[Celebrating Rochester Composers]

No 7 MCR was always the Cathedral Organists' residence. I wonder whether any long-lost MSS by Bridge, Luard-Selby, Hylton Stewart, Bennett, Ashfield et al might have been unearthed?

I was involved in clearing out the basement of no.7. Most of the music and paperwork is now in the Cathedral Office basement, waiting to be sorted, but I don't think there were many manuscripts - with the exception of a briefcase of music by H.A. Bennett which was left to the Cathedral. We do have what seems to be a complete record of all the Rochester Cathedral Chant Books, which includes one by Luard-Selby, Hylton Stewart, Bennett and of course Ashfield.

 

I'm almost 100% sure I saw an orchestral score and parts of The Fair Chivalry, but I haven't been able to confirm this more recently. Now that would be something! [if Paul Hale reads this, might he know more?]

I was at Mary Ashfield's house last year, helping to put together a pile of the music previously published by Oecumuse. Whilst there I did come across said orchestral parts/score - not in RJA's hand. So they do exist!

[Lord Of The Years]

a. Isn't it "Lord for the years" ?

The hymn itself starts "Lord, for the years", but the hymn tune is named after the last line of each verse - "Lord of the years".