Herman Brearley Explained

Herman Brearley (died 1940) was an English cathedral organist, who served in Blackburn Cathedral.^[1]

Background

Herman Brearley was born in Batley, Yorkshire. In 1905 he and his wife lived in Hastings.

He was a chorister and then assistant organist at Lichfield Cathedral.^[2]

He was appointed Conductor of the Preston Choral Society in 1918, and conductor of the Blackburn Philharmonic Choral Society in 1922. He was also the Conductor of the Meistersingers Society, the Northrop Male Voice Choir and the Grammar School Society.

He was also Blackburn Borough organist, the first holder of the post, 1922 - 1930.^[3] His family moved to Blackburn in 1924.

He was also Music Master at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn.

In 1935 he became teacher of singing, sight-singing and musical dictation at the Royal Manchester College of Music.^[4]

In 1937 he succeeded Harold Dawber as Chorus Master of the Hallé Choir.^[5]

Private life

He married Mabel Daisy Root (1880–1962) who was a pianist and piano teacher. They had three children including Molly Brearley who led Froebel Educational Institute from 1955 to 1970.

Career

Assistant Organist of :

• Lichfield Cathedral, ?–1895

Organist of:

• Halstead Parish Church, Essex, 1895–1901
• Holy Trinity, Hastings, 1901–????
• All Saints, Hastings, ?–1916
• Blackburn Cathedral, 1916–1939

Notes and References

1. The Succession of Organists. Watkins Shaw.
2. 20th Century Cathedral Organists. Enid Bird
3. The Musical Times. July 1940
4. The history of the Royal Manchester College of Music, 1893-1972. Michael Kennedy
5. The Hallé tradition: a century of music By Michael Kennedy