Gilbert, Walter Bond

1829-

English composer, organist and writer; was born at Exeter, and studied under Alfred Angel, Dr. Wesley and Sir Henry Bishop. He was organist at Topham about 1845, and after holding five other similar positions in his native country, covering a period of nearly twenty-five years, he came to New York to become organist of Trinity Episcopal Church. On revisiting England in 1888 the degree of Doctor of Music was conferred on him by Oxford, where he was graduated in 1854. Bond's talent as a composer was marked in youth; at seventeen he composed a full cathedral service, used in two prominent English churches. Other works comprise two oratorios, St. John, and The Restoration of Israel; the Psalter, or Psalms of David; a number of anthems; church services; organ solos; the well-known hymn tune of Maidstone; and several historical works, including The Antiquities of Maidstone, and Memorials of Maidstone Church.