Horace Hawkins

Who is Horace Hawkins?

Horace Hawkins was appointed as organist and Master of the Choristers after Harvey Grace had left Chichester Cathedral. The Cathedral Chapter tried to entice the noted musical educator Geoffrey Shaw into the organist's seat, but it was not to be; after a long interregnum, they appointed Hawkins on his retirement from Hurstpierpoint College, where he had been organist for 22 years.

Hawkins had been a chorister at King Charles the Martyr Church, Tunbridge Wells, and articled to W. H. Sangster at St. Saviour's, Eastbourne. He was for a time, assistant organist at Winchester Cathedral; eight years at St Andrew's Church, Worthing, were followed by a spell in Paris. Hawkins studied with the Solesmes monks and took lessons with Widor, as well as being organist of St. George's Anglican Church.

Hawkins totally encompassed the French symphonic style of organ-playing and was noted for his improvisation and liturgical use of the organ. His compositions, which were never published, include a setting of the Te Deum for massed men's voices, four-part choir, brass and organ.