Sydney Watson (3 September 1903 – 17 February 1991) was an English church musician who was the organist of

Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Christ Church Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of England in Oxford, England. It is the seat of the bishop of Oxford and the principal church of the diocese of Oxford. It is also the chapel of Christ Church, Oxford, Christ Church, a colle ...

and conductor of the Oxford Bach Choir from 1955 to 1970. Sydney Watson OBE 1982

Biography

Watson was born in Denton, Lancashire. He attended

Warwick School Warwick School is a British Public school (United Kingdom), public school (independent school (UK), independent boarding school, boarding and Day school, day school) for boys, in the market town of Warwick, in Warwickshire, England. Known as ...

, before studying at the

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music (RCM) is a conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the undergraduate to the doctoral level in all aspects of Western Music including pe ...

(RCM) and

Keble College, Oxford Keble College () is one of the Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, University Museum a ...

, graduating with a BA in 1925, a B.Mus in 1926, an MA in 1928, and a D.Mus in 1932. He then took up a position at

Stowe School The Stowe School is a public school (English private boarding school) for pupils aged 13–18 in the countryside of Stowe, England. It was opened on 11 May, 1923 at Stowe House, a Grade I Heritage Estate belonging to the British Crown. ...

, Buckingham, followed by appointments as music master at

Radley College Radley College, formally St Peter's College, Radley or the College of St. Peter at Radley, is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (independent boarding school) for boys near the village of Radley, in Oxfordshire, in the United Kingd ...

, Oxfordshire, organist at

New College, Oxford New College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by Bishop William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as New College's feeder school, New College was one of the first col ...

, from 1933 to 1938, and musical director at

Winchester College Winchester College is an English Public school (United Kingdom), public school (a long-established fee-charging boarding school for pupils aged 13–18) with some provision for day school, day attendees, in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It wa ...

, from 1938 until 1945. He moved to become precentor at

Eton College Eton College ( ) is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school providing boarding school, boarding education for boys aged 13–18, in the small town of Eton, Berkshire, Eton, in Berkshire, in the United Kingdom. It has educated Prime Mini ...

, leaving in 1955 to take up a post as music lecturer at

Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church (, the temple or house, ''wikt:aedes, ædes'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by Henry V ...

, and organist of

—posts he held until 1970. He was professor of organ at the RCM from 1946 to 1971, and conducted the Oxford Bach Choir between 1955 and 1970. In 1965 he conducted the first performance of Walton's ''The Twelve'', and in 1967 directed what was probably the first liturgical performance of Taverner's ''Missa Corona Spinea'' for 400 years. He composed an evening service, ''Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in E'', which is regularly sung in the evening liturgy of the Anglican Church, and while at Winchester composed the hymn tune "Morestead". The tune Guarda he contributed to 'More Hymns for Today' for the hymn 'Lord of all, to whom alone' written by Cyril Alington. He was appointed an OBE in 1970 for his services to music. A private and undated recording exists of Sydney Watson conducting Sir Arnold Bax' ''Concertante for Piano (Left Hand) and Orchestra'' with Douglas Fox as soloist and an orchestra called the Oxford Orchestral Society.

References

Academics of the Royal College of Music Alumni of Keble College, Oxford Alumni of the Royal College of Music English classical organists Fellows of Christ Church, Oxford Officers of the Order of the British Empire Organists of New College, Oxford Organists of Christ Church, Oxford 1903 births 1991 deaths 20th-century English classical musicians 20th-century English organists 20th-century English male musicians English male classical organists Teachers at Radley College {{organist-stub