Louise Zillah Dugdale. Mus.B., A.Mus.T.C.L. was born in Lambeth, London in 1872 and died in Ilford, Essex in 1943.
She graduated B.Mus. in 1904 at the University of Durham.
Miss Dugdale was Organist of the Baptist Churches of Sidcup, Kent (1891-1907), Woodgrange, Forest Gate, East London (1907-c.1920) and High Road, Lee, South East London (from c.1920).
She published "A handy book of Descants to well-known Hymn Tunes. Composed anthems, hymn tunes, material for use in Sunday schools, songs, madrigals and pieces for organ, and was a well-known recitalist.
"Prelude on 'Melcombe'" is found in "Hymn Tune Voluntaries, Part I" published by J. Curwen & Sons, Ltd. It is the same collection that contains the "Voluntary on 'Eventide'" that I uploaded last week, originally incorrectly naming Percy Fletcher as the composer, when in fact it is Arnold Mote.
https://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/48911
It's a very fussy piece, and I suppose is something of a novelty. The modulations and continual, and the endlessly changing dynamics are a trap, assuming you are obsessed with piston-pushing as I am. It lasts only 3 pages, but has 34 pushes. I highly doubt that she played it this way, if she played it all.
When I did it yesterday, I hated it while I was doing it, but in listening to the playback, it's sort of cool in its own way, but not something you'd ever "read through" as a casual church voluntary.
The work is based upon Samuel Webbe's (1770-1843) famous tune, and has been paired with many texts. I've given one of my favorites texts in the First Comment.
I'm now in the 4th week of radiation therapy. I am really feeling the side effects. One of the frights is that I don't have much feeling in my right hand. So, I was afraid to see if I could even play anything at all. I fought it through, and this "test" is the outcome. :-)
The score is attached below, as well as a formal portrait of Louise Dugdale, and the churches at which she played.
Peace.