Ernest Farrar

Ernest Bristow Farrar (7 July 1885–18 September 1918) was an English composer, pianist and organist

Life

Ernest Farrar was born in Lewisham, London. The son of a clergyman, he was educated at Leeds Grammar School where he began organ studies and in May 1905 won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music. There he studied with Sir Charles Villiers Stanford and Sir Walter Parratt. He also took up several posts as organist in Dresden, South Shields and Christ Church, High Harrogate. In 1913 he married Olive Mason in South Shields. His best man was Ernest Bullock.

His career was cut short by the outbreak of World War I as he enlisted in the Grenadier Guards in 1915 and joined the regiment in August 1916. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion Devonshire Regiment on 27 February 1918.

Farrar was killed on the Western front at the Battle of Epehy Ronssoy near Le Cateau in the Somme valley south, west of Cambrai in 1918.

His grave lies just outside the churchyard wall in Ronssoy Communal Cemetery Extension, in a corner under some trees. A Requiem was said at Micklefield on 29 September, the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels.

Works and legacy

Despite his short life, Farrar wrote a large body of music for orchestra, voices and organ. His works include The Blessed Damozel, the Celtic Suite and his song cycle, Vagabond Songs. However, apart from a few songs his works are now rarely performed. His orchestral music has been recorded by the Philharmonia Orchestra on the Chandos label, as well as miscellaneous songs and organ works.

Today, Farrar is perhaps best known as the teacher of Gerald Finzi. Farrar's death affected the young Finzi deeply, and from the very beginning, most of his music was elegiac in tone. Frank Bridge dedicated his famous Piano Sonata to the memory of Farrar.

References

• Farrar biography

External links

• Ernest Farrar at Find a Grave