Paul Edwards (composer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Christison Edwards (born 19 March 1955) is an English
organist
and composer
of music for the Anglican Church.
. He was a chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral for four and a half years and then spent an equal amount of time as lay clerk
at Peterborough Cathedral
. He has served as organist and choir master at several churches in Bedfordshire
, including All Saints, Turvey and St. Paul's Church, Bedford
. He is also active as a teacher, piano accompanist and choral singer.
Edwards has made a series of recordings of the historic organs of North Bedfordshire. He has transcribed and edited ten volumes of 18th century English Organ Music published by ANIMUS. The opus numbers of his compositions rise to almost 450. They include about 150 hymn tunes and a large number of anthem
s. Many of these works have been published in collections including Hymns for Today’s Church, Psalms for Today and Carols for Today. His carol No Small Wonder, written in 1983 to words by Paul Wigmore, first appeared in Carols for Today in 1986 and was recorded on LP by Canterbury Cathedral
Choir and subsequently heard in the famous Nine Lessons and Carols
service broadcast on the BBC Television
by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge
in 2000. His music has been recorded on several CDs.
Edwards finds inspiration for his compositions in the English countryside, in particular that of Norfolk
He also enjoys driving and photographing bus
ses and coach
es.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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...
of music for the Anglican Church.
Biography
Paul Edwards was brought up in the village of Turvey in BedfordshireBedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. He was a chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral for four and a half years and then spent an equal amount of time as lay clerk
Lay clerk
A lay clerk, also known as a lay vicar, song man or a vicar choral, is a professional adult singer in a Cathedral or collegiate choir in the United Kingdom. The Vicars Choral were substitutes for the Canons...
at Peterborough Cathedral
Peterborough Cathedral
Peterborough Cathedral, properly the Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew – also known as Saint Peter's Cathedral in the United Kingdom – is the seat of the Bishop of Peterborough, dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, whose statues look down from the...
. He has served as organist and choir master at several churches in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, including All Saints, Turvey and St. Paul's Church, Bedford
St. Paul's Church, Bedford
St Paul's Church is a Church of England parish church located on St Paul's Square in the town centre of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.-History:...
. He is also active as a teacher, piano accompanist and choral singer.
Edwards has made a series of recordings of the historic organs of North Bedfordshire. He has transcribed and edited ten volumes of 18th century English Organ Music published by ANIMUS. The opus numbers of his compositions rise to almost 450. They include about 150 hymn tunes and a large number of anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
s. Many of these works have been published in collections including Hymns for Today’s Church, Psalms for Today and Carols for Today. His carol No Small Wonder, written in 1983 to words by Paul Wigmore, first appeared in Carols for Today in 1986 and was recorded on LP by Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
Choir and subsequently heard in the famous Nine Lessons and Carols
Nine Lessons and Carols
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a format for a service of Christian worship celebrating the birth of Jesus that is traditionally followed at Christmas...
service broadcast on the BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge
Choir of King's College, Cambridge
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge is one of today's most accomplished and renowned representatives of the great British choral tradition. It was created by King Henry VI, who founded King's College, Cambridge in 1441, to provide daily singing in his Chapel, which remains the main task of the...
in 2000. His music has been recorded on several CDs.
Edwards finds inspiration for his compositions in the English countryside, in particular that of 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...
He also enjoys driving and photographing bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
ses and coach
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
es.
Choral works
- O dear and lovely brother op.84 (1979)
- Evening Service in C sharp minor op. 133 (1980)
- O gladsome light, O grace op. 126 (1980)
- O dearest Lord, thy sacred head op.177 (1982)
- Come, dearest Lord op.196 (1983)
- No Small Wonder op. 204 (1983)
- Love is Come Again op. 224 (1985)
- All Poor Men and Humble op. 248 (1988)
- Round me falls the night op.268 (1988)
- Great shepherd of thy people op. 292 (1990)
- How shall I sing that majesty op. 325 (1993)
- O love that wilt not let me go (tune Colkirk) (1994)
- O Lord, how manifold are thy works op.356 (1996)
- Blessed are those servants op.364 (1996)
- Come, healing cross op.369 (1997)
- Requiem Mass op. 377 (1999)
- Hold thou my hands op.382 no 1 (2000)
- O joyful light of the heavenly glory op. 382 no 2 (2000)
- Bread of heaven op.394 (2001)
- What Sweeter Music op. 393 (2001)
- Adam Lay Ybounden op. 343 (2001)
- In Memoriam op. 333 (2001)
- God be in my head op. 412 (2002)
- Behold us, Lord op.413 (2003)
- Saviour, who didst healing give (2003)
- Carol of the birds op.436 (2007)
Selected Recordings
- No Small Wonder Music for Christmas and Remembrance- The Concord Singers, directed by Mary Bainbridge, LAMM 139D
- God be in my head Choral works by Paul Edwards, The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge directed by Sarah MacDonald, REGCD339