lancashire, in 1935 and was educated at the Liverpool Matthay School of Music, during which time he obtained the FRCO diploma with both Limpus and F J Read prizes in organ playing. His first organ post (at age 16) was at St. Stephen's Church, Hightown. From there he went to St. Andrew's, Litherland, before moving in 1955 to Chester Cathedral as assistant organist. In 1958 he obtained the degree of BMus from Durham University. In 1960 he was appointed organ scholar at St John's College, Cambridge, under Director of Music George Guest.[1]
He recorded the Hindemith Organ Sonatas on the then new Hill, Norman & Beard Chapel Organ at Ellesmere College in 1970 (LP - Cathedral Organ Masterworks CRMS-850).
In 1968, Runnett succeeded Dr George Guest as director of the Berkshire Boys Choir, a summer-resident choir of 46 boys and 14 men under the auspices of the Tanglewood Music Festival in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts (USA). The choir had been founded and conducted in 1967 by Dr Guest. In the 1968 (Summer) season, the choir appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra and sang in Washington Cathedral and at Rutgers University and Syracuse University, among other venues. Eleven selections from their large repertoire were collected on an album for RCA Records (Alleluia, LSC-3081), with Lowell Lacey as the organist.[2]
Runnett was killed in a car crash in 1970 whilst returning from an organ recital he had given in Westminster Abbey.[1] Composer Kenneth Leighton was commissioned by the Cathedral Organists' Association to write a memorial work for Runnett - his Second Evening Service (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis).[3]
Norwich Cathedral has a Runnett Library in Runnett's memory, which contains all of his sheet music. It was donated to the cathedral by Runnett's parents following his death. St John's College, Cambridge, also has a Brian Runnett Memorial organ competition, as well as trophies given out at the end of it.
References
^ abcTaylor, Stainton de B. (1976). Two Centuries of Music in Liverpool: A Scrap-book of Information Concerning Musical Activities Both Professional and Amateur. Liverpool: Rockliff Brothers Limited. p. 61. ISBN978-0950514307.
^Alleluia: The Berkshire Boy Choir. [from the album back cover]. RCA Red Seal, LSC-3081 (Stereo), 1969
^Smith, Carolyn J. (2004). Kenneth Leighton: A Bio-bibliography. Westport CT: Praeger. p. 49. ISBN978-0313073175.
brian, runnett, henry, 1935, 1970, british, organist, choral, director, born, tyldesley, lancashire, 1935, educated, liverpool, matthay, school, music, during, which, time, obtained, frco, diploma, with, both, limpus, read, prizes, organ, playing, first, organ. Henry Brian Runnett 1935 1970 was a British organist and choral director He was born in Tyldesley Lancashire in 1935 and was educated at the Liverpool Matthay School of Music during which time he obtained the FRCO diploma with both Limpus and F J Read prizes in organ playing His first organ post at age 16 was at St Stephen s Church Hightown From there he went to St Andrew s Litherland before moving in 1955 to Chester Cathedral as assistant organist In 1958 he obtained the degree of BMus from Durham University In 1960 he was appointed organ scholar at St John s College Cambridge under Director of Music George Guest 1 Following Cambridge in 1963 he was appointed Lecturer in Music and University Organist at Manchester University and in 1967 moved to Norwich Cathedral as Organist and Master of the Choristers He was a part time lecturer at the University of East Anglia 1 He recorded the Hindemith Organ Sonatas on the then new Hill Norman amp Beard Chapel Organ at Ellesmere College in 1970 LP Cathedral Organ Masterworks CRMS 850 In 1968 Runnett succeeded Dr George Guest as director of the Berkshire Boys Choir a summer resident choir of 46 boys and 14 men under the auspices of the Tanglewood Music Festival in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts USA The choir had been founded and conducted in 1967 by Dr Guest In the 1968 Summer season the choir appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra and sang in Washington Cathedral and at Rutgers University and Syracuse University among other venues Eleven selections from their large repertoire were collected on an album for RCA Records Alleluia LSC 3081 with Lowell Lacey as the organist 2 Runnett was killed in a car crash in 1970 whilst returning from an organ recital he had given in Westminster Abbey 1 Composer Kenneth Leighton was commissioned by the Cathedral Organists Association to write a memorial work for Runnett his Second Evening Service Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis 3 Norwich Cathedral has a Runnett Library in Runnett s memory which contains all of his sheet music It was donated to the cathedral by Runnett s parents following his death St John s College Cambridge also has a Brian Runnett Memorial organ competition as well as trophies given out at the end of it References Edit a b c Taylor Stainton de B 1976 Two Centuries of Music in Liverpool A Scrap book of Information Concerning Musical Activities Both Professional and Amateur Liverpool Rockliff Brothers Limited p 61 ISBN 978 0950514307 Alleluia The Berkshire Boy Choir from the album back cover RCA Red Seal LSC 3081 Stereo 1969 Smith Carolyn J 2004 Kenneth Leighton A Bio bibliography Westport CT Praeger p 49 ISBN 978 0313073175 Preceded byHeathcote Dicken Statham Organist and Master of the Music Norwich Cathedral1967 1971 Succeeded byMichael Nicholas This biography article of a United Kingdom academic is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This article about a British classical musician is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This article on an organist is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brian Runnett amp oldid 1113366339, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
