Professor Martindale Sidwell FRCO (23 February 1916 – 20 February 1998) was an English organist, composer and teacher.

Education

John William Martindale Sidwell was born in Little Packington, Warwickshire on 23 February 1916, the son of John William Sidwell, a musician, and Mary Martindale. At age 7 he joined the choir at

Wells Cathedral Wells Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England, dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, whose cathedra it holds as mother church of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Built as a ...

, and later became assistant organist. He was awarded ARCO in 1936 and FRCO in 1938.Western Daily Press - Monday 31 January 1938 During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

he served firstly with the

North Somerset Yeomanry The North Somerset Yeomanry was a part-time cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1798 to 1967. It maintained order in Somerset in the days before organised police forces, and supplied volunteers to fight in the Second Boer War. It served on ...

and later with the Royal Engineers. Invalided out he became temporary organist at Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa and director of music at

Warwick School Warwick School is a selective, independent day and boarding school in Warwick, England in the public school tradition. Known until about 1900 as King's School, Warwick, it is believed to have been founded by Æthelflæd of Mercia in 914 AD ...

. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music with C.H. Trevor. In 1944 he married Barbara Hill, a pianist and harpsichordist.

Appointments

*Sub Organist at

1932 - ? *Assistant Organist at Wells Cathedral 1938 - ? *Temporary Organist at Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa *Conductor of the Leamington Spa Choral Society *Organist of St John-at-Hampstead 1946 - 1992 *Organist of St Clement Danes 1957 - 1992 *Conductor of the London Bach Orchestra 1967 - 1981 *Conductor of Hampstead Choral Society 1946 - 1981 *Conductor of the Martindale Sidwell Singers 1956 - 1992 *Organ tutor at Trinity College of Music and Professor of Organ at the Royal Academy of Music 1963 -1984 *Professor at the

Royal School of Church Music The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) is a Christian music education organisation dedicated to the promotion of music in Christian worship, in particular the repertoire and traditions of Anglican church music, largely through publications, tr ...

1958 - 1966

Compositions

He composed one piece which remained unpublished in his lifetime, a Festal Jubilate for choir and organ. A number of Anglican chants by him are still in the repertoire of some Cathedrals and major churches.

Publications

He was one of the editors of Secular and Sacred Music published in 1966.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sitwell, Martindale 1916 births 1998 deaths English organists British male organists Fellows of the Royal College of Organists 20th-century English musicians 20th-century organists 20th-century British male musicians