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Alan Spedding, MBE, organist, composer, conductor, teacher

6/3/2014

4 Comments

 
PictureAlan Spedding at Beverley Minster
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death yesterday of  the organist, composer and choral trainer, Alan Spedding MBE.

Alan was born in London and studied organ and ‘cello at the Royal College of Music. He was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers at Beverley Minster in 1967, after three years as organist of the Parish Church, Kingston upon Thames.

He directed the music at Beverley with distinction for 42 years and supervised the restoration of the minster organ by Wood Pipe Organ Builders during the early 1990s when his good humour and wise counsel were always valued.

A renowned recitalist, his musical interests were not confined to the organ loft. He conducted Hull Choral Union and the East Riding Choir for many years and was music master at Beverley Grammar School for 18 years. He was in demand as a musical festival adjudicator and directed many courses for the Royal School of Church Music. He also served as a council member and diploma examiner for the Royal College of Organists, whose Fellowship he held.

After his retirement in 2009 he was appointed curator of the organ at Hull University from which he had received an honorary DMus in 1994 for services to music. His MBE was awarded in 2003 for the same reason. He leaves a wife, Ann, two sons and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Beverley Minster on April 11 at 2pm.

The audio file, left, features the sixth variation from Alan Spedding's Variations on Urbs Beata. It is played by Gordon Stewart on a recording from St Giles, Pontefract.

On the second audio file we hear Alan playing Bairstow's Toccata-Prelude on Pange Lingua on the Minster organ.

4 Comments
Robert Cockroft
6/3/2014 09:29:21 am

Alan planned to attend an organ recital in Huddersfield Town Hall two weeks ago where his Variations on Ave Maris Stella were played. Sadly, he was too ill to make the journey. In past times we enjoyed his company at the town hall where his courtesy, charm and gentle humour were appreciated. Yorkshire has lost a great musical servant; a fine player, composer, conductor and teacher.

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Simon Lindley link
6/3/2014 11:58:37 pm

What a lovely tribute to this truly great man. He and I enjoyed the privilege of sharing the same organ professor at the Royal College of Music, Dr John Birch and this enhanced our friendship, personal and professional, over very many years. It was a great delight to have been able to be involved with a YTV series from Beverley presented by James Galway - The Psalms of David. The Minster Choir, led by Alan with I think John Long at the organ and Alan's son John as Head Chorister, along with baritone Stephen Roberts accompanied by John Birch, each sustained major involvement over the course of a happy few days recording in the Minster in those days produced and directed by the great Terry Henebery. Alan's visits to Leeds included a very memorable account of the Dupre Vespers at Leeds Town Hall one lunchtime. The special thoughts and prayers of so many will be with Ann and the family at this time.

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Graham Hermon
8/3/2014 11:28:49 am

I was a new chorister to Alan when he arrived at Beverley Minster and the news has knocked me sideways. A true Gentleman, musician. But above all so human and effable. I loved him as a choirmaster and with the building of Beverley Minster and the superb organ, my life was mapped out. I will not be the only ex-chorister that will be deeply saddened by Alan's death. But many, many happy memories of this Gentleman who had a lovely sense of humour and wit whilst at the same time eked out the best of those that sung for him. He will be sorely missed.

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Geoffrey Lockwood
8/3/2014 01:58:04 pm

I first met Alan on one of the RSCM residential courses he directed, where his inspirational teaching and quiet humour were much in evidence and much appreciated. As the tribute above mentions, he was much in demand as a festival adjudicator, and I have been privileged to have been an accompanist on several occasions to competitors performing for him. His knowledge extended far beyond church and organ music, and many a singer benefited from his comments. We shall miss him.

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