Richard Davidge Limpus (10 September 1824 – 15 March 1875) was a British organist and composer, who is best known for being the founder of the Royal College of Organists.

Background

Richard Limpus was the son of Richard Limpus, organist of Isleworth Old Church, who died on 1 November 1868. He was a pupil of Samuel Sebastian Wesley. He was briefly appointed as organist of

St Andrew Undershaft St Andrew Undershaft is a Church of England church in the City of London, the historic nucleus and modern financial centre of London. It is located on St Mary Axe, within the Aldgate ward, and is a rare example of a City church that survived both ...

in 1847, resigning on his appointment as organist to the

Philanthropic Society Catch22 is a social business, a not for profit business with a social mission which operates in the United Kingdom (England and Wales). Catch22 can trace its roots back 229 years, to the formation of The Philanthropic Society in 1788. Catch22 desi ...

. Two years later he was appointed to

St Michael, Cornhill St Michael, Cornhill, is a medieval parish church in the City of London with pre-Norman Conquest parochial foundation. It lies in the ward of Cornhill. The medieval structure was lost in the Great Fire of London, and replaced by the present bui ...

, where he remained for the rest of his life. He founded the College of Organists in 1864, later to become the Royal College of Organists. He was secretary to the College of Organists from 1864 to 1875.

Compositions

He was a composer of songs and piano music.

Piano music

*La Belle Eliphalette, mazourka *The Rosa Polka *The British Court Quadrilles

Songs

*The Christmas holly *Speak gently *Sweet Evening Breeze, etc. Four-part song *To ev'ry lovely Lady bright. Four-part song *A Welcome to the Ivy, written by L. E. L

Ballads

*The Falling Dew-drop *Her cheek was pale *Oh! Lady, strike the Harp once more *Violet Time. (begins: "I saw her") *The Bride is away

Religious Music

*The

Nicene Creed The original Nicene Creed (; grc-gre, Σύμβολον τῆς Νικαίας; la, Symbolum Nicaenum) was first adopted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325. In 381, it was amended at the First Council of Constantinople. The amended form is a ...

set to music in G major.

Family

He married in 1848. His wife, who died, London, January 29, 1889, was a concert vocalist. His brother, the Rev. P. Henry Limpus, was some time minor canon of St. George's Chapel, Windsor, and composer of an oratorio, " The Prodigal Son," London, May 10, 1870 ; Songs, etc. He died in 1893. Limpus died at Queen Square,

Bloomsbury Bloomsbury is a district in the West End of London. It is considered a fashionable residential area, and is the location of numerous cultural, intellectual, and educational institutions. Bloomsbury is home of the British Museum, the largest mus ...

, on 15 March 1875 and was buried at West Norwood Cemetery.

Career

There was an incident during his career at St Michael, Cornhill as he was forced to appear at the Mayor's Court, Guildhall concerning non payment of a choir salary as compensation for unfair dismissal. This appeared to stem from an incident where many choir members were dismissed on Christmas Eve 1865Musical Standard, No 87, Vol IV, 30 December 1865 for their inability to attend at a day's notice, a Saturday morning service.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Limpus, Richard 1824 births 1875 deaths English classical organists English classical composers Burials at West Norwood Cemetery 19th-century British composers 19th-century English musicians 19th-century British male musicians 19th-century organists