The British Musical Biography

[E] Short, Joseph, composer and organist,
born at Caldmore, Walsall, Staffordshire,
May 22, 1831. Received his early training
in the local Roman Catholic Church choir.
and became acquainted with much of the
finest ecclesiastical music. Self-instructed in
harmony and composition. Appointed or-
ganist of the Roman Catholic Church at
Wednesbury in 1853, and later of St. Mary's,
Walsall, where he began to produce the
masses of the great composers with full
orchestra. He went to Birmingham in 1801,
and, having a good bass voice, was appointed
cantor of St. Chad's Roman Catholic Cathe-
dral, moving in 1867 to St. Joseph's, Nechells.
About this time he published a " Salve
Regina," which became popular. In October,
1872, he accepted the office of choir-master
at St. Michael's, Moor Street, Birmingham,
which he still holds, and has made famous
by the production of great works. He con-
ducted a performance in this church of
Schubert's Mass in F, in 1873, and gave the
same at a concert in the Masonic Hall, Bir-
mingham, September 7, 1875, with full or-
chestra, being the first performances of the
mass in England. For some years he gave
concerts in the Birmingham Town Hall. He
was chosen as the English representative to
give information to the Sacred Congregation
of Rites in the revision of the Liturgical rules
for the guidance of composers of Roman
Catholic Church music, a great mark of dis-
tinction. His devotion to music has been
his recreation, he being occupied in business
as a merchant.

[W] Works. — Masses : St. Joseph (dedicated to
Cardinal Newman), produced Birmingham
Town Hall, December 9, 1880; St. George,
1880, both for soli, chorus, organ and or-
chestra. Offer to?nums : Ave Maria; Beata
es Virgo Maria ; Benedic Anima Mea Domino ;
Benedicite Dominum ; Deus Israel, quartet
and chorus ; De Profundis, baritone solo,
with strings ; Adoramus Te, for strings.
Marche Cardinale, for orchestra. In MS.
two masses; a cantata, The Nativity; motets,
etc.

entry id: 372-L-60