Directory of Past Classical Organists

Biography

When the Grand Commemoration of Handel, which took place in May, 1784, was in contemplation, two very pompous gentlemen, Dr. Hayes of Oxford and Dr. Miller of Doncaster, came to Town to give their gratuitous assistance as conductors by beating time.
After several meetings and some bickering's, it was at length agreed that Dr. Hayes should conduct the first act, and Dr. Miller the second. When the time of performance had arrived, and Mr. Cramer, the leader, had just tapt his bow, (the signal for being ready,) and looked round to catch the eyes of the performers, he saw to his astonishment a till gigantic figure with an immense powdered toupee, full dressed, with a bag and sword, and a huge roll of parchment in his hand.
'Who is that gentleman?' said Mr. Cramer. Dr. Hayes,' was the reply. 'What is he going to do?' 'To beat time.' 'Be so kind,' said Mr. Cramer, 'to tell the gentleman, that when he has sat down I will begin.' The Doctor, who never anticipated such a set down as this, took his seat, and Mr. Cramer did begin.

Mus. Bac. Philip Hayes, of Magd. Coll., son of William Hayes, was Organist of Ch. Ch. from 1763 to 1765 ; Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, 1767: Organist of New College, in succession to Richard Church, 1776, and Magdalen, 1777, in which year he succeeded his father as Professor of Music and proceeded Mus. Doc. He became Organist of St. John's College in 1790, in succession to Thomas Norris, and died in London suddenly in 1797, and was buried at St. Paul's. He was extremely corpulent, and was supposed to be the largest man in England. Among his compositions are six Concertos for organ, harpsichord, or pianoforte, 1769; eight Anthems, 1780; "Prophecy," an Oratorio, performed at Oxford, 1781; catches, glees, canons, 1785; an "Ode," performed at Cambridge, 1785; catches and glees, 1789; "Ode for St. Cecilia's Day," by John Oldham; "Telemacbus," a masque, and a number of single anthems, songs, and glees.

On Sunday morning died, aged 70, at Oxford, Dr. William Hayes, Organist of Magdalen College, and Professor of Music in that University.
He had the degree of Doctor of Music conferred upon him in the Theatre, at the opening of the Radcliffe Library in April 1749.
A man whose Memory will be dear to Society as long as the Voice of Harmony and the Praises of Christian Virtues are heard in the World

The following amusing anecdote concerning Thomas Haylett is related by his successor at Chester Cathedral, Dr. J. C. Bridge :-
"One day Haylett, according to custom, had been teaching in Warrington, whence he duly returned in the evening to Chester. Upon opening the door of the coach he discovered the huge figure of a man stretched across two seats. As the occupant seemed disinclined to move his portly figure, Haylett reminded him that the coach was constructed to hold more than one passenger. The traveller then removed his feet, but uttered not a word. Haylett thereupon remarked that it was 'a fine night.' Silence greeted even this meteorological utterance. Similar observations were treated in like manner, with the result that Haylett held his peace, but only till Chester-the destination of the pair-was reached. Addressing his fellow-traveller for the last time, Haylett said to him, 'I think it right to inform you, sir, that you are a d--d disagreeable fellow.' This anathema caused the silent one to remove his muffler and thus unmask his features. The process revealed to Haylett's astonished gaze the face of Canon Slade, one of the Cathedral dignitaries, who was on his way to take up residence. The Canon, however, treated the matter very good-humouredly and often reminded Haylett of the joke."

