Blackburn Cathedral Newsletter

1 RECOLLECTIONS of DR. HERMAN BREARLEY and THOMAS L. DUERDEN the first two Organists of Blackburn Cathedral by HOWARD SEYMOUR Father of OC ‘Woody’, and former dynamic Director of Music of St. Wilfrid’s School, Blackburn In respect of most of these recollections, I am what historians would term the secondary source. The primary sources are my father- in-law, Fred Hargreaves (hereafter referred to as FH) and my early years’ piano teacher, Arthur Bury (hereafter referred to as AB). to be seen striding out alongside the said euphonium player My recollections of the incidents following the progress of the band through the streets of the they recounted to me are very clear town. One can conclude from this that Herman Brearley and I have no doubt that their was catholic in his musical tastes and drawn to accounts were correct. The spontaneous and intuitive musicianship wherever it was to following can therefore reasonably be found. be assumed to be authentic. Howard Seymour inspecting Dr. Brearley’s readiness our rebuilt organ in 2000 to experience music outside Fred Hargreaves knew both Dr. Brearley and TLD. the Cathedral setting is supported by references I recall from both FH and AB to an occasion when the Cathedral Choir either performed or was invited to perform at the then Palace Theatre on the boulevard. As I understand it, this performance/invitation was viewed dimly by the Cathedral clergy of the time and that this incident may have contributed to the conclusion of his tenure as Cathedral organist in 1939 and his translation to St Silas’. Dr. Brierley in 1916 T. L. Duerden in 1932 During the time Dr. Organist here from 1916-1939 Organist here from 1939-1964 Brearley was at the Fred always spoke highly of Dr. Brearley whom he knew from Cathedral, the organ his time as a young man in the Cathedral Choir. He spoke of him was in the west gallery with a degree of affection and regarded him as a fine musician. (where Christ the Strangely enough though, Fred didn’t opt to undertake his own Worker now is) and it musical studies with Dr. Brearley, but for reasons he never was there that AB went confided to me, chose to have organ lessons in preparation for for his organ lessons. Associateship of the Royal College of Organists from the bright There was at least young man of the day who had made such a musical mark at St. one occasion when AB John’s Church, Blackburn - TLD. had tactfully to suggest Arthur Bury’s relationship with Dr Brearley was that of pupil and to Dr Brearley that he master. He studied with him for his Licentiateship of the Royal moderate his language Academy of Music in piano and afterwards, embarked on because he was aware preparations for ARCO and an external BMus, neither of which he of movement in the was able to complete because of war service. Arthur was an Cathedral below. I was intelligent man and good musician and after the war he returned to never told what Blackburn to establish a career as a private music teacher and prompted the outbursts local organist. of bad language – it During FH’s period in the Cathedral Choir, he was periodically certainly wouldn’t be Arthur’s lack of preparation for his asked by Dr. Brearley to play the last hymn and voluntary at the lesson. We shall never know. end of morning service. This was to enable the good Dr. to be out In the organ loft was a utilitarian music cabinet which Dr. of the Cathedral in time to hear the Salvation Army band - which Brearley had had specially made. It contained three banks presumably had a regular procession in the town at about that of eight drawers of a size which would accommodate organ time. albums. On his departure, Dr. Brearley left this cabinet at His particular fascination was a euphonium player who he told the Cathedral and we can assume that TLD either bought it Fred, was an ‘absolutely brilliant’ extempore player. This or ‘inherited’ it. Whichever was the case, when TLD retired bandsman, whose name we may never know, was able to he felt it was his to dispose of. improvise an adventurous independent part containing some Knowing of AB’s pupilage with Dr. Brearley and the daring harmonies which managed to be at one with what the rest regard in which he held him, TLD invited AB to purchase it. of the band was doing. This he did and it spent many useful years in his music Dr. Brearley was so enthralled by this player, that he was room in Mill Hill. It is now one of my prized possessions. 