St. Nicolas Voluntaries (complete)

Sir Sydney Hugo Nicholson MVO (9 February 1875 – 30 May 1947) was an English choir director, organist, composer, and founder of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).

Nicholson was born in London. His elder brother was the architect Sir Charles Nicholson; his younger brother was the stained-glass artist Archibald Keightley Nicholson.

He was educated at New College, Oxford before going on to study the organ at the Royal College of Music. He then served as organist at Barnet Parish Church (1897–1903), Carlisle Cathedral (1904), Lower Chapel, Eton College (1904–1908), Manchester Cathedral (1908–1919), and Westminster Abbey (1919–1928). Along with maintaining his organist posts, he edited the Hymns Ancient and Modern supplement that was published in 1916; he did not live to see the 1950 revised edition.

In 1927 Nicholson founded the School of English Church Music (now the RSCM). The School's members initially met at St Sepulchre-without-Newgate. He was warden of St Nicholas College, Chislehurst, Kent (1928–1939).

In addition to having edited Hymns Ancient and Modern, still the standard hymn book in many Anglican churches today, Nicholson wrote several hymn tunes. Of these, the most famous is"Crucifer" for the popular processional hymn "Lift High the Cross".

In 1928 he received the Lambeth DMus, and a decade later he was knighted for his services to Church music. He died at Ashford, Kent at the age of 72, and was buried at Westminster Abbey.

The "St. Nicolas Voluntaries" are a group of ten pieces. These exquisite miniatures show the composer's abilities at getting very satisfying musical results, while keep the duration brief. They are not "difficult," but will reward careful and creative performances.

If you would like a copy of the score, you should contact our member RSCMJOHN by Direct Message.

Attached below are photos of Sydney Nicholson, as well as photos of Carlisle and Manchester Cathedrals.

More info about each piece is given in the First Comment.