Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1892

Death

:

1964

Period

:

Renaissance

Genre

:

Choral

 

T. Frederick H. Candlyn was a British composer, organist, and choir director who lived from 1892 to 1964. He was born in London and grew up in a musical family. His father was a church organist, and his mother was a singer. Candlyn showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at a young age. He later learned to play the organ and became a choirboy at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Candlyn's musical education continued at the Royal College of Music, where he studied composition with Charles Villiers Stanford and organ with Walter Parratt. He also studied conducting with Adrian Boult and Malcolm Sargent. After completing his studies, Candlyn worked as an organist and choir director at several churches in London. In 1921, Candlyn moved to the United States to become the organist and choir director at St. Thomas Church in New York City. He held this position for 43 years, until his retirement in 1964. During his time at St. Thomas Church, Candlyn became known for his skill as a choir director and his compositions for choir and organ. Candlyn's compositions include anthems, hymns, and organ music. His style is characterized by its simplicity and clarity, with a focus on melody and harmony. Many of his works are based on traditional hymn tunes, which he arranged for choir and organ. Candlyn also wrote original hymn tunes, which are still sung in churches today. One of Candlyn's most famous works is his setting of the hymn "All Glory, Laud, and Honor." This hymn is traditionally sung on Palm Sunday, and Candlyn's setting has become a staple of church music. Another well-known work is his anthem "O Lord, Increase Our Faith," which is often sung during Lent. Candlyn was also an advocate for the use of plainchant in church music. He believed that plainchant was an important part of the church's musical heritage and should be preserved and used in modern worship. He wrote several books on the subject, including "The Plainchant Tradition of Southwestern Germany" and "The Use of Plainchant in the Church." In addition to his work as a composer and choir director, Candlyn was also a respected music educator. He taught at the Juilliard School of Music and the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He also gave lectures and workshops on church music throughout the United States and Europe. Candlyn's contributions to church music were recognized with several honors and awards. He was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in 1920 and a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music in 1952. He also received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of the South in 1957. T. Frederick H. Candlyn died in 1964, at the age of 72. His legacy lives on through his compositions, which continue to be sung and played in churches around the world. His dedication to preserving and promoting the church's musical heritage has also had a lasting impact on the world of church music.

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