George Ratcliffe Woodward
Encyclopedia
George Ratcliffe Woodward (27 December 1848 – 3 March 1934) was an Anglican priest who wrote mostly religious verse, both original and translated from ancient authors. The best-known of these were written to fit traditional melodies, mainly of the Renaissance
. He sometimes harmonised these melodies himself, but usually left this to his frequent collaborator, composer Charles Wood
.
Woodward was born at 26, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead
and educated in Elstree
, Hertfordshire
, then Harrow School
. In 1867 he won a Sayer Scholarship to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
, graduating in 1872, third class in the Classics Tripos.
On 21 December 1874 he was ordained deacon
by the Bishop of London, to serve as Assistant Curate at St Barnabas, Pimlico
. In Sept 1882 he moved to Little Walsingham
with Houghton St Giles’, in Norfolk
. Woodward played the ‘cello, and the euphonium
, sometimes in procession. Other hobbies included bellringing and beekeeping
and he also published and printed booklets of his own verse. In 1889 he married Alice Dorothy Lee Warner, at St Barnabas, Pimlico, having moved to Chelmondiston, near Ipswich, in 1888.
In 1893, Woodward published Carols for Christmas-Tide, Series II. His wife Alice died in October 1893, and was buried in Walsingham
. In 1894, Woodward published Carols for Easter and Ascension-tide, with one original composition: ‘This joyful Eastertide’. In 1894 Woodward resigned as Rector of Chelmondiston
, to return to St Barnabas’ Pimlico, as Assistant Priest and Precentor
.
Woodward helped create the St Barnabas Choral Society, and continued his interests in carols and plainsong
. In 1897 he published Hymns and Carols for Christmas-tide, and in 1898 produced Legends of the Saints, and then in 1902 and 1903 The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus and Poemata. In 1899 Woodward left St Barnabas to edit the Cowley Carol Book
.
In 1904 Songs of Syon
was published, and In 1910 Woodward’s edition of Piae Cantiones
, compiled for the Plainsong and Medieval Music Society. In 1917, he jointly wrote The Acathist Hymn of the Holy Orthodox Church in the Original Greek Text and done into English Verse. In 1920, collaborating with Charles Wood, An Italian Carol Book was published. In 1922, Hymns of the Greek Church.
In 1924, Woodward and Wood published A Cambridge Carol Book: Being Fifty-two Songs for Christmas, Easter and Other Seasons. It included "Ding Dong Merrily on High
" and "Past Three O'Clock
". The same year Woodward received an honorary Lambeth
Doctorate in Music. Woodward died at 48, West Hill, Highgate
on 3 March 1934. His interment was at Little Walsingham
, Norfolk
, on 8 March 1934, at 2 PM.
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
. He sometimes harmonised these melodies himself, but usually left this to his frequent collaborator, composer Charles Wood
Charles Wood
Charles Wood may refer to:*Charles Wood, 2nd Earl of Halifax , British politician and peer*Charles Wood, 3rd Earl of Halifax , British peer*Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax , English politician...
.
Woodward was born at 26, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
and educated in Elstree
Elstree
Elstree is a village in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire on the A5 road, about 10 miles north of London. In 2001, its population was 4,765, and forms part of the civil parish of Elstree and Borehamwood, originally known simply as Elstree....
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, then Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
. In 1867 he won a Sayer Scholarship to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college is often referred to simply as "Caius" , after its second founder, John Keys, who fashionably latinised the spelling of his name after studying in Italy.- Outline :Gonville and...
, graduating in 1872, third class in the Classics Tripos.
On 21 December 1874 he was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
by the Bishop of London, to serve as Assistant Curate at St Barnabas, Pimlico
Pimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
. In Sept 1882 he moved to Little Walsingham
Walsingham
Walsingham is a village in the English county of Norfolk. The village is famed for its religious shrines in honour of the Virgin Mary and as a major pilgrimage centre...
with Houghton St Giles’, in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. Woodward played the ‘cello, and the euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
, sometimes in procession. Other hobbies included bellringing and beekeeping
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is the maintenance of honey bee colonies, commonly in hives, by humans. A beekeeper keeps bees in order to collect honey and other products of the hive , to pollinate crops, or to produce bees for sale to other beekeepers...
and he also published and printed booklets of his own verse. In 1889 he married Alice Dorothy Lee Warner, at St Barnabas, Pimlico, having moved to Chelmondiston, near Ipswich, in 1888.
