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First Editor - Dr Martin Shaw
Born: Belsize Park London (UK) March 9 1875
Died: Southwold (UK) October 24 1958
Editor of 1st Edition (1960), 2nd Edition (1963), 3rd Edition (1969), 4th Edition (1975), 5th Edition (1978)
Martin Fallas Shaw was an English composer, brother of Geoffrey Shaw. He studied at the Royal College of Music, where he was a pupil of Stanford for composition. He became organist successively of St Mary's, Primrose Hill (1908-1920), and St Martin-in-the-Fields (1920-1924). His interest in specifically English music was early marked by his foundation of the Purcell Operatic Society, He had a lifelong concern to turn the vocal music by which the community expressed itself, whether in school, church, or on national occasions, into healthier channels than he found it, bringing to bear thereupon the influences of folksong and plainsong. In this, his numerous editions played an influential part. His autobiography agreeably reveals his characteristic standpoint.
As a composer he mainly cultivated stage music and choral music, as well as solo songs and church music, but his most characteristically influential pieces were for congregational use, and in this connection his hymn tunes 'Little Cornard' and 'Marching' must be named.
He received the Lambeth degree of D.Mus. in 1932, was appointed OBE in 1955 and made a FRCM in 1958.
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An appreciation by Erik Routley
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Second Editor - Dr Henry Coleman
Born: Dartmouth (UK) April 3 1888
Died: Eastbourne (UK) February 17 1965
Editor of 1st Edition (1960), 2nd Edition (1963), 3rd Edition (1969), 4th Edition (1975), 5th Edition (1978)
Richard Henry Pinwill Coleman was a chorister in St George's Church; Ramsgate before going to Denstone College. He was then articled to
S H Nicholson, serving his articles at Carlisle and Manchester Cathedrals. While at Carlisle he was organist of St Stephen's Church. On completing his apprenticeship he was appointed sub-organist of Manchester Cathedral in 1908. He was then organist of Blackburn Parish Church (now the Cathedral), 1912 and of Derry Cathedral, Londonderry, 1914. He returned to England in 1920, and was for a short time organist of the Heritage Craft Schools, Chailey, Sussex before succeeding Keeton at Peterborough Cathedral in 1921. During the brief vacancy following Keeton's death, the 'Musical Times' had some wry comments on the conditions attached to the post of organist of Peterborough Cathedral.
After nearly twenty-five years of service, Dr Coleman left Peterborough under unhappy domestic circumstances for which he could not be held responsible. Subsequently he was county music organiser for Staffordshire, 1944-1947, organist of Hatfield Parish Church, Hertfordshire 1947-1948, organist of All Saints', Eastbourne 1949-1959, and then director of music at the Chapel Royal, Brighton.
His book, 'The Amateur Choir Trainer' (1932), reissued in 1964 as 'The Church Choir Trainer', exerted useful influence.
He took the Dublin degree of Mus.B. in 1919, followed by that of Mus.D. in 1924, also holding the FRCO diploma in 1911.
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| Third Editor - Dr Thomas Marshall Cartledge
Born: Harrow (UK) February 25 1915
Died: Denver (USA) August 4 1993
Editor of 3rd Edition (1969), 4th Edition (1975), 5th Edition (1978)
Thomas Marshall Cartledge learnt the piano as a child. Later, he served as accompanist to professional singers. But he earned his livelihood, at least from 1932 to 1947, as a civil engineer building bridges.
After World War II, he became involved with Moral Rearmament (MRA) and went to Brazil. In 1967 he attended an MRA conference in the United States of America, where plans to form 'Up With People' were already under way. He signed up immediately with the non-profit organization that sends young people from around the world into more than twenty countries annually, where they put on musical productions. Later he became a permanent resident in the USA and lived firstly in Arizona and later in Colorado, becoming both Assistant Secretary and Musical Librarian of 'Up With People'.
He was a translator in five languages French, Portuguese, Spanish, German and Russian and was responsible for many of the numerous translations and transliterations contained in the book.
He was a DPhil.
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Fourth Editor - Dr William Leonard Reed
Born: Southwark London (UK) October 16 1910
Died: Blackheath London (UK) April 15 2002
Editor of 5th Edition (1978), 6th Edition (1985) (reprint 1986), 7th Edition (1987) (reprint 1989), 8th Edition (1993), 9th Edition (1997) (reprint 1998), 10th Edition (2002)
William Leonard Reed was educated at Dulwich College, where he took to the keyboard, and was awarded an exhibition to read Classics at Jesus College, Oxford, in 1929. With his sights set on teaching, he spent a term in practice at Emmanuel School, Wandsworth, before returning to Oxford for his final term. Later he applied for a scholarship to the Royal College of Music and was accepted as a composition student of Herbert Howells (1934-1936) and conducting with Constant Lambert. Awarded a travelling scholarship, he travelled to Scandinavia in 1936 and 1937 lecturing for the British Council.
His musical style was quintessentially English, and his own considerable pianism inspired many works for solo piano, he also composed chamber works, orchestral works, innumerable songs, choral works and musicals. In 1966 he was appointed director of music at the Westminster Theatre Arts Centre. From 1973 to 1997 he lectured for the Workers' Educational Association. His collection of vocal music ranged from 'The Golden Book of Carols' (1948) to 'The Treasury of Vocal Music' (1969).
He took the Oxford degree of MA in 1933. Later becoming a D.Mus. in 1939.
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 Obituary of W L Reed
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| Fifth Editor - Mr Michael Jamieson Bristow
Born: Fleet (UK) March 14 1945
Editor of 6th Edition (1985) (reprint 1986), 7th Edition (1987) (reprint 1989), 8th Edition (1993), 9th Edition (1997) (reprint 1998), 10th Edition (2002), 11th Edition (2006)
Michael Jamieson Bristow is a composer, music editor, music historian and church organist. He grew up in Welling (Kent) and later lived in Paignton (Devon), Minster (Isle of Sheppey - Kent) and Halkirk (Caithness); he moved to Hafslundsøy Sarpsborg in Norway on October 18 2004 where he now lives.
Due to the many changes in the world, he is currently working on the 12th Edition of the book. He is also editor of the books 'State Songs of America' and 'State Anthems of Malaysia' (which is soon to be published) and is working on a new book 'Provincial Songs of Canada'.
He was elected a FRGS in 1984.
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Personal home page of M J Bristow
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