Edwin Stephenson (organist)

English church organist

Edwin Stephenson

Born| 1871 (1871)

Windermere, Cumbria, England

Died| 1922 (aged 50-51)
Nationality| English
Education| Royal College of Music
Occupation| church organist
Years active| 1888–1922
Known for| Tudor church music, organ compositions

Edwin Stephenson (1871–1922) was an English cathedral organist, who served in St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham.[1]

## Background

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He was born in Windermere, Cumbria in 1871. He was a pupil at the Royal College of Music.

His career started early when at the age of 14 he was appointed to Cartmel Priory as organist.[2]

He was a proponent of Tudor church music and he published the Lamentations of Robert Whyte (a former organist at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster).

At a time when many organ recitals favoured transcriptions of orchestral works, Stephenson eschewed them in favour of organ compositions. His recital programmes included the sonatas and larger chorale fantasias of Max Reger and the later symphonies of Charles Widor.

## Career

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Organist of:

* Cartmel Priory 1888–1891
* Holy Trinity Church, Sunningdale 1891–1901
* St Michael's Church, Brighton 1901–1905
* St Nicholas' Church, Brighton 1905–1906
* St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham 1906–1914
* St. Margaret's Church, Westminster 1914–1922

Cultural offices

Preceded by

Arthur Elmore

|  Organist and Master of the Choristers of St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham
1906–1914  | Succeeded by

William Frederick Dunnill

Preceded by

Reginald Goss-Custard

|  Organist of St. Margaret's Church, Westminster
1914–1922  | Succeeded by

Herbert Dawson

## References

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1. ^ The Succession of Organists. Watkins Shaw.
2. ^ Musical Times. Vol 63. 1 Nov 1922