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Born: April 3, 1888 - Dartmouth, England
Died: February 17, 1965 - Eastbourne, England |
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The English organist and arranger, Richard Henry Pinwill Coleman, was a chorister in St George's Church, Ramsgate before going to Denstone College. He studied organ under Sydney H. Nicholson at Carlisle Cathedral and Manchester Cathedral. While at Carlisle he was organist of St Stephen's Church.
On completing his apprenticeship Richard Henry Coleman was appointed Assistant Organist of Manchester Cathedral (1908-1912). He was then Organist of Blackburn Parish Church (St. Mary the Virgin, now the Cathedral) (1912-1914), and of Derry Cathedral (St Columb's Cathedral), Londonderry (1914-1920). He returned to England in 1920, and was for a short time organist of the Heritage Craft Schools, Chailey, Sussex before succeeding Keeton as organist of at Peterborough Cathedral (1921-1944). During the brief vacancy following Keeton's death, the Musical Times had some wry comments on the conditions attached to the post of organist of Peterborough Cathedral.
After nearly 25 years of service, Richard Henry Coleman left Peterborough under unhappy domestic circumstances for which he could not be held responsible. Subsequently he was county music organiser for Staffordshire (1944-1947), Organist of Hatfield Parish Church, Hertfordshire (1947-1948), Organist of All Saints', Eastbourne (1949-1959), and then Director of Music at the Chapel Royal, Brighton.
Richard Henry Coleman took the Dublin degree of Mus.B. in 1919, followed by that of Mus.D. in 1924, also holding the FRCO diploma in 1911. His book, The Amateur Choir Trainer (1932), reissued in 1964 as The Church Choir Trainer, exerted useful influence. He was the 2nd Editor of National Anthems of the World, editing the 2nd Edition (1963). |
