Draft:James Lyon (British composer)

Dr James Lyon (1872-1949) was a British composer, teacher and organist. He should not be confused with the American composer, James Lyon (1735-1794). He was born in Salford and died in Brisbane, Australia but was based in the Midlands for much of his life. However, he did live in Liverpool for a time, later moving to Wallasey.

Personal life

James Lyon was born in Salford, Cheshire, England on 25 Oct 1872 son of James Lyon (1839-99, Agriculturist) and Elizabeth Dickinson (1846-80). He was educated at Ormskirk Gramma School and Queen's College, Oxford (as a non-resident) where he was awarded the degree of BMus in 1904 and DMus in 1905. He married Ethel Dudley (1876-?) and they had a daughter. As widower, he married Bertha Power of Wallasey. However, he died in Brisbane, Australia, but it is not known how he came to be there.

Professional life

James Lyon was said to be largely self taught in music in his early years. He composed 7 operas, 4 orchestral suites, string quartets, a piano trio and a considerable output of choral, organ, piano works, many of which were pubished, but none appear to be in the repertory today. He wrote a wind band march Procession for the Liverpool 700th Anniversary Pageant. He was also an expert in Manx folk song. Additionally, he was an organist and teacher. He was working in Liverpool during the early part of the twentieth century. Later he moved to Wallasey and was organist at Wallasey Parish Church.

Private life

During his time in Merseyside, he served on the Committee of the Rodewald Concert Society.

Important compositions

Operas: The Palace of Cards, Fiametta, La Serena

Symphony

Fantasy Quartet, Op. 46

Organ Sonata in C minor

Songs: Joe Bowman, Four Songs for the Chinese

References

Lyon James, Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians 1954, v 8 A Dictionary of Modern Music and Musicians, Ed. Eaglefield-Hull, Dent 1924. Two Centuries of Music in Liverpool, Taylor, Stainton de B., Rockliff Bros, Liverpool, 1976, p 87. Manx Notes 21 (2004). Classical Music on the Web Henderson, John, A Dictionary of Composers for Organ Henshaw, W. B. Biographical Dictionary of the Organ IMLT https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Lyon,_James

Sources

Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians 1954

A Dictionary of Modern Music and Musicians, Ed Eaglesfield-Hull, Dent 1924

Biographical Dictionary of the Organ

Classical Music on the Web

British Library

Rodewald Concert Society archives

Ancestry UK