WILLIAM H. CUMMINGS

William Hayman Cummings (1831-1915) was born in Sidbury, Devon, England. He was chorister at St. Paul’s Cathedral and sang in the choir of the Temple Church. He became a celebrated tenor vocalist, composer, conductor and writer. He appeared in opera at the Gaiety Theatre, and later at Drury Lane and elsewhere. He held positions at Westminster Abbey, and the Chapel Royal, and was organist at Waltham Abbey. He was professor of the Royal Academy of Music, at the Royal Normal College for the Blind, and taught at the Guildhall School, where he also became principal. He was conductor of the Sacred Harmonic Society and was active as lecturer. He authored The Rudiments of Music (1877), Purcell (Great Musicians’ series, 1882), Biographical Dictionary of Musicians (1892), and contributed to Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the Dictionary of National Biography, and musical periodicals. He died in London. His compositions include cantatas, anthems, responses, chants, glees, part-songs, and songs.

All are mixed chorus; some contain divisi.

SET	TITLE	VOICING	TEXT	LISTEN
	Oh, were I but a drop of dew		Richard Howitt	LISTEN X Stop audio before closing