Back to Top ▲

Directory of Past Classical Organists

Extract from Cathedral Organists Past and Present
By John E. West
Published in 1921
Additional information from the British Newspaper Archive.

This page is still a work in progress
For information on the Graphic Icons used on this site click here


Robert Stewart	16^th Dec 1825 - 24^th Mar 1894
Sir Robert Presscott Stewart was born in Dublin, December 16^th 1825. He was a Chorister in Christ Church Cathedral. Organist of Christ Church Cathedral and Trinity College Chapel, 1844. Organist of St. Patrick's Cathedral, 1852. Resigned the post of Organist, St. Patrick's Cathedral, 1861, in order to obtain a Vicar Choralship there, but the latter office was divided, and he only succeeded to one half. He still, however, played the Sunday afternoon services, by arrangement with his successor, Mr. Murphy, who on these occasions sang for Sir Robert in the choir. Half Vicar Choral of St. Patrick's Cathedral, 1861. Professor of Music in Dublin University, 1862 Knighted 1872. Died in Dublin, Easter Eve, March 24, 1894. Composer of Odes, Cantatas, Church Music, Organ pieces, Songs, Glees, Etc. Editor of and lecturer on music. Organist of Christ Church , Dublin	Robert Stewart	Wikipedia page Biographical Dictionary of the Organ Composers of Classical Music Web Site

John Tomkins
Organist of Kings College, Cambridge 1606 - 1619 (21?) St Paul's Cathedral, London 1622 - 1638		Wikipedia page Biographical Dictionary of the Organ Composers of Classical Music Web Site

James Turle	5^th Mar 1802 - 28^th Jun 1882
James Turle was born at Taunton, March 5, 1802. Chorister in Wells Cathedral. Pupil of J. J. Goss and G. E. Williams. Appointed Deputy-Organist at Westminster Abbey, 1819. Music Master to the School for the Indigent Blind, 1829. Succeeded Greatorex Thomas Greatorex 1758 - 18^th Jul 1831 as Organist of Westminster Abbey, 1831. Retired from active duties of the post. 1875. Died in London, June 28, 1882. Buried in Norwood Cemetery. Composer of Church Music, Glees, Etc. Joint-Author, with E. Taylor, of "The Art of Singing at Sight. " Editor of Willbye's First Set of Madrigals; Single and Double Chants, composed for the use of the Choral Service of Westminster Abbey. Joint Editor, with Dr. J. F. (now Sir Frederick) Bridge Sir Frederick Bridge 5^th Dec 1844 – 18^th Mar 1924 , of the Westminster Abbey Chant Book, Etc. Compiler of Hymn and Chant Books, Etc. On the day of Tune's retirement, September 19, 1875, his Service in D was sung at Westminster Abbey. There is a memorial tablet to him in the West Cloister, and a window in the North Aisle of the Choir. Organist of Christ Church, Southwark, 1819; St. James's, Bermondsey, 1829. Magdalen College, Oxford 1831 - 1882		Wikipedia page Biographical Dictionary of the Organ Dictionary of National Biography Composers of Classical Music Web Site Biographical Dictionary of the Organ

George Waterhouse	- Feb 1602
Organist of Lincoln Cathedral ? - ? Chapel Royal, London 1588 - 1602		Biographical Dictionary of the Organ