1861 - 1947 Person Name: W. Alcock Composer of "[We praise thee O God]" in The Church Service Book Walter Galpin Alcock United Kingdom 1861-1947. Born at Edenbridge, Kent, England, the son of the superintendent of the Metropolitan Police Orphanage at Fortescue, Twickenham. He was musically inclined. He won a scholarship to the National Training School for Music at age 15. There, he studied composition with Arthur Sullivan and organ with Sir John Stainer. After several brief posts at Holy Trinity Sloan Street and St Margaret’s Westminster, he was appointed Organ Professor at the Royal College of Music, London, in 1893. That year he married Naomi Blanche Lucas, and they had six daughters and a son: Naomi Judith, Dorothy Grace, Constance Marjorie, Ruth Blanche, Lucy Rachel, Kathleen Stainer, and Richard. In 1896 he was assistant organist of Westminster Abbey and concurrently organist and master of the children of the Chapel Royal (1902-1916). He became organist and Master of the Choristers of Salisbury Cathedral (1916-1947). He also oversaw a strictly faithful restoration of the famous Father Willis organ. He would not allow parts of the organ being refurbished to leave the cathedral, lest an unauthorized tonal alteration might be made without his approval, but he did work with the grandson of Father Willis, Henry Willis III, to modernize the organ’s action. Alcock had the distinction of playing at the coronation of three kings: Edward VII (1902); George V (1911); and George VI (1937). Between 1917-1924 he, with Harford Lloyd, juggled the post of Director of the Madrigal Society, assisting the ageing Sir Frederick Bridge, who had been appointed in 1888. Alcock was knighted in 1933 for services to music. He was a distinguished teacher, whose published material for organ students is still thought of value. He taught several notable pupils. He had the hobby of constructing a model railway at Salisbury on which choir boys could take rides. He was said to have all his musical talent and dexterity at the organ when age 80, that he had at age 50, and with greater maturity and mellowness. He died at age 85. His funeral service was at Salisbury Cathedral.
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