William Spark (28 October 1823 - 16 June 1897) was an English musician, writer, composer and

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

based in

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...

Early life and education

Spark was born in Exeter on 28 October 1823 and died in Leeds on 16 June 1897. He was a chorister at

Exeter Cathedral Exeter Cathedral, properly known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon, in South West England. The present building was complete by about 140 ...

and studied with the composer Samuel Sebastian Wesley in his home town of

Exeter Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal comm ...

in 1840 and moved with him to

in 1842.

Career

Spark's first post was as deputy organist to Wesley at

Leeds Parish Church Leeds Minster, or the Minster and Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds (formerly Leeds Parish Church) is the minster church of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It stands on the site of the oldest church in the city and is of architectural and l ...

in 1842. He then worked as organist and choirmaster at Chapeltown Church. In 1850 Spark was appointed organist to St George's Church. In 1859 he helped to design the organ for Leeds Town Hall together with

Henry Smart Henry Thomas Smart (26 October 1813 – 6 July 1879) was an English organist and composer. Biography Smart was born in London, a nephew of the conductor Sir George Smart and son of a music publisher, orchestra director and accomplished violini ...

. The following year he was appointed Leeds Municipal Organist and held the post until his death in 1897. He was a major contributor to the musical life of 19th century Leeds. He founded the Leeds Madrigal and Motet Society and the Leeds Recreation Society. The latter organised People's Concerts in the Albion Street Music Hall from 1852-1859. From 1864 he helped to organise orchestral subscription concerts at Leeds Town Hall and was a key organiser of the Leeds Triennial Musical Festivals. Spark was a Freemason and member of the Lodge of Fidelity No.289, Leeds and was for many years their Organist.

Writing career

In 1851 Spark wrote a ''Lecture on Church Music, More Particularly the Choral Service of the Church of England as Applied to Parochial Worship.'' In 1869 he began publishing the ''Organist’s Quarterly Journal'' to showcase new organ compositions by English and continental composers. In 1888 he published a collection of his writings and reminiscences under the title ''Musical Memories'', including portraits of the conductor

Sir Michael Costa Sir Michael Andrew Angus Costa (14 February 180829 April 1884) was an Italian-born conductor and composer who achieved success in England. Biography He was born in Naples as Michele Andrea Agniello Costa. He studied in Naples with his father, a ...

, composer

Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions include sy ...

and soprano

Adelina Patti Adelina Patti (19 February 184327 September 1919) was an Italian 19th-century opera singer, earning huge fees at the height of her career in the music capitals of Europe and America. She first sang in public as a child in 1851, and gave her la ...

. A further book ''Musical Reminiscences: Past and Present'' was published in 1892.

Compositions

Easy Voluntary in G major Gavotte in D Major Grand March composed by in celebration of Leeds being made a City, 1893 Immanuel (oratorio) 1887-1889 Introduction & Fughetto in E flat Jerusalem the Golden Minuet in A Minor The Worthy Mason The Ancient Vesper Hymn 'Theme, variations and fugue'

References

External links

* https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/ * https://www.leodis.org/discovery/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Spark, William Musicians from Exeter 19th-century English musicians Musicians from Leeds 1823 births 1897 deaths English organists English classical musicians Writers from Leeds Oratorio composers People educated at Exeter Cathedral School 19th-century organists