Horace Hawkins (musician)
Encyclopedia
Horace Hawkins was appointed as organist
and Master of the Choristers after Harvey Grace
had left Chichester Cathedral
. The Cathedral Chapter tried to entice the noted musical educator Geoffrey Shaw into the organist's seat, but it was not to be; after a long interregnum, they appointed Hawkins on his retirement from Hurstpierpoint College
, where he had been organist for 22 years.
Hawkins had been a chorister at King Charles the Martyr Church, Tunbridge Wells, and articled to W. H. Sangster at St. Saviour's, Eastbourne
. He was for a time, assistant organist at Winchester Cathedral
; eight years at St Andrew's Church, Worthing
, were followed by a spell in Paris
. Hawkins studied with the Solesmes monks and took lessons with Widor (whose Ave verum, still sung by the Cathedral Choir, is dedicated to Hawkins), as well as being organist of St. George's Anglican Church.
Hawkins totally encompassed the French
symphonic style of organ-playing and was noted for his improvisation
and liturgical use of the organ
. His compositions
, which were never published, include a setting of the Te Deum
for massed men's voices, four-part choir, brass
and organ.
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and Master of the Choristers after Harvey Grace
Harvey Grace
Harvey Grace was an English organist and music writer. He was a chorister at Romsey Abbey, studied under Madeley Richardson at Southwark Cathedral, and became Organist of St. Mary Magdelene, Munster Square, London...
had left Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, otherwise called Chichester Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in Sussex, England...
. The Cathedral Chapter tried to entice the noted musical educator Geoffrey Shaw into the organist's seat, but it was not to be; after a long interregnum, they appointed Hawkins on his retirement from Hurstpierpoint College
Hurstpierpoint College
Hurstpierpoint College is an independent, co-educational, day and boarding school for pupils aged 4–18, located just to the north of the village of Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex in the lee of the South Downs...
, where he had been organist for 22 years.
Hawkins had been a chorister at King Charles the Martyr Church, Tunbridge Wells, and articled to W. H. Sangster at St. Saviour's, Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
. He was for a time, assistant organist at Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
; eight years at St Andrew's Church, Worthing
St Andrew's Church, Worthing
St Andrew's Church is an Anglican church in Worthing, West Sussex, England. Built between 1885 and 1886 in the Early English Gothic style by Sir Arthur Blomfield, "one of the last great Gothic revivalists", the church was embroiled in controversy as soon as it was founded...
, were followed by a spell in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Hawkins studied with the Solesmes monks and took lessons with Widor (whose Ave verum, still sung by the Cathedral Choir, is dedicated to Hawkins), as well as being organist of St. George's Anglican Church.
Hawkins totally encompassed the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
symphonic style of organ-playing and was noted for his improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
and liturgical use of the organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
. His compositions
Compositions
Compositions is the fourth album by the American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker. The album peaked at #5 on Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in 1990, making it Baker's third platinum selling album...
, which were never published, include a setting of the Te Deum
Te Deum
The Te Deum is an early Christian hymn of praise. The title is taken from its opening Latin words, Te Deum laudamus, rendered literally as "Thee, O God, we praise"....
for massed men's voices, four-part choir, brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
and organ.