Born in Llandaff, Ivor Algernon Atkins (1869-1953) obtained both a degree and doctorate in Music from The Queen’s College, Oxford, before becoming Assistant Organist of Hereford Cathedral and, subsequently, Organist of St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow. He served for fifty-three years as Organist of Worcester Cathedral, and in this role he was responsible for the revival of the Three Choirs Festival in 1920 following its suspension in wartime; he was knighted the following year. Atkins composed several songs, a cantata, some church music (plus a contribution to the Little Organ Book in Memory of Hubert Parry), and edited the works of Bach and Mendelssohn. Alongside Elgar, he prepared the standard performing edition (of the day) of Bach’s St Matthew Passion.

from notes by John Challenger © 2022