In 1893, Woodward published Carols for Christmas-Tide, Series II. His wife Alice died in October 1893, and was buried in Walsingham
Walsingham
Walsingham is a village in the English county of Norfolk. The village is famed for its religious shrines in honour of the Virgin Mary and as a major pilgrimage centre...
. In 1894, Woodward published Carols for Easter and Ascension-tide, with one original composition: ‘This joyful Eastertide’. In 1894 Woodward resigned as Rector of Chelmondiston
Chelmondiston
Chelmondiston is a small village and civil parish in Suffolk, England, on the south bank of the River Orwell, located five miles south-east of Ipswich. It was formerly known as Chelmington and was located in the old Hundred of Babergh.-Churches:...
, to return to St Barnabas’ Pimlico, as Assistant Priest and Precentor
Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
.
Woodward helped create the St Barnabas Choral Society, and continued his interests in carols and plainsong
Plainsong
Plainsong is a body of chants used in the liturgies of the Catholic Church. Though the Eastern Orthodox churches and the Catholic Church did not split until long after the origin of plainchant, Byzantine chants are generally not classified as plainsong.Plainsong is monophonic, consisting of a...
. In 1897 he published Hymns and Carols for Christmas-tide, and in 1898 produced Legends of the Saints, and then in 1902 and 1903 The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus and Poemata. In 1899 Woodward left St Barnabas to edit the Cowley Carol Book
Cowley Carol Book
The Cowley Carol Book, in two slender volumes, labelled First Series and Second Series, is a collection of carols "for Christmas, Easter and Ascensiontide"....
.
In 1904 Songs of Syon
Songs of Syon
Songs of Syon: A Collection of Hymns and Sacred Poems Mostly Translated from Ancient Greek, Latin and German Sources was produced by George Ratcliffe Woodward in 1904. In 1908 a new and enlarged edition was produced, with the title ‘'Songs of Syon: A Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs...
was published, and In 1910 Woodward’s edition of Piae Cantiones
Piae Cantiones
Piae Cantiones ecclesiasticae et scholasticae veterum episcoporum is a collection of late medieval Latin songs first published in 1582. It was compiled by Jacobus Finno or Jaakko Suomalainen , a clergyman who was headmaster of the cathedral school at Turku...
, compiled for the Plainsong and Medieval Music Society. In 1917, he jointly wrote The Acathist Hymn of the Holy Orthodox Church in the Original Greek Text and done into English Verse. In 1920, collaborating with Charles Wood, An Italian Carol Book was published. In 1922, Hymns of the Greek Church.
In 1924, Woodward and Wood published A Cambridge Carol Book: Being Fifty-two Songs for Christmas, Easter and Other Seasons. It included "Ding Dong Merrily on High
Ding Dong Merrily on High
"Ding Dong Merrily on High" is a Christmas carol. The tune first appeared as a secular dance tune known as "le branle de l'Official" in Orchésographie, a dance book written by Jehan Tabourot...
" and "Past Three O'Clock
Past Three O'Clock
"Past Three O'Clock" is a Christmas carol, loosely based on the traditional cry of the city night watchman:Numerous variations of the carol include an arrangement by William Llewellyn as a "quodlibet" for choir: London Waits .Recordings of the carol include those by the Choir of Clare College,...
". The same year Woodward received an honorary Lambeth
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
Doctorate in Music. Woodward died at 48, West Hill, Highgate
Highgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
on 3 March 1934. His interment was at Little Walsingham
Walsingham
Walsingham is a village in the English county of Norfolk. The village is famed for its religious shrines in honour of the Virgin Mary and as a major pilgrimage centre...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, on 8 March 1934, at 2 PM.
External links
- The Cambridge Carol-Book: Being Fifty-Two Songs for Easter, Christmas, and Other Seasons (with scans of original)