Leonard N. Fowles
Encyclopedia
Leonard Nowell Fowles was a British
organist
and choirmaster, classical music composer
, arranger, teacher, adjudicator and conductor, best remembered for his hymn
tunes "Golders Green" and "Phoenix".
, Hampshire, to Helen Nowell and Albert Godwin Fowles. His father, a native of the Isle of Wight
, was a highly regarded professor of music and a free church organist; his mother was born on Jersey
, the Channel Islands. His was a musical family. Fowles' paternal aunt, Miss Margaret Fowles, was organist and choir director at the important post of St. Michael’s Church, Hyde, the Isle of Wight, and thereafter served as the conductor of the Letchworth Orchestral Society, Letchworth Garden City. His younger brother Bernard Fowles was also a noted musician.
Fowles was raised in comfortable circumstances. Having mastered the keyboard and the violin
, at the age of fourteen Fowles went to study at the Brussels Conservatory. In 1887, he was awarded the Whitcomb Scholarship for solo violin at the Royal College of Music
. He studied at Oxford
in the years 1896-1899. In November 1899 Fowles became the youngest doctor of music in the United Kingdom.
. Fowles served as president of the Free Church Musician's Union in 1917, and as an examiner in the London College of Music
from 1908 through 1920.
In September 1899, Fowles was married to the former Ethel Hattie Phillips. He died in January 1939 and was buried January 24, 1939, in Twickenham Cemetery, Richmond, London, Section, G. Grave, 151 fourth row.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
organist
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 choirmaster, classical music composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, arranger, teacher, adjudicator and conductor, best remembered for his hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
tunes "Golders Green" and "Phoenix".
Early years and education
Fowles was born in December 1870, at Portsea Island near SouthseaSouthsea
Southsea is a seaside resort located in Portsmouth at the southern end of Portsea Island in the county of Hampshire in England. Southsea is within a mile of Portsmouth's city centre....
, Hampshire, to Helen Nowell and Albert Godwin Fowles. His father, a native of the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, was a highly regarded professor of music and a free church organist; his mother was born on Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
, the Channel Islands. His was a musical family. Fowles' paternal aunt, Miss Margaret Fowles, was organist and choir director at the important post of St. Michael’s Church, Hyde, the Isle of Wight, and thereafter served as the conductor of the Letchworth Orchestral Society, Letchworth Garden City. His younger brother Bernard Fowles was also a noted musician.
Fowles was raised in comfortable circumstances. Having mastered the keyboard and the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, at the age of fourteen Fowles went to study at the Brussels Conservatory. In 1887, he was awarded the Whitcomb Scholarship for solo violin at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
. He studied at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in the years 1896-1899. In November 1899 Fowles became the youngest doctor of music in the United Kingdom.
Musical career
In 1896 Fowles became the organist and choirmaster of St George’s Presbyterian Church of West Croydon, a post which he held until 1904 when he was invited to serve as the organist and choir director of the Presbyterian Church in St. John's Wood, LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Fowles served as president of the Free Church Musician's Union in 1917, and as an examiner in the London College of Music
London College of Music
The London College of Music is a music school which is part of the University of West London in England.The LCM was founded in 1887 and existed as an independent music conservatoire based at Great Marlborough Street in central London until 1991...
from 1908 through 1920.
In September 1899, Fowles was married to the former Ethel Hattie Phillips. He died in January 1939 and was buried January 24, 1939, in Twickenham Cemetery, Richmond, London, Section, G. Grave, 151 fourth row.
Selected works
- Phoenix (C.M.D.)
- Golders Green (10.10.10.10.)
- SonataSonataSonata , in music, literally means a piece played as opposed to a cantata , a piece sung. The term, being vague, naturally evolved through the history of music, designating a variety of forms prior to the Classical era...
in B flat for Pianoforte and Viola (No. 2) - "Calvary" (A Cantata)
- "A Short Litany of Intercession for our Soldiers and Sailors" with words by J. J. Priestley. Publisher: G. Schirmer (London). Published in 1915.
- College Minuet: (Madame de Beaufort)
- "Romany Rye" Copyright 1935