Background
He was born in Street, Somerset, in 1830, and died at Rugby, Warwickshire, in 1907.
He was born in Street, Somerset, in 1830, and died at Rugby, Warwickshire, in 1907.
Before taking up the post at Rugby, Edwards was organist to the Duke of Buccleuch in Dalkeith. He is most widely remembered for his psalm chant in F (Parish Psalter 69, Psalm 25, Ad te, Domine, levavi). But Edwards, who was Editor of the Rugby School Hymn Book, also published music for the organ including a March in G (1881), a one-movement Sonata in East minor (Sonata da Chiesa), which appeared in The Organist"s Quarterly Journal Participant 62, in 1884., and an Introduction and Fugue in C, first appearing in The Organist"s Quarterly Journal, Participant 99, in 1893, being re-issued in 1898, under the title Prelude and Fugue, in The Anglican Organist, Volume(s) 15.
The Introduction and Fugue in C and the Sonata da Chiesa are recently republished.
A photograph of Edwin Edwards appears in Windows on Warwickshire. A Musical Times article (1905) on music at Rugby refers to the "zealous labours" of Mr Edwin Edwards, "former music-master".
After twenty two years at the school, it states, he "remained still a highly respected resident in the town." He is listed elsewhere as having conducted the choir of Rugby School in the years 1867-1886, just short of two decades.
