Allan Wicks - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 08:55, 1 October 2022
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	{{Short description\|English cathedral organist}}		{{Short description\|English cathedral organist}}
	{{Use British English\|date=September ~~2022~~}}		{{Use British English\|date=September 2019}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=September ~~2022~~}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2020}}
	[[File:Allan_Wicks_(composer).png\|thumb\|right\|Allan Wicks]]		[[File:Allan_Wicks_(composer).png\|thumb\|right\|Allan Wicks]]
	'''Edward Allan Wicks''' {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|size=100%\|CBE}} (6 June 1923, [[Harden, West Yorkshire]] − 4 February 2010<ref name="times">{{cite web \|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/allan-wicks-organist-p5c8fppdtbm\|title=Allan Wicks: organist		'''Edward Allan Wicks''' {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|size=100%\|CBE}} (6 June 1923, [[Harden, West Yorkshire]] − 4 February 2010<ref name="times">{{cite web \|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/allan-wicks-organist-p5c8fppdtbm\|title=Allan Wicks: organist
	\|publisher= Times Online Obituary \|date=11 February 2010\|accessdate=19 September 2019\|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|last1=Cullingford \|first1=Martin \|title=Obituary: Allan Wicks, organist and choirmaster \|url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/obituary-allan-wicks-organist-and-choirmaster \|accessdate=19 September 2019 \|work=gramophone.co.uk \|date=11 February ~~2022~~}}</ref>) was an English [[Organist#Classical and church organists\|cathedral organist]], who served in [[Canterbury Cathedral]] for nearly 30 years.<ref name=times/> He was an early champion of the music of [[Olivier Messiaen]], [[Peter Maxwell Davies]] and [[Kenneth Leighton]].<ref name=times/> He also directed the specially-commissioned music for the 1951 revival of the [[York Mystery Plays]], regarded as the greatest event in the [[Festival of Britain]] celebrations.		\|publisher= Times Online Obituary \|date=11 February 2010\|accessdate=19 September 2019\|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|last1=Cullingford \|first1=Martin \|title=Obituary: Allan Wicks, organist and choirmaster \|url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/obituary-allan-wicks-organist-and-choirmaster \|accessdate=19 September 2019 \|work=gramophone.co.uk \|date=11 February 2010}}</ref>) was an English [[Organist#Classical and church organists\|cathedral organist]], who served in [[Canterbury Cathedral]] for nearly 30 years.<ref name=times/> He was an early champion of the music of [[Olivier Messiaen]], [[Peter Maxwell Davies]] and [[Kenneth Leighton]].<ref name=times/> He also directed the specially-commissioned music for the 1951 revival of the [[York Mystery Plays]], regarded as the greatest event in the [[Festival of Britain]] celebrations.

	==Career==		==Career==
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	\|url-status = dead		\|url-status = dead
	\|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100305141823/http://www.bbcmusicmagazine.com/news/allan-wicks-1923-2010		\|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100305141823/http://www.bbcmusicmagazine.com/news/allan-wicks-1923-2010
	\|archivedate = 5 March ~~2022~~}}</ref> Wicks also championed Maxwell Davies's ''Fantasia on O Magnum Mysterium'', as well as [[Malcolm Williamson]]'s six-movement Symphony.<ref name=times/> He also organised a Cantata Choir and a small orchestra for Tuesday evening concerts of larger-scale works, including [[Igor Stravinsky]]'s ''Canticum Sacrum'' and Messiaen's ''Messe de la Pentecôte''.<ref name=times/>		\|archivedate = 5 March 2010}}</ref> Wicks also championed Maxwell Davies's ''Fantasia on O Magnum Mysterium'', as well as [[Malcolm Williamson]]'s six-movement Symphony.<ref name=times/> He also organised a Cantata Choir and a small orchestra for Tuesday evening concerts of larger-scale works, including [[Igor Stravinsky]]'s ''Canticum Sacrum'' and Messiaen's ''Messe de la Pentecôte''.<ref name=times/>

	In 1961 he was appointed organist and master of the choristers of [[Canterbury Cathedral]], where he served for 27 years, under three [[Archbishop of Canterbury\|Archbishops]], retiring after being appointed [[Order of the British Empire\|C.B.E.]] in 1988. Whilst at Canterbury, he also was honoured with the [[Lambeth degree\|Lambeth MusDoc]] in 1974 and an honorary DMus from the [[University of Kent]] in 1985.		In 1961 he was appointed organist and master of the choristers of [[Canterbury Cathedral]], where he served for 27 years, under three [[Archbishop of Canterbury\|Archbishops]], retiring after being appointed [[Order of the British Empire\|C.B.E.]] in 1988. Whilst at Canterbury, he also was honoured with the [[Lambeth degree\|Lambeth MusDoc]] in 1974 and an honorary DMus from the [[University of Kent]] in 1985.

