Class 801 - Scores of music by Alan Gray

1 file

These manuscript scores were presented to the Library in 2026 by Lloyd Barnett, organist of St Neots church, together with a number of printed scores by the same composer, some of which bear the ownership marks of Eric Impey and C. B. Hurry. The papers came in two envelopes, both bearing directions to Gray’s wife Maude, the first containing only printed scores, the second both printed and manuscript scores. An inventory of the whole accession was made shortly after its arrival and the printed items were passed on to be added to the Library’s printed collections. None of the manuscript music was published in Gray’s lifetime. It seems likely that shortly after his death in 1935 his widow collected together his unpublished organ music with a view to discovering whether any of it was suitable for publication. Three of the pieces were played through by Boris Ord, the organist of King’s College, in 1937 and found unsatisfactory (see Add. MS a. 801/15), but, perhaps at Ord’s recommendation, at least some of the music was sent to Stainer & Bell, who published three of the Fantasias as a set in 1939 (see Add. MS a. 801/7–14). It is unclear how the provenances of the printed and manuscript scores are related.

Lloyd Barnett

These items comprise:

(1) a book of hymn-tunes;

(2–6) the scores of four unpublished fantasias for organ in B minor (No. 2), D minor (No. 4) (two copies), F major (No. 5?), and F sharp minor (No. 7);

(7–9) the scores of three fantasias for organ in E minor, C minor (originally No. 3), and G major, published by Stainer & Bell Ltd as Three Fantasias for the Organ in 1939;

(10–12) the scores of four other organ pieces, formerly in a folder (13), with a related note (14)—apparently also sent to Stainer & Bell;

(15–16) the envelopes in which the papers arrived.

The scores appear to be in more than one hand. No attempt has been made to determine which, if any, are autograph. Perhaps one of the hands belongs to Maude Gray. Each of the published scores 7–9 is marked up for use as printer’s copy with the size of the paper (‘Royal’) on the front, the publication details at the foot of the first page, and numbers on the systems to indicate the intended lineation of the music. The copyright date marked on these manuscripts is 1938, but the printed versions have 1939.

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This catalogue was compiled by A. C. Green in 2026.