We have to announce, with great regret, the death, after a long illness, of the Rev. Leighton George Hayne, Mus. Doc, Rector of Mistley-cum-Bradfield, and for many years Coryphæus of the University of Oxford.
Dr. Hayne was highly distinguished as a musician, both as an organist and a composer- and he was Suecentor of Eton College from 1867-1871. He then succeeded his father the late Rev. R. J. Hayne, D.D., as Rector of Mistley and Bradfield, and devoted himself with untiring zeal to the duties of a country Clergyman.
He was very munificent in his gifts to both his parishes. To Bradfield he gave a very fine and mellifluous organ, as a memorial of his father ; a spacious Vestry attached to the parish Church ; and just previously to his last illness, he had erected, at his own cost, a large parish room for the purpose of parochial gatherings.
To the parish Church of St. Mary's, Mistley, be presented one of the largest and finest organs in the County. Scarcely could he have left a more fitting memorial of his genius as a musician, and his devotion as a Clergyman.
He has died at the comparatively early age of 47, and leaves a widow and an only son to lament most of all his loss.

Dr. Edward John Hopkins, who has died at the age of eighty-three, had lived in the reigns of five British sovereigns. So long ago as the year 1826 he was a chorister of the Chapel Royal, and he got his first post as organist in a London just at the beginning of the Victorian Reign. This was at St. Peter's Islington, whence he went in 1841, to St Luke's, Berwick Street.
In 1843 he began that long connection, as organist, with the Temple Church which ended only in 1898. During that period of over half a century Dr. Hopkins made the Temple Church the haunt of lovers of English music, and was himself the composer of a number of well-known anthems and hymn-tunes.
Mendelssohn was the only foreign master under whose influence he allowed himself to come; and he was the first to play the famous "Wedding MArch" as an organ voluntary.

We regret to have announce the death of Dr. John Larkin Hopkins, which took place Ventnor, in the Isle Wight, on Friday evening, the 25th of April.
Dr. J. L. Hopkins was born in 1820, and was in his fifty-third year at the time his decease.
His father held the position of first clarinet player in this country, and the musician whose death we deplore was himself a performer of no mean excellence on the flute.
John Larkin Hopkins was educated for some years as a chorister at Westminster Abbey, and became the organist Rochester Cathedral in remaining there for several years.
He afterwards succeeded Dr. Walmisley as organist of Trinity College, Cambridge, which position he held at the time of his decease.
The author of great number of chants and services for the church, and some excellent glees and part music, was widely known and esteemed, and personal knowledge of the man served to deepen the respect enforced by his compositions.

He bequeathed his full scores of works by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Spohr, Weber and Gounod to his nephews A. C. Keeton and H. K. Hardwick. £100 a year and the household effects to his wife; and the residue in trust for his wife and daughter

I am informed that the donations to the Memorial to Dr. Charles Harford Lloyd, M..A., Mus.Doc., organist of Gloucester Cathedral from 1876 to 1882 amount to £401, and after defraying the cost of the window- £94-there is a balance of £311, which will, be invested by trustees to found the Lloyd Musical Scholarship for old Gloucester Cathedral Choristers who intend adopting music as a profession.
The window, which has been placed in his Lady Chapel of the Cathedral, faces that of Dr. Lloyd's predecessor. Dr. S. S. Wesley. There are two lights; above, the figure of St. Gregory teaching a choir, and in the background s lectern with a book of Gregorian music open upon it. In the lower light the central figure is Jubal, father of ' all such as handle the harp and the organ." The figure of Jubal himself is adapted from one on the base of Giotto's Tower at Florence, where the fathers of all the arts are expressed in sculpture.
The window will be unveiled by Sir Henry Hadow Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield University on Tuesday next, at 3 p.m., when all subscribers to the Fund are invited to be present.
With regard to the balance of £300 odd to be invested to found a Lloyd Memorial Scholarship, Dr. Brewer is anxious by this means to found a school for Church musicians, and it is. hoped that many more such scholarships will eventually be added. There is no better nursery than a Cathedral Choir to shape the mind of young musicians. Dr. Brewers idea for the foundation of such a school is quite a new one in connection with Cathedral life in this. country.
The music for the Unveiling Service on Tuesday is all by Charles Harford Lloyd, and an address on Music will be given by Sir Henry Hadow.