Dr. James Higgs * ? 1829 in Lambeth; † 26. April 1902 in London was an English organist and teacher.

Life

James Higgs, studied under his father, an amateur of ability. He succeeded the late Dr. Wylde as organist of Eaton Chapel in 1844 and in the following year, on the secession of his brother Marcellus Higgs, he became organist of St. Benet and St.Peter, Paul's Wharf. His successive organ appointments were St. Mark's, Kennington, 1852–64, St.Michael's, Stockwell, 1864-7 and for twenty-eight years of St. Andrews, Holborn, 1867 to 1895, when he retired from playing in public. In 1864 he was among the first twenty-one member of the

Royal College of Organists The Royal College of Organists (RCO) is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, with members worldwide. Its role is to promote and advance organ playing and choral music, and it offers music education, training and de ...

. Some years later, in 1867, he was appointed as examiner for the

and from then on he frequently acted as examiner. Even later, in 1874, he graduated Mus. Bac. Oxon from New College, Oxford. His well-deserved doctor's degree was conferred upon him by the Archbishop of Canterbury. As original member of the

Musical Association The Royal Musical Association (RMA) is a British scholarly society and charity. Founded in 1874, the Association claims to be the second oldest musicological society in the world, after that of the Netherlands. Activities include organizing and sp ...

, he succeeded the late

Charles Kensington Salaman Charles Kensington Salaman (3 March 1814 – 23 June 1901) was a British Jewish composer, pianist, and writer. He was the composer of more than one hundred settings of Hebrew texts for the West London Synagogue, as well as numerous songs in Engl ...

as Hon.Secretary in 1877, and held the post for six years. He read two instructive papers before the Association - on 'Bach's Art of Fugue', in 1877, and 'Samuel Wesley : his life, times, and influence on music', in 1894. He was the author of two useful primers - Fugue, and Modulation. In collaboration with Sir Frederic Bridge he edited 'Bach's Organ Music', and he was the editor of a collection of two-part Solfeggi in Novello's Primer Series. In 1883 he was appointed as one of the Directors of

Trinity College, London Trinity College London (TCL) is an examination board based in London, United Kingdom, which offers graded and diploma qualifications (up to postgraduate level) across a range of disciplines in the performing arts and English language learning and ...

and Professor of Harmony at the

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the undergraduate to the doctoral level in all aspects of Western Music including performanc ...

. In 1900 he received the appointment of Dean of the Faculty of Music at the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

.Obituary, ''Musical Times'', No 71, June 1 1902, p 402
/ref> In the ''Musical Times'', the uncredited obituary concluded with the following. "Dr. Higgs will be long remembered for his thoroughness as a teacher and for his kindly nature - qualities possessed by him in no small degree, and to which the present writer, one of his old pupils, bears full and grateful testimony".

Appointments

*Organist of St Peter's Church, Eaton Square 1843 *Organist of St Benet's, Paul's Wharf 1844 – 1852 *Organist of St Mark's Church, Kennington 1852 – 1864 *Organist of St. Michael's Church, Stockwell 1864 - 1867 *Organist of St Andrew's, Holborn 1867 – 1895

Publications

*Editor of a collection of two-part Solfeggi, Novello Primer Series. *Joint editor of the organ works of J.S. Bach with Sir Frederick Bridge.The Organ Works of J.S. Bach, 19 volumes. Novello and Co.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Higgs, James 1829 births 1902 deaths English classical organists British male organists Alumni of New College, Oxford Academics of the Royal College of Music 19th-century English musicians 19th-century British male musicians 19th-century classical musicians Male classical organists 19th-century organists