Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

February 9, 1867 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada

Death

:

May 7, 1934 in Cambridge, MA

Genre

:

Choral

 

Edward Woodall Naylor was a British composer, organist, and music educator who lived from 1867 to 1934. He was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, on March 16, 1867, to a family of musicians. His father, John Naylor, was a music teacher and organist, and his mother, Mary Woodall, was a singer. Naylor showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of six. Naylor's musical education continued at the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied composition with Charles Villiers Stanford and organ with Walter Parratt. He also studied with Hubert Parry and Frederick Bridge at the Royal College of Organists. Naylor was a talented student and won several prizes and scholarships during his time at these institutions. After completing his studies, Naylor began his career as a church musician. He served as organist and choirmaster at several churches in London, including St. Michael's, Cornhill, and St. Anne's, Soho. In 1898, he was appointed organist and choirmaster at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, a position he held for the rest of his life. He also served as a professor of music at the University of Cambridge from 1901 until his death. Naylor was a prolific composer, and his works include choral music, organ music, chamber music, and orchestral music. He was particularly known for his choral music, which was often inspired by his love of English poetry. Some of his most famous works include the anthem "Vox Dicentis: Clama" and the cantata "The Feast of Adonis." Naylor's music is characterized by its lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and use of modal scales. He was influenced by the English choral tradition, as well as by the music of J.S. Bach and the French organ school. His music is often described as being conservative in style, but it is also highly expressive and emotional. In addition to his work as a composer, Naylor was also a respected music educator. He was a founding member of the Cambridge University Musical Society and served as its president from 1919 to 1921. He also served as a member of the Royal College of Music's governing body and was a fellow of the Royal College of Organists. Naylor's contributions to music were recognized during his lifetime. He was awarded the Lambeth Doctorate of Music by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1928, and he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1933. He died on August 31, 1934, in Cambridge, England, at the age of 67. Today, Naylor's music continues to be performed and recorded. His choral music, in particular, remains popular with choirs around the world. His legacy as a composer and music educator is also remembered through the Edward Woodall Naylor Prize, which is awarded annually by the University of Cambridge to a student who has made a significant contribution to the musical life of the university.

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