Harold Edwin Darke

DARKE, Harold Edwin. b. London, 29 October 1888; d. Cambridge, 28 November 1976. Born in London, Darke studied the organ with Walter Parratt* at the Royal College of Music and composition with Stanford*. He was organist of St Michael’s, Cornhill, London from 1916 to 1966, gaining a reputation for his performances of Bach* (in the style of Schweitzer) and for his regular Monday recitals. He also founded and conducted the City of London Choral Union in 1925, and the St Michael’s Singers (1919-66) whose festivals featured works by Parry*, Vaughan Williams* and Howells*. During the Second World War he was acting organist of King’s College, Cambridge while Boris Ord* was on war service. Among...