The British Musical Biography

[E] Edwards, Henry John, organist, pianist,
and composer, born at Barnstaple, Devon,
February 24, 1854. Studied at first under his
father (noticed below), and later in London,
under Sterndale Bennett, G. A. INIacfarren,
H. C. Banister, and George Cooper. Gradu-
ated Mus.Bac, 1876; Mus. Doc, 1885, Oxford.
Returning to BarnstajDle, he succeeded his
father as organist of the parish church, and,
in 1886, as conductor of the Easter Musical
Festival Society. In 1896, he was appointed
conductor of the Exeter Oratorio Society. As
a pianist he has appeared at the most im-
portant concerts in his county.

[+] Wt)RKs.— Psalm 145 (Exercise for Mus.
Bac), produced in Barnstaple; Oratorio, The
Ascension (Exercise for Mus. Doc), performed
at the Western Counties' Festival, Exeter,
April 12, 1888 ; Motet, Praise to the Holiest
(from Cardinal Newman's Dream of Geron-
tius), produced at the Hereford Festival,
1891 ; Cantata, the Epiphany, Barnstaple,
1891. Two oratorios in MS. Church service ;
Anthems ; Songs ; Devonia, The Vigil, The
beautiful City, and others; Part-songs, etc.
Triumphal March, orchestra and military
band, performed at the promenade concerts,
Covent Garden, 1883 ; pieces for pf., etc.

[+] His father, John Edwards, was born at
Crediton, Devon, in 1808. Studied under
Moxen, of Exeter, and about 1833 removed
to Barnstaple. He was connected with the
parish church for half a century, first as as-
sistant to Huxtable the organist, then as
organist and choirmaster ; the latter office
being held until about 1886. He founded the
Choral Society, first known as the Barnstaple
Philharmonic Society, and still in existence
under the title in the preceding notice. He
was also a violinist, and for years was the
leading professor of music in the district.
His compositions were mostly for the Church,
consisting of services, anthems, hymn-tunes,
and chants. He died at Barnstaple, in April,
1894.

entry id: 135-R-26