German Edward Jones, for that was the real name of the composer whose death was recorded on Nov. 12, had a long and honourable career the realm of music, for it was fttytone years ago, while at the Royal Academy of Music that he won the Charles Lucas medal for a "Te Dent for choir and organ. His frst essay in secular. music seems to' have been. about the same time, for during his studies atthe Academy: he wrote operatic "The Rival "Poets" which was given in'St:'Georgo's Hall in 1886, "On the completion of his studies he played second violin in a theatre orchestra during the run of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Pirates" and "Princess Ida," and shortly afterwards when he became the musical director of the Globe Theatre he, composed the. incidental music for' "Richard 111." which was 90 far' above th theatrical music of the day that the overture was subsequently played the Norwich and Leeds Festival the°Crystal Palace and the Phil moule Concerts, "His first connection with the big figures. of the English [stage was when he wrote the three inimitable dances performed during. Wolsey's reception in Sir Henry Irving's production of "Henry VII" three pieces which set the seal upon hhis reputation and are always welcome additions to. most musical programmes, In 1901 he completed the music of "The Emerald Isle" of which Str Arthur Sullivan, had Jet only two completed numbers, for many others nothing but the melody and added thirteen numbers which had not: been commenced. Later he was {o collaborate with Gilbert in "Fallen Fairies." In German the melodist and scholar were happily blended. His music has a character of its own, despite the fact that it stands in the direct lineage of Sullivan, Apart. from his symphonic works, it has a strong old English flavour in its. melodic turns,.its sprightly rhythms. "Merrie is worthy to rank Jand straightforward diction. His.
with the Gilbert & Sullivan operas and like them is still performed, There may have been greater English. composers, but it is clear that his work had a singular contemporaneous appeal with every chance, because of nature, that time will have shown, him to have added something of value to traditional English music.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.