A Memorial plaque erected following the organ rebuild below the above picture reads as follows:-

'To the Glory of God

The Organ Was Rebuilt in 1914

In Greateful Memory of

Alfred R Gaul. Mus.Bac

Master of the Music In this Church

From the Foundation in 1868 till 1913

When He Joined The Choir Invisible

"I Saw a New Heaven and a New Earth"

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alfred Robert Gaul

(1837 – 1913)

 Alfred Gaul, one of the most respected British composers, started out as a chorister at Norwich Cathedral and later assistant organist at the cathedral under Zachariah Buck.

Alfred Gaul graduated with a Cambridge music degree in 1863 and afterwards assumed position of organist of St. John’s, Ladywood Birmingham then in 1868 St. Augustine’s in Edgbaston until his death . In 1887 he was made conductor of the Walsall Philharmonic Society.

Gaul taught at the Birmingham and Midland Institute were he taught counterpoint and harmony ,he also taught at the King Edward High School for Girls in Birmingham.

Alfred Gauls composed a number church anthems ,hymn tunes and psalms ,an oratorio and several cantatas including "The Ten Virgins","Joan of Arc", "Israel in the wilderness" and probably his best known work.“The Holy City” (1882),

After forty-five years of service and as a memorial to Mr Alfred Gaul (Mus. Bac.) who died in Birmimgham ,13th September 1913. The organ was rebuilt in 1914 by the firm of Frederick Rothwell of London at a cost of nearly £1,000.

 

The 'Holy City' among other compositons can be purchased at Musicroom.com

 

 

 

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