2 As well as being Cathedral At that time Church Street was heavily organist, Herman Brearley was trafficked and had a policemen positioned also Director of Music at QEGS. on point duty at the top by Lloyds bank. TLD was of course a well-known I wonder how many Old Blackburnians since that time are character to the officers concerned and aware that he composed the music for the school song. His on this occasion as the bells were ringing ‘Cantilena’ is a well-crafted piece in a lilting compound time with and he was crossing the road, he was some telling shifts of metre and key and is infinitely superior in seen by AB to engage the police officer in quality to some of tasteless musical and literary doggerel which conversation – just long enough to be populate this genre. It would be appropriate for the archive to noticed but just stopping short of causing acquire a copy of this significant local piece. irritation and chaos – intuitive musical timing with that touch of theatre and eccentricity which were part of his musical personality. TLD is an example par excellence of the local boy making good and he was Heartiest Congratulations to justifiably proud of his achievements. Some of the TOM DAGGETT, YPC member… most remarkable of these …for he has won a place at Lincoln College, Oxford to read relate to the Prize Choir at music. Tom, who is a pupil at St. Wilfrid’s School, told your St. John’s Church, and there editor that he eventually wants to study law – but a music is plenty on record about degree will be a good start! It’s extraordinary how many of us from Blackburn Cathedral this, but perhaps two have studied at Lincoln College: recollections of FH will be of interest. Emily One evening he and TLD were about to leave St. John’s after Our 2005/06 Crewe Fred’s organ lesson when there was knock at the vestry door. It organ scholar, is a was a small boy from the locality who had turned up on his own Jonathan Turner, member of and announced ‘Please Sir, I want to join your choir and I can sing is Lincoln’s present Jonathan’s right ‘igh up’. A few tests at the vestry piano proved that this was senior organ chapel no empty boast and another singing career was launched. scholar; choir there On occasions FH went with TLD and his boys on the train to festivals and on other outings. He remembered one occasion OC Chris when on the journey home the boys, calming down at the end of Hunwick the day, spontaneously started to sing exquisitely in three part (the Duke of harmony. Either on that or some similar occasion, TLD had been Northum- rattled by an adjudicator who had said that the singing had been berland’s ‘too perfect’. Archivist) My own experience of TLD’s legendary choir training skills are studied Greats very limited – not as a Cathedral chorister but as a member of there; QEGS Choral Society. Though this was right at the end of his career, he was still capable of delivering the magic. This had little Andrew Elliott to do with technique and everything to do with personality. (Renaissance Singer His position as Director of Music at QEGS was a part time one Alizon’s son) is studying and he wasn’t always around. Boys who wanted to do ‘O’ level there for a music had to be fitted in ‘extra curricular’ which during my D. Phil in economics; examination course necessitated leaving school and whatever was timetabled, to go to the Cathedral Song School for lessons there. TLD was not lavish with his praise and to be told that one’s work was ‘bordering on the fringes’ was high praise indeed. Most groups of such students would at some time or other hear the tale which began ‘When I handed my Mus Bac paper to Sir Edward Richard Tanner’s father, Bairstow…’ (who was then organist of York Minster and Professor John Tanner, of Music at Durham University). We were duly impressed when also studied Greats he told us that on handing in one of his papers he apologised to at Lincoln College … Bairstow for taking the liberty to work the canon exercise in 8 parts Former Blackburn rather than the required 4 and trusted that this would be … just after your editor, JB, DoM David Cooper acceptable. was organ scholar there was organ scholar there; 55 years ago! I think it was probably to Alpha mark his & retirement, but there Omega! was certainly one occasion Well done, when the Tom, and Cathedral thanks for bells were keeping up rung in his this fine honour. tradition! T. L. Duerden in retirement 1964 3 Again, as last year, the lessons were read by a succession of th distinguished to our Annual Epiphany Service on 13 January people from the which, as ever, attracted a large congregation Diocese – including many Civic leaders in their regalia.

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