Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1811

Death

:

1890

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

Thomas Helmore was a prominent English composer, musicologist, and liturgist who lived during the 19th century. He was born on May 7, 1811, in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England, to a family of musicians. His father, also named Thomas Helmore, was a church organist and music teacher, and his mother, Mary, was a singer. From an early age, Helmore showed a keen interest in music and began studying the piano and organ under his father's tutelage. Helmore's musical education continued at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition and music theory. He also became interested in the study of liturgy and church music, and he began to research and collect ancient hymns and chants. In 1836, he was appointed as the organist and choirmaster at St. Mark's Church in North Audley Street, London, where he began to incorporate his knowledge of ancient music into the church's liturgy. One of Helmore's most significant contributions to the field of music was his work in reviving the ancient Gregorian chant. He believed that the chant was the purest form of church music and that it should be used in the liturgy. He spent many years researching and collecting ancient manuscripts of the chant, and he published several books on the subject, including "The Hymnal Noted" and "The Plainsong Psalter." In addition to his work on the Gregorian chant, Helmore also composed many original works of church music. His compositions were heavily influenced by the ancient music he had studied, and he often incorporated elements of the chant into his pieces. Some of his most famous works include "The Hymnal Noted," "The Plainsong Psalter," and "The Canticles Noted." Helmore's work as a musicologist and liturgist was highly respected during his lifetime, and he was often called upon to advise on matters of church music. He was a member of the Royal Society of Musicians and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Oxford in 1872. He continued to compose and publish music until his death on July 6, 1890, in London. In conclusion, Thomas Helmore was a highly influential figure in the field of church music during the 19th century. His work in reviving the ancient Gregorian chant and incorporating it into the liturgy had a significant impact on the way church music was performed and appreciated. His compositions, which were heavily influenced by his research into ancient music, continue to be performed and studied today. Helmore's legacy as a composer, musicologist, and liturgist is a testament to his dedication to the preservation and advancement of church music.

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