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{{Short description|English cathedral organist}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
[[File:Allan_Wicks_(composer).png|thumb|right|Allan Wicks]]
'''Edward Allan Wicks''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (6 June 1923, [[Harden, West Yorkshire]] − 4 February 2010<ref name="times">{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/allan-wicks-organist-p5c8fppdtbm|title=Allan Wicks: organist
|publisher= Times Online Obituary |date=11 February 2010|accessdate=19 September 2019|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cullingford |first1=Martin |title=Obituary: Allan Wicks, organist and choirmaster |url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/obituary-allan-wicks-organist-and-choirmaster |accessdate=19 September 2019 |work=gramophone.co.uk |date=11 February 2022}}</ref>) was an English [[Organist#Classical and church organists|cathedral organist]], who served in [[Canterbury Cathedral]] for nearly 30 years.<ref name=times/> He was an early champion of the music of [[Olivier Messiaen]], [[Peter Maxwell Davies]] and [[Kenneth Leighton]].<ref name=times/> He also directed the specially-commissioned music for the 1951 revival of the [[York Mystery Plays]], regarded as the greatest event in the [[Festival of Britain]] celebrations.

==Career==
The son of a parson,<ref name=times/> Wicks began his musical studies as a pianist at an early age, but did not think that he would be good enough to become professional. He was educated at [[St John's School, Leatherhead]] and at the age of 14 he was advised to convert to the [[pipe organ|organ]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/mar/05/allan-wicks-obituary|title=Allan Wicks obituary|first=Philip|last=Moore|date=5 March 2010|work=The Guardian}}</ref> He took his degree at [[Christ Church, Oxford]], where he was also organ scholar at the [[Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford|cathedral]], assistant to [[Thomas Armstrong (conductor)|Thomas Armstrong]]. Completing his studies after serving in the [[14th Punjab Regiment]], gaining an [[Master's degree|MA]] and an [[Royal College of Organists|FRCO]],<ref name="bbcm"/> he then took up post at [[York Minster]] in 1947, as sub-organist to [[Francis Jackson (composer)|Francis Jackson]]. He described his time at York as being much easier than modern cathedral organists: "In those days it was easier to manage on one's own, because we never used to conduct, except a cappella pieces, we never conducted like cathedral organists now who hardly ever play the organ, they're down there wagging a finger, waving their arms about." Whilst based in York, he was on the music staff at [[St Peter's School, York|St Peter's School]] and Chorus Master of [[Leeds Philharmonic Society]]. For the 1951 revival of the [[York Mystery Plays]] he was director of the music, composed by his friend [[James Clifford Brown|James Brown]]. The plays captured the hearts of the British public, and have been performed regularly ever since.<ref name="press">Harris, Richard, [http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/5002555.Former_York_Minster_organist_Allan_Wicks_has_died/ York Mystery Plays musician and York Minster organist Allan Wicks has died], York Press, 11 February 2010.</ref>

In 1954, Wicks left York to take the job of organist and choirmaster of [[Manchester Cathedral]]. There he inspired Maxwell Davies by his directing the choir in performances of [[John IV of Portugal]] and [[John Dunstaple]].<ref name=bbcm>{{cite web
|accessdate = 14 February 2009
|url = http://www.bbcmusicmagazine.com/news/allan-wicks-1923-2010
|title = Allan Wicks (1923-2010)
|publisher = BBC Music Magazine
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100305141823/http://www.bbcmusicmagazine.com/news/allan-wicks-1923-2010
|archivedate = 5 March 2022}}</ref> Wicks also championed Maxwell Davies's ''Fantasia on O Magnum Mysterium'', as well as [[Malcolm Williamson]]'s six-movement Symphony.<ref name=times/> He also organised a Cantata Choir and a small orchestra for Tuesday evening concerts of larger-scale works, including [[Igor Stravinsky]]'s ''Canticum Sacrum'' and Messiaen's ''Messe de la Pentecôte''.<ref name=times/>

In 1961 he was appointed organist and master of the choristers of [[Canterbury Cathedral]], where he served for 27 years, under three [[Archbishop of Canterbury|Archbishops]], retiring after being appointed [[Order of the British Empire|C.B.E.]] in 1988. Whilst at Canterbury, he also was honoured with the [[Lambeth degree|Lambeth MusDoc]] in 1974 and an honorary DMus from the [[University of Kent]] in 1985.

Wicks died in 2010, and was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and their two daughters.<ref name="press"/>

===Organist posts===
*1941–1946: Organ Scholar, [[Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford]] (interrupted by wartime service in the [[14th Punjab Regiment]])
*1947–1954: Sub Organist, [[York Minster]]
*1954–1961: Organist at [[Manchester Cathedral]].
*1961–1988: Organist at [[Canterbury Cathedral]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-culture}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Norman Cocker]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Director of Music|Organist and Master of the Choristers]] of [[Manchester Cathedral]]
|years=1954–1961}}
{{s-aft|after=Derrick Cantrell}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sidney Campbell]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Director of Music|Organist and Master of the Choristers]] of [[Canterbury Cathedral]]
|years=1961–1988}}
{{s-aft|after=[[David Flood (organist)|David Flood]]}}
{{end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wicks, Allan}}
[[Category:Cathedral organists]]
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:Duke of Wellington's Regiment officers]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:English classical organists]]
[[Category:British male organists]]
[[Category:Holders of a Lambeth degree]]
[[Category:Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford]]
[[Category:People educated at St John's School, Leatherhead]]
[[Category:20th-century classical musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century British male musicians]]
[[Category:Male classical organists]]