GEORGE TOOTELL

George Tootell (1886-1969) was born in Chorley, Lancashire, England, and was educated at Seafield College and the University of Durham. He was a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. He held numerous church organist positions including Lytham Parish Church; Lund Parish Church; St. John’s Parish Church, Keswick; St. James’ Parish Church, Whitehaven; St. Thomas Parish Church, St. Annes-on-the-Sea; and Kendal Parish Church. He was Music Master at Seafield School; Lytham and Stamford House Collegiate School; Warwick House School, Poulton; Keswick School; Castlegate School, Cockermouth; Kilgrimol School; Rougemont College, Blackpool; Fairhaven Girls School, Lytham; and Kendal Grammar School. He was conductor of the Lytham Orchestral Society; Keswick Musical Festival; Keswick Choral Society; Keswick Operatic Society and Whitehaven Harmonic Society; Whitehaven Lyric (operatic) Society; Cockermouth Choral Society; Egremont Vocal Union; St. Annes Harmonic Choral Society; Kendal Male Voice Choir; and Kendal Operatic Society. His compositions include a comic opera, an orchestral suite, many children’s operettas and musical plays. He was best known as a pioneer in the art of film music. He was an expert in playing for the silent movie with the theatre organ. He was a featured cinema organist, presenting recitals in movie houses, especially as organist at the StoU Picture Theatre (The London Opera House). His book How to play the Cinema Organ (1927) was an important and popular publication. He wrote a considerable amount of film music.

All are mixed chorus; some contain divisi.