- Roberts, John Varley
[E] Roberts, John Varley, organist and
composer, born at Stanningley, near Leeds,
September 25, 1841. His musical talent was
developed at an early age, and when twelve
he was appointed organist of St. John's, Fars-
ley, near Leeds ; in 1862 he was organist at
St. Bartholomew's, Armley, and in 1868 or-
ganist and choirmaster of Halifax Parish
Church. Graduated Mus. Bac. 1871, Mus.
Doc. 1876, Oxford; P. CO., 1876. In 1882
he was appointed to Magdalen College,
Oxford, as organist and magister choristarum,
also holding office, 1885-93, at St. Giles'
Church, Oxford. Conductor of the Oxford
Choral and Philharmonic Society, 1885-93 ;
Madrigal Society of Magdalen College ; and
of the Magdalen Vagabonds. Lecturer in
harmony and counterpoint for the Oxford
Professor of Music ; Examiner for Musical
Degrees, 1883-86-89-90. He has given many
high-class concerts at Oxford.[W] Works. — Jonah, sacred cantata, 1876, per-
formed at Oxford and many other places ;
Psalm 103, for chorus and orchestra ; A full
Morning, Communion, and Evening Service
in D ; Pull Communion Service in D ; Mag-
nificat and Nunc Dimittis in C, composed
for the Festival of the Loudon Church Choir
Association, St. Paul's Cathedral, 1894 ;
Evening Services in F, E, and G ; Four
settings of the Benedictus; The Lord's
Prayer and Apostles' Creed in harmonised
monotone ; Benedicite, Omnia Opera, etc.
Anthewis : Lord, we pray Thee ; Seek ye the
Lord ; Lord, who shall dwell ; Peace I leave
with you ; I will sing unto the I ord, com-
posed for the Jubilee Service in Magdalen
Chapel, 1887 ; The whole earth is at rest ;
and others. Part Sonys : Cupid once upon
a bed of roses ; Come, my dear one ; The
shades of night ; A red, red rose. Songs :
The old Parish Church ; The Far-off Land ;
Happy Moments ; My World ; INIaiden with
the merry eye ; A Farewell, etc. Andante
in G, Postlude in F, Larghetto and Allegro
in F, and other pieces for organ. Editor of
The Parish Church Chant Book, Novello ;
Supplement to Cheetham's Psalmody ; The
Victoria Book of Hymns.entry id: 348-L-5
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