Buck, Percy Carter

Composer

b West Ham, Essex 1871, d Hindhead, Haslemere, Surrey 1947. Merchant Taylors’ Sch, GSM, RCM (under CHH Parry), and Organist at Worcester Coll Oxford (1891–94); BA, MA, MusD in 1897. He was appointed Music Master at Rugby Sch 1894, going from there to be Cathedral Organist at Wells from 1896 and Bristol in 1899. In 1901 he returned to schoolteaching, as Music Master at Harrow Sch for the next 27 years. During this time he was also non-resident Prof of Music at Dublin Univ (1910–20) and overlapping with it at London Univ (1923–30, or 1925–37?). Among several books are Acoustics for Musicians (1918) and in his 70s, Psychology for Musicians (1944). He contributed to The Oxford History of Music and the English Psalter (1925) and edited The Oxford Song Book (1929) and the Oxford Nursery Song Book (1934). He also wrote his History of Music, and (in 1924) The Scope of Music, and was knighted on his retirement in 1937. His own compositions included chamber music, anthems, and other keyboard pieces as well as hymn tunes. No.687.