Born: March 28, 1883 - London (or Fulham), England
Died: September 6, 1973 - Petersfield, England

The English organist, choir-master and composer, William Henry Harris, studied at the New College Oxford, and the Royal College of Music in London.

William Henry Harris served as organist successively at St Augustine's Church in Edgbaston, the New Colege in Oxford (1919-1928), the Christ Church Catholic in Oxford (1928-1933), the St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle (1933-1961). He was conductor of the Oxford Bach Choir from 1926 to 1933, Director of the Balliot Concerts from 1925 to 1933, and Conductor of the Windsor and Eton Choral Society from 1944 to 1949. He was affectionately nicknamed 'Doc H' by his choristers. He taught at the the Royal College of Music in London from 1923 to 1953.

William Henry Harris is best remembered for his Anglican church music. His most famous works are the anthems Faire is the Heaven (1925) and to a lesser extent Bring Us, O Lord God (1959), both for unaccompanied double choir. His very accessible Communion Service in F was frequently sung in a great many Anglican parish churches up until the 1970's. Harris in A and Harris in A minor are still sung at Evensong in a number of Anglican cathedrals. He also composed cantatas and organ pieces, as well as the hymn tune Alberta (often used for the words Lead, Kindly Light). Other works: The Hound of Heaven, for solo, chorus & orchestra (Carnegie Award); Michael Angelo's Confession of Faith, for solo, chorus & orchestra; Psalm 103, for double choir; various Organ & Choral Works.

Source: International Who's Who in Music & International Directory (6^th Edition, 1972); Wikipedia Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (June 2007)

Bach-W.H. Harris: William Henry Harris | Works | Recordings

Links to other Sites

William Henry Harris (Wikipedia)

William Henry Harris Biography (Naxos)

Bibliography