Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow (22 August 18741 May 1946) was an English organist and composer in the Anglican church music tradition.

Life and career

Bairstow was born in Trinity Street, Huddersfield in 1874. His grandfather Oates Bairstow was founder of the eponymous clothing firm.

He studied the organ with John Farmer at Balliol College, Oxford, and while articled under Frederick Bridge of Westminster Abbey received tuition from Walter Alcock. He studied organ and theory at the University of Durham, receiving the Bachelor of Music in 1894, and the Doctor of Music in 1901.

After holding posts in London, Wigan and Leeds, he served as organist of York Minster from 1913 to his death, when he was succeeded by his former pupil Francis Jackson. Jackson went on to write a biography of Bairstow. He was knighted in 1932. His other pupils included Elsie Suddaby and Gerald Finzi. During his time in Wigan, he was publicly acclaimed by Hans Richter for his handling of chorus and orchestra. He was president of the ISM, the IAO (Incorporated Association of Organist) and the RCO at various times, he also served on the advisory board of the BBC in its early days. While in Leeds, he had the parish church organ rebuilt, to his wishes, by his friend Arthur Harrison.

He was held in high esteem by his pupils, according to Jackson, who considered his acceptation as chorister under Bairstow in 1929 'the most fortunate day of my musical life.' His praise of the maestro speaks of 'his ability to do supremely well at whatever he put his hand to... I never heard him play a wrong note.'

  • Save us, O Lord (1902)
  • Let all mortal flesh keep silence for unaccompanied choir (1906, published 1925)
  • Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in D (1906)
  • Legend for organ (1907)
  • Prelude in C for organ (1907)
  • Variations on an Original Theme for two pianos (1908)
  • If the Lord had not helped me (1910)
  • Prelude, Elegy and Toccata for organ (1911)
  • Sing ye to the Lord (1911)
  • Blessed city, Heavenly Salem (based on the plainsong "Urbs beata") (1914)
  • Lord, Thou hast been our refuge (1916)
  • Six Variations on an Original Theme for violin and piano (1916)
  • I sat down under his shadow (1925)
  • Jesu, the Very Thought of Thee (1925)
  • Let all mortal flesh keep silence (1925)
  • Jesu grant me this I pray (Orlando Gibbons, arr. Bairstow) (1929)
  • The King of love my shepherd is (1931)
  • Though I speak with the tongues of men (1934)
  • Organ Sonata in E♭ (1937)
  • The Prodigal Son for chorus and small orchestra (1939)
  • Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in G (1940)
  • The Lamentations of Jeremiah (1942)
  • Five Poems of the Spirit (1944)
  • 'Come, lovely Name'
  • 'O Lord, in me there lieth naught'
  • 'Praise'
  • 'Purse and Scrip'
  • 'L’Envoy'
  • Three Short Preludes for organ (published 1947)

Books

  • Handel’s Oratorio ‘The Messiah’: (OUP, Musical Pilgrim series, 1928)
  • Counterpoint and Harmony: MacMillan/Stainer & Bell, 1937, 1945 (2nd ed). Republished 2007 by the Bairstow Press, , .
  • The Evolution of Musical Form: OUP, 1943.
  • Singing Learned from Speech: A Primer for Teachers and Students (with Harry Plunket Greene): (Macmillan, 1945)

References