Mann, Arthur Henry

1850-

 

Noted organist, choirmaster and composer; born at Norwich, England. Under Dr. Buck, he was a chorister in Norwich Cathedral. In 1871 he was made a Fellow of the College of Organists. Received his degree of Bachelor of Music from Oxford in 1874, and that of Doctor of Music in 1882. His experience as an organist has been varied and began with the position of organist of St. Peter's, at Wolverhampton, in 1870. He played at Tottenhall Parish Church in 1871, and in 1875 at Beverly Minster. The following year he became director of the choir and organist at Queen's College, Cambridge, where his teaching has had most satisfactory results. He received the appointment of choirmaster at the Norwich Festival in 1902. He is well known as an admirer of Handel, and, with E. Prout, discovered the original wind-instrument parts of the Messiah, which was given complete with those parts in 1894. Mann was musical editor of the Church of England Hymnal, and is a writer of church-music, among his compositions being: the oratorio Ecce Homo; Te Deum; services; anthems; a number of popular hymn tunes; several successful hymn books; and an edition of Tallis' Forty Part-Songs.