Malcolm Bull's Calderdale Companion : Foldout

Sir George Dyson

[1883-1964]


The composer, Sir George Dyson FRCO, KCVO, was born on 28th May 1883 at 4 Schofield Court, Crossley Road, Halifax. He was the son of John William Dyson.

He began to play music at the age of 5 and to compose at 7, and became a pupil of Arthur Collingwood.

In 1900, at the age of 17, he left Halifax to take up an open scholarship in organ and composition at the Royal College of Music in London. He was director of the College [1938-1952], and a governor of Sadler's Wells.

In 1914, he served as a Brigade Grenadier Officer with the Royal Fusiliers. He wrote a training pamphlet on the use of the hand grenade. He was invalided out of the army in 1916, suffering from shell-shock.

In 1917, he married Mildred Lucy Atkey [1880-1975].

Children:

  1. Alice [b 1920] who never married
  2. John Freeman

He was the first president of National Federation of Music Societies [1935], and, president of Halifax Chamber Music Society [1943]. He composed much music including

He was knighted [1941]. He was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order [1953].

In 1954, he wrote an autobiography entitled Fiddling While Rome Burns.

He died at his home in Winchester

Sir George Dyson Trust

This was established in 1998, with his daughter, Alice, as Chairman. The aim of the Trust is

to advance the education of the public in the understanding and appreciation of music of Sir George Dyson, and to make available his manuscripts, writings, scores, drafts and memoranda for the encouragement of the study of his work


See George Dyson: Man and Music and Azubah Ann Greenwood



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© Malcolm Bull 2017 / [email protected]
Revised 14:41 on 14th May 2017 / qq_171 / 6