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James
Farquharson Walenn, Organist 1878 (?) - 1884
The Organist who succeeded
Thomas Morley was a Mr. Branscombe, but the date he took up the post is unknown,
and we have no information about him, save that he left to take up a post in
Liverpool in 1879. Mr. Branscombe was succeeded by James Farquharson Walenn. St.
Alban’s Monthly Magazine began in 1884, so we know little about the 5 years that
he was our Organist. In fact the first mention of him, in the magazine for March
1884, is to report his death on 10th February that year, aged only 24. The
report reads:
‘Lent this year finds our community under the shadow of a sad loss. On the
morning of Sunday, the tenth of February, under an acute illness of some three
weeks’ duration, Farquharson Walenn, for more than five years organist of St
Alban’s, Holborn, passed from among us. As his love for music and enthusiasm for
his work were evident whenever he touched the keys of the organ, and as tunes
and services of his composition were familiar favourites with us, he was in one
sense personally known to all. Those who knew him more intimately bear testimony
to a guileless character, in which eager good nature and boyish vivacity were
combined with tenderness and depth of feeling.
‘His musical education commenced at an early age, at the Choir School of All
Saints, Margaret Street, and was interrupted by a short period of life at sea,
after which he returned to music with renewed zest. The proficiency which he
rapidly attained, under the tuition of Mr Alwyn, showed a real genius for the
art, and gave promise of reaching its loftiest heights. He had himself just
begun to be conscious of this when he was called away to that which is better
than realization of the highest earthly ambition.
‘The funeral took place on Thursday, the fourteenth. The bier was brought into
St Alban’s Church and placed at the upper end of the nave, covered with a
beautiful pall, during the solemn Requiem, at which portions of the music used
were compositions of his own. The Dies Irae was never more impressively sung.
The whole choir was present, and the Church was crowded. The gifts of flowers
and wreaths completely covered the coffin. The remainder of the service was held
at the grave in Highgate Cemetery, whither the clergy and the choir followed,
accompanied by many parishioners. A stained glass window, to the memory of one
who had so endeared himself to the congregation, will shortly be placed in the
Church near the organ.’
‘On Thursday, May 1st, the third grand concert in aid of the funds of the St.
Alban’s Cricket Club was given in the Holborn Town Hall…Members of the
congregation will not have forgotten that, only a month before, it was arranged
that this concert should be conducted by James Farquharson Walenn. His two
brothers were able to take part in the concert, and acquitted themselves nobly -
Master Fred Walenn as a singer, and Master Gerald as a violin player of no
ordinary capacity. His last violin solo had additional interest as being the
composition of his late brother. Though the concert was a marked success, we
regret to say that it added little to the funds of the Club.’
August: Walenn Memorial Window: ‘A design by Mr. Kempe may be seen at the West
end of the Church. About £30 is required, towards which £9 has been received.’
The window was placed in “the Chantry”, the area which is now the Lady Chapel,
but it did not survive the incendiary bomb in 1941. The music library was also
destroyed, which we may reasonably suppose contained Farquharson Walenn’s
compositions, referred to in his obituary. His Mass and settings of Ave verum
and O salutaris continued to be performed at St. Alban’s for several years,
under the direction of his successor, George Sampson.
Letter to the Parish Paper, Jan 1886: ‘The thought has been suggested to my mind
that, as we are nearing the anniversary of our late deeply-lamented Organist’s
death, perhaps it would not be out of place, and, most probably, a great treat
alike to choir and congregation, if the Mass, which bears so beautifully the
stamp of his musical genius, were rendered, either on Sunday, February 7th, or
14th. I think I am right in saying it has only once been given in its entirety
since he passed from us, and I feel sure I am right in saying it would be a
great joy to many to be reminded that J. Farquharson Walenn, whom on earth it
was a privilege to know, is speaking to us still through the agency of that
blessed science which he loved so well.’
