17 Facts About Ernest Bullock

Sir Ernest Bullock was an English organist, composer, and teacher.

Ernest Bullock was organist of Exeter Cathedral from 1917 to 1928 and of Westminster Abbey from 1928 to 1941.

Ernest Bullock published a few part songs and other secular vocal works.

Ernest Bullock was born on 15 September 1890 in Wigan, Lancashire, the youngest of six children of Thomas Ernest Bullock and his wife Eliza, nee Stout.

At Leeds, Ernest Bullock was appointed assistant organist to Bairstow at the parish church, and organist of St Mary, Micklefield, and St John the Baptist Church, Adel.

At that time non-residential students were able to qualify for music degrees from Durham University; Ernest Bullock graduated Bachelor of Music in 1908 and became a Doctor of Music in 1914.

In 1919, Ernest Bullock married Margery Newborn, daughter of a Lincolnshire solicitor.

The post was offered to Bairstow, who was by then master of the music at York Minster; he preferred to stay in Yorkshire, his native county, and, probably on his recommendation, Ernest Bullock was appointed to the Abbey.

Armstrong writes that at the abbey, Ernest Bullock showed the same reforming energy as he had at Exeter.

Ernest Bullock reorganised the daily choral offices and led the musical side of many state occasions.

Ernest Bullock's was among them; all his property and papers were destroyed along with the building.

The music at the abbey being much scaled down, Ernest Bullock resigned in 1941 and took up the dual post of Gardiner Professor of Music at the University of Glasgow and principal of the Scottish National Academy of Music, which became the Royal Scottish Academy of Music during his time in charge.

Ernest Bullock was appointed CVO in 1937 and was knighted in the 1951 King's Birthday Honours List.

Ernest Bullock was an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music and president of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and of the Royal College of Organists, and was joint chairman of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

Ernest Bullock retired from the RCM in 1960, and settled in Long Crendon near, Aylesbury, where he died aged 88 on 24 May 1979.

Ernest Bullock is known for his church music, including the anthems "Give us the wings of faith", and "O most merciful".

Ernest Bullock's output includes three evening services, two Te Deums, two Magnificats, a Jubilate, twenty anthems and motets, organ music and a small number of part-songs and other secular vocal pieces.