| Description: | Walter Battison Haynes was born on November 21, 1859, Kempsey, Worcester, England, and died in London on February 4, 1900, London, England.
He was educated at Hanley Castle Grammar School, and received his early musical training from his uncle, William Haynes, organist of Malvern Priory. He was a chorister in the Priory Church, and acted frequently as deputy organist. He studied under Franklin Taylor, Ebenezer Prout, and also at the Leipzig Conservatorium under Carl Reinecke, S. Jadassohn, and others. He was awarded the Mozart Scholarship, and on leaving the Conservatorium received the highest certificate given to a pupil.
After a short residence in France, he returned to London. He served as organist at St. Philip’s Church, Upper Sydenham; professor of harmony and composition at the Royal Academy of Music; and organist and choirmaster, Chapel Royal, Savoy (1891).
Battison Haynes lived only until the age of 40, but his career was an important one, and he showed much promise as a composer, leaving these pieces, several others, and a large, difficult and important sonata.
His music is a blending of the German and English ideals, and his scores are marked mostly with German nomenclature and directions.
The "Andante in D-flat" is the first of the two pieces which were first published in 1885. It is a purely romantic utterance, balanced, classical and expressive, but without sentimentality. It is the perfect music for a Victorian organ which itself blends German and English elements.
I plan to do the second Andante, and am "contemplating" doing the Sonata.
The score is attached below, as well as the MIDI file. A photo Battison Haynes is also attached, as well as photos of Great Malvern Pripory, and the Queens Chapel of the Savoy. |
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