WILSON WILLIS
February 1885: ‘There will be a special “In Memoriam” Mass for Farquharson
Walenn, our former Organist, on the 10th of the month at 11 o’clock.’
J. Farquharson Walenn had three brothers, Fred (a singer), Gerald (a violinist)
and Herbert (a cellist). They were either members of St. Alban’s, or closely
connected with it, as they were involved in parish musical events for a further
25 years, till at least 1909, as the following snippets from the Parish Paper
show.
1896: ‘At the invitation of the Rev. R.A.J. Suckling, the Chairman, many members
of the Holborn Branch of the English Church Union and their friends were present
at St. Alban’s Hall on Monday, February 17th to spend an agreeable evening which
was devoted to “Music and Coffee”. An excellent selection of music was
provided…The instrumentalists were Mr. Gerald Walenn, the violinist, and Mr.
Herbert Walenn, the violoncellist, brothers of Farquharson Walenn, a former
organist of St. Alban’s, whose memory is perpetuated by a stained-glass window
in the church. The two clever players, who have lately been worthily supporting
the credit of English executive musical art in Frankfurt, were each heard in
some self-selected numbers, Mr. Gerald Walenn playing with great taste and
technical proficiency, Wieniawski’s “Légende”, and a charming little “Berçeuse”
by Gabriel Fauré, and Mr. Herbert Walenn giving, with much manipulative skill
and brilliancy, Popper’s “Polonaise de Concert”, and afterwards heard in two
brief but graceful pieces, namely, Saint Saëns’ “Le Cygne” and a Minuet by his
former instructor, Herr Hugo Becker.’
1899: ‘The entertainment on behalf of the Old Scholars’ Cricket Ground and
Recreation Rooms took place on June 26th, at St. Alban’s Hall. The full
programme is to be found in the Monthly Paper, and included violin solos by Mr.
Gerald Walenn, who played one of his own compositions, a piece by Hubay and a
piece by Schubert. The music was under the direction of Mr. T. Adams.’
April 1900: ‘The Cricket Club Concert on April 23rd promises to be as great a
success as last year. Amongst the contributors to the long programme are our
Organist and Choirmaster, Mr. Adams; some of the gentlemen of the Choir; a
Quartette of Men’s Voices from the Community House, Woburn Square; Mr. Courtenay
Thorpe, and we hope, Mr. Gerald Walenn - prince of violinists.’
‘The Concert on behalf of the Old Scholars’ private pitch at Willesden may
fairly count as one of the successes of the year. An excellent programme carried
through in excellent style.’ The programme included:-
Madame KEMPTON
SONGS………………………a. “Awake, Awake!”……………………………………..Piatti
(Violin Obbligato - Mr. GERALD WALENN.)
“The Song of the Soldier’s Wife”………………..Thomas Adams
(First time of performance.)
VIOLIN SOLO…………………….”Reverie”…………………………………….Vieuxtemp
Mr. GERALD WALENN.
VIOLIN SOLO………………….”Russian Airs”……………………………..Wieniawski
Mr. GERALD WALENN.
April 23rd 1901: ‘The St. George’s Day concert in aid of the Old Scholars’
Cricket Club was repeated. The items included two violin solos played by Gerald
Walenn, and three part songs by J.L. Hatton (Summer Eve, Beware, and Absence)
sung by four gentlemen of the Choir.’
January 1909: ‘The social evening on Wednesday 20th was very successful. About
150 sat down to a substantial tea, and many more came for the Entertainment at
8. This was universally pronounced “first-class”, and as our audiences are
decidedly critical, this may be taken as high praise. The exquisite Violin
Sonatas given by Mr. Walenn (brother to our late Organist) were a delight that
does not often come our way, and though the Hall was packed there was not a
sound - even from the babies! The very witty and clever comic sketches were
equally appreciated, and altogether it was an evening never to be forgotten. We
cannot sufficiently thank the friends who so kindly gave their time and trouble
- coming from a distance - to give us this treat.’
Christine Petch
September 2002
Updated December 2005
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