Stanton, Walter Kendall

Composer

b Dauntsey, nr Chippenham, Wilts 1891, d Sedgehill, Shaftesbury, Dorset 1978. Salisbury Choristers’ Sch, Lancing Coll, and Merton Coll Oxford (organ scholar, 1909–13); MA, MusB 1915, MusD 1935. He became Director of Music at St Edward’s Sch, Oxford, in 1915, and at Wellington Coll from 1924 to 1937 (where he edited the 1937 Wellington College Hymn Book), combined with a similar post at Reading Univ 1927–37. In 1937 he became the BBC’s Music Director for the Midland Region in the UK, followed by his appointment in 1947 to the new chair of music at Bristol Univ, as its first Professor. Most of his original work consisted of choral works, but 26 of his 50 or so hymn tunes were chosen for the 1951 BBC Hymn Book, of which he was chief music editor. 7 appeared in the 1962 Baptist Hymn Book and 4 in Rejoice and Sing (1991), but they are rare in evangelical collections. No.265.