Edgar Pettman (1866 - 1943)[1] was an English organist, choral conductor and music editor. Born in Dunkirk, Kent, in 1881 he entered the Royal Academy of Music where he studied under George Alexander Macfarren.[2] [3] He was organist at a number of London churches, including St Mary's, Kilburn and St James's Church, Piccadilly until his retirement in 1924.[4] Although the composer of a number of anthems and other church music,[5] he is best known for his 1892 book Modern Christmas Carols.[6] Pettman harmonized the now popular carols I Saw a Maiden and Gabriel's Message, both based on Basque carol melodies, publishing the latter in a pamphlet, The University Carol book, in 1922 with an English rendering by Sabine Baring-Gould.[7] He was also an early editor of the works of Thomas Tallis, publishing an edition in 1900.[4]