E. T. Cook
Encyclopedia
Edgar Thomas Cook CBE
D.Mus. (Cantuar) FRCO FRCM was an English organist
and composer
(18 March 1880 — 5 March 1953).
Edgar Cook was born in Worcester. He was sent to the Royal Grammar School Worcester
and began his career as a church organist in 1898. In 1904 he became assistant organist of Worcester Cathedral
under Sir Ivor Atkins
. He won an Organ Scholarship to The Queen's College, Oxford where he studied music and obtained his MMus. In 1909 he became organist of Southwark Cathedral
in which position he remained until his death in 1953. He was the cathedral's first organist.
He was one of the first organists to broadcast on radio and he became famous for his lunchtime concerts broadcast on the BBC
in the 1930s and 40s. He was awarded the prestigious Lambeth degree
of DMus (Cantuar) by the Archbishop of Canterbury
in 1936 and was created Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(CBE) in 1949. He composed choral and organ works including an Evening Service
in G. Amongst other honours he was a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, becoming vice-president, and Professor of Music and Fellow of the Royal College of Music.
He died in 1953 shortly before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
for which he was preparing his choristers.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
D.Mus. (Cantuar) FRCO FRCM was an English organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
(18 March 1880 — 5 March 1953).
Edgar Cook was born in Worcester. He was sent to the Royal Grammar School Worcester
Royal Grammar School Worcester
The Royal Grammar School Worcester is an independent coeducational school in Worcester, United Kingdom. Founded before 1291, it is one of the oldest British independent schools....
and began his career as a church organist in 1898. In 1904 he became assistant organist of Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
under Sir Ivor Atkins
Ivor Atkins
Sir Ivor Algernon Atkins was the choirmaster and organist at Worcester Cathedral for over 50 years . He is well known for editing Allegri's Miserere with the famous top-C part for the treble...
. He won an Organ Scholarship to The Queen's College, Oxford where he studied music and obtained his MMus. In 1909 he became organist of Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge....
in which position he remained until his death in 1953. He was the cathedral's first organist.
He was one of the first organists to broadcast on radio and he became famous for his lunchtime concerts broadcast on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in the 1930s and 40s. He was awarded the prestigious Lambeth degree
Lambeth degree
A Lambeth degree is an academic degree conferred by the Archbishop of Canterbury under the authority of the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533 as successor of the papal legate in England...
of DMus (Cantuar) by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
in 1936 and was created Commander of the Order of the British Empire
British honours system
The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories...
(CBE) in 1949. He composed choral and organ works including an Evening Service
Service (music)
In Anglican church music, a service is a musical setting of certain parts of the liturgy, generally for choir with or without organ accompaniment.-Morning Prayer:*Venite *Te Deum or Benedicite...
in G. Amongst other honours he was a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, becoming vice-president, and Professor of Music and Fellow of the Royal College of Music.
He died in 1953 shortly before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
for which he was preparing his choristers.