David Willcocks in Belfast, September 2006 with "Melisma"
Born
David Valentine Willcocks
(1919-12-30)30 December 1919
Newquay, Cornwall, England
Died
17 September 2015(2015-09-17) (aged 95)
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Occupations
Choral conductor
Organist
Composer
College director
Army Officer
Organisations
Choir of King's College, Cambridge
The Bach Choir
City of Bath Bach Choir
Royal College of Music
British Army
Sir David Valentine Willcocks, CBE MC (30 December 1919 – 17 September 2015) was a British choral conductor, organist, composer and music administrator. He was particularly well known for his association with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, which he directed from 1957 to 1974, making frequent broadcasts and recordings. Several of the descants and carol arrangements he wrote for the annual service of Nine Lessons and Carols were published in the series of books Carols for Choirs which he edited along with Reginald Jacques and John Rutter. He was also director of the Royal College of Music in London.
During the Second World War (1939–1945) he served as an officer in the British Army, and was decorated with the Military Cross for his actions on Hill 112 during the Battle of Normandy in July 1944. His elder son, Jonathan Willcocks, is also a composer.
Normandy in July 1944. His elder son, Jonathan Willcocks, is also a composer. Born in Newquay in Cornwall, Willcocks began his musical training as a chorister...
published in 1961 by Oxford University Press. It was edited by Sir DavidWillcocks and Reginald Jacques, and is a widely used source of carols in the...
in April 2010 Sir DavidWillcocks (1919–2015), British choral conductor and composer James Willcocks, General Sir James Willcocks GCB GCMG KCSI DSO (1...
University Press in 1981, in the anthology Oxford Easy Anthems, edited by DavidWillcocks. "The Lord bless you and keep you" is a setting of the Priestly Blessing...
Jonathan Peter Willcocks BEM (born 9 January 1953) is an English composer and conductor. Willcocks was born in Worcester, the son of conductor and composer...
producer David Wilcox (bishop) (born 1930), British Anglican bishop Dave Wilcox (born 1942), American football linebacker Sir DavidWillcocks (1919–2015)...
Carols for Choirs 2 ed. Willcocks and Rutter Carols for Choirs 3 ed. Willcocks and Rutter Carols for Choirs 4 ed. Willcocks and Rutter Child in a manger...
example, the treble solo at the beginning of Stanford's Magnificat in G, DavidWillcocks' descant to Mendelssohn's tune for the carol "Hark! The Herald Angels...
entitled Starry Night O'er Bethlehem with words by Anne Willcocks and music by DavidWillcocks was also specially written for the service. A Festival of...
(tenor), Tom Krause (baritone), Simon Preston (organ), conducted by Sir DavidWillcocks; recording re-released in 2000 by London/Decca Legends CD 458623 1986:...
Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra were conducted by Sir DavidWillcocks, who was the director of the Royal College of Music and of the Bach...
with Woodward's text in The Cambridge Carol Book. More recently, Sir DavidWillcocks made an arrangement for the second book of Carols for Choirs. Ding...
example, the treble solo at the beginning of Stanford's Magnificat in G, DavidWillcocks' descant to Mendelssohn's tune for the carol Hark, the Herald Angels...
(1938–52), Sir Ernest Bullock (1953–59), Sir Keith Falkner (1960–74), Sir DavidWillcocks (1974–84), Michael Gough Matthews(1985–93) and Dame Janet Ritterman...
The choir's patron is King Charles III. Its conductor laureate was DavidWillcocks, who was the choir's musical director from 1960 to 1998. Other musical...
including Gustav Holst, John Gardner (op. 75.2, 1965), Igor Stravinsky, DavidWillcocks, John Rutter, Philip Lawson, James Burton, Ronald Corp, Philip Stopford...
compositions and arrangements, especially for choir. After succeeding DavidWillcocks as Director at King's, he wrote a number of new descants and arrangements...
Reinecke, Gustav Schreck, Eusebius Mandyczewski, Malcolm Sargent, DavidWillcocks, Charles Mackerras, Philip Ledger, John Rutter, Stephen Cleobury, Jacob...
title of "Director of Music", while Willcocks was appointed to the role of Organist. Ord retired in 1957, and Willcocks took over his role under the title...
Stephen Cleobury William Cowper Percy Dearmer Philip Ledger John Newton DavidWillcocks Isaac Watts List of musicians at English cathedrals Masters of the...
Stephen Cleobury William Cowper Percy Dearmer Philip Ledger John Newton DavidWillcocks Isaac Watts List of musicians at English cathedrals Masters of the...
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