Rose, Bernard (William George)

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Rose, Bernard (William George)

Rose, Bernard (William George) , English organist, conductor, musicologist, and composer; b. Little Hallingbury, Hertfordshire, May 9, 1916. He studied with Alcock at the Royal Coll. of Music in London (1933–35), and subsequently was an organ scholar at St. Catharine’s Coll., Cambridge, where his principal mentors were Middleton and Dent (B.A., 1938; Mus.B., 1939). He then was organist (1939–57), teacher (1946–55), and lecturer (1955–81) at Queen’s Coll., Oxford; was also made a supernumerary Fellow (1949) and an official Fellow (1954) there, obtaining his D.Mus. (1955). He served as organist, Informator choristarum, and Fellow at Magdalen Coll., Oxford (1957–81), where he also was vice-president (1973–75). Throughout his career he was active as a conductor, being mainly known for his choral performances. He was president of the Royal Coll. of Organists (1974–76). In 1980 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He prepared numerous eds. of English works ranging from the 16th to the 18th century, and also composed a number of sacred works.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire