The British Musical Biography

[E] Thomas, William Edwin, organist and
composer, born at Oxford in 1867. Chorister
at Christ Church at age of seven, and pupil
of Dr. Corfe ; at the same time playing
(Gregorian) services at St. Nicholas' Chapel,
Oxford. Graduated Mus. Bac, 1888; Mus.
Doc, 1894, Oxford. While still a chorister
he was selected four successive years by Sir
F. Ouseley to sing at his Festivals, St.
Michael's, Tenbury. After acting as deputy
at St. Paul's, Oxford, for some time, he was
appointed to a church at Ellesboro', near
Tring ; but in a few moiiths he returned ta
Oxford as organist and choirmaster of St,
Mary and St. John, under Father Benson.
In 1886 he was appointed organist and music
master at All Saints', Bloxham, Banbury.
There he founded a Choral Society which did
good work. In 1894 he went to Bournemouth,,
obtaining the conductorship of the Boscombe
Philharmonic Society there, and in 1895 was
appointed to St. Clement's Church, which
posts he still holds. His conapositions com-
jjrise Psalm 71, for eight-part chorus and
orchestra (1893) ; Communion Service in F ;.
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in D ; A
prize madrigal (Brighton Philharmonic),
"And wilt thou weep?"; The School Song
of All Saints', Bloxham (words by J. H. T.
Goodwin, B.A.) ; serenade ; song, " The Holy
Child," etc.

entry id: 410-L-53