Gauntlett, Henry John

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Gauntlett, Henry John (b Wellington, Salop, 1805; d London, 1876). Eng. organist and composer. Practised for 15 years as lawyer. Org., St Olave's, Southwark 1827. Lect., London Inst. 1837–43. Chosen by Mendelssohn to play org. in f.p. of Elijah at Birmingham, 1846. Expert in Gregorian chant. Designed orgs., initiating several reforms. Said to have comp. several thousand hymn tunes, among them Once in Royal David's City (1849), with words by Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander.