Heathcote Dicken Statham

Heathcote Dicken Statham CBE (7 December 1889 - 29 October 1973) was a conductor, composer and organist of international repute.

Early life

He was the eldest son of Henry Heathcote Statham (1839-1924) and Florence Elizabeth Dicken (1856-1938). His father was an amateur musician who played organ and contributed articles to Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians. From Gresham's School, Holt, Statham proceeded to Caius College, Cambridge, where in March 1908 he was awarded the college's organ scholarship of £60 a year for three years,[1] before completing his musical education at the Royal College of Music, London.[2]

Career

He became organist of Calcutta Cathedral 1913 - 1920, then St. Michael's College, Tenbury 1920 - 1926, then St. Mary's Church, Southampton 1926 - 1928, and finally of Norwich Cathedral, holding that post from 1928 to 1966.[2] On 9 April 1938, while Statham was playing it, the organ of the cathedral caught fire.[3] In the choir, Statham's nickname was 'Dickey'.[4]

As a composer he is best known for his Rhapsody on a Ground for organ (1944)[2] and his Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis in G. His arrangements of Christmas carols include Joy! Joy! from every Steeple.[5]

He conducted the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra on some one hundred and thirty occasions between 1928 and 1961, and during the Second World War conducted the London Symphony Orchestra.[2]

He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 1967[6] and died at the age of 83 on 29 October 1973.[7]

References
  1. The Times, Saturday, March 21, 1908 (Issue 38600), p. 9, col. D
  2. Heathcote Dicken Statham at amphion-recordings.com
  3. Of Choristers – ancient and modern Archived 2009-09-09 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Michael Quinton Smith, Well Educated as a Chorister at Norwich Archived 2006-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Joy! Joy! from every Steeple, words by G. R. Woodward, traditional melody arranged by H. D. Statham, in Oxford Choral Songs
  6. Supplement to the London Gazette, 10 June 1967, p. 6279
  7. Heathcote Dicken Statham at brainyhistory.com
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