Role

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Composer

Genre

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Choral

 

Percy Dearmer was a British composer, musicologist, and Anglican priest who made significant contributions to the field of church music. He was born on February 27, 1867, in Kilburn, London, to a family of musicians. His father, Thomas Dearmer, was a music teacher and organist, and his mother, Mary Dearmer, was a singer and pianist. Percy showed an early interest in music and began studying the piano and organ at a young age. Dearmer attended Oxford University, where he studied theology and music. He was a member of the Oxford University Musical Club and played the organ at various churches in the area. After graduating, he was ordained as an Anglican priest and served as a curate in several parishes in London. In 1906, Dearmer published a book called "The Parson's Handbook," which became a standard reference for Anglican liturgy and church music. The book included instructions for conducting services, selecting hymns, and organizing choirs. It also advocated for a return to traditional forms of worship and music, which had been largely abandoned in the Victorian era. Dearmer's interest in traditional church music led him to collaborate with Ralph Vaughan Williams and Martin Shaw on a project to collect and publish English folk songs. The resulting collection, called "The English Hymnal," was published in 1906 and included many traditional hymns and carols that had fallen out of use. The book was a critical and commercial success and helped to revive interest in traditional church music. Dearmer continued to write and publish music throughout his career. He composed several hymns and anthems, including "Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord" and "O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing." He also wrote several books on music and liturgy, including "Songs of Praise Discussed" and "The Oxford Book of Carols." Dearmer's contributions to church music were recognized with several honors and awards. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal College of Music in 1921 and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree by the University of Durham in 1930. He was also a member of the Royal School of Church Music and served as its president from 1936 to 1947. Dearmer died on May 29, 1936, in London, at the age of 69. His legacy lives on through his music and writings, which continue to inspire and influence musicians and church leaders around the world.

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