Percy Whitlock

Percy William Whitlock ( born June 1, 1903 in Chatham, Kent; † May 1, 1946 in Bournemouth) was an English organist and composer.

From 1921-1930 Whitlock served as assistant organist at Rochester Cathedral, Kent. Later (1930-1935) he was Director of Music at the Anglican Church in Bournemouth. After 1935 he worked full-time for a theater and was also under the pseudonym " Kenneth Lark " worked as a writer.

At the age of 20 years, Whitlock was diagnosed with tuberculosis; he also suffered from high blood pressure. His early death (a few weeks before his 43rd birthday ) deprived the English music an innovative voice. For decades afterwards, he remained in oblivion. Lately, however, his oeuvre is gaining importance in the context of an increased popularity of the romantic and post-romantic organ music literature.

The Percy Whitlock Association ( Percy Whitlock Trust), founded in 1983, has set itself the goal of making Whitlock's life and work known. It publishes articles related to the composer, organizes seminars, etc. 1998 unauthorized biography of Percy Whitlock has been published.

Organ Works

• Five Short Pieces (1929 )
• Four Extemporisations (1933 )
• Seven Sketches on Verses of the Psalms (1934 )
• Plymouth Suite ( 1937), perhaps his masterpiece
• Organ Symphony (1937 ), but is hardly played