Arthur Carnall

Arthur Carnall (1852–1904) was an English composer and organist.[1]

Biography

Arthur Carnall was born on 7 May 1852 in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire to John Carnall (1820–1860) and Rebecca Percival (1825–1903).[1][2] He was a cathedral chorister at Peterborough.[1] From there he went to the neighbouring cathedral city of Ely as an articled pupil of – and assistant to – the Ely Cathedral organist Dr E. T. Chipp.[1] In 1872 he obtained the degree of Mus.B. from the University of Cambridge.[1]

In the following year, at the age of twenty, he was appointed the organist and choir-master of St John the Evangelist, Penge where he remained for 31 years until his death.[1]

He died on 30 June 1904,[1] at his home in Avington Grove.[2]. His obituary in The Musical Times described him as:

A high-minded man of singularly pure motives and charm of demeanour [...] greatly beloved. He devoted himself to his widowed mother with a rare strength of affection, and after her death, eight months ago, to his invalid brother, George, who, sad to say, survived him only one week.[1] (George Carnall was a chorister at Peterborough Cathedral under Dr. Haydn Keeton (1847–1921) and was organist and choirmaster of Monmouth Grammar School until 1901 when ill-health compelled him to retire.)[1]

Works

Mr. Arthur Carnall gave proof of his creative gifts in an Orchestral Overture, two Quintets (in D and F) for wind instruments, two String Quartets (in C minor and F), a Nocturne for strings, in addition to glees, madrigals, part-songs, anthems, organ and violin pieces, songs, &c. Sadly prophetic was his last composition (unfinished), it being a setting of the words 'I will lay me down in peace and sleep. [Obituary: Arthur Carnall'. The Musical Times, vol. 45, no. 739, 1904][1]

Choir

  • 1876/1893: Man goeth forth to his Work. Harvest anthem.[3]
  • 1876:
    • My Heart was glad: Easter anthem.[3]
    • Hail! thou that art highly favoured.[3]
  • 1880: A Wet Sheet & A Flowing Sea. T.T.B.B. Words by Alan Cunningham.[3]
  • 1882:
    • Te Deum in A: simple chant.[3]
    • Old Mother Hubbard. S.A.T.B.[3]
    • The Old Couple. T.T.B.B.[3]
  • 1885: Come, live with me Madrigal A.T.B.B. Words by Christopher Marlowe.[3]
  • 1886: Evening Service in Bb.[3]
  • 1888:
  • 1891: The end of the Sabbath: Easter anthem.[3]
  • 1892: Christ our Passover. Easter anthem.[3]
  • 1894: My heart was glad. Easter anthem.[3]
  • 1895:
    • Benedicite in G. No. 3.[3]
    • Vesper Hymn.[3]
  • 1898:
    • Evening Service ... in F. No. 2.[3]
    • Give place, you Ladies, and begone! A.T.B.B. Words by John Heywood.[3]
  • 1899: Evening Service in C.[3]
  • ?1900: Christ our Passover; Easter anthem. (To the choir of St. John's, Penge, S.E.)[3]
  • 1903: Bird of the Wilderness. [part song].[3]

Cornet

  • (n.d.): The March of the Boys.[3]

Flute

  • 1897:

Organ

  • 1886:
    • 'Original Melodies'. Series The Vesper Voluntaries: Book 6. 1. Siciliano; 2. Pastorale; 3. Prelude; 4. Moderato; 5. Andante; 6. Minuet; 7. Trio; 8. Adagio; 9. Choral Song; 10. Interlude; 11. Minuet; 12. March; 13. Larghetto; 14. Prelude; 15. Melody.[4]
    • Melody in Bb.[5]

Piano

  • (n.d) March of the Druids.[3]

Solo voice

  • (n.d.)
  • 1876:
  • 1877: Jack's Weddin'. Song. Words by Frederic Weatherly.[3]
  • 1878 Lord Roland.[3]
  • 1879: My Prentice Lad. Words by Jean Ingelow.[3]
  • 1880: An Olden Tryst. Words by Edward Oxenford.[3]
    • Round the Capstan. Words by J. J. Stephenson.[3]
  • 1881:
    • Dismasted. Words by Edward Oxenford.
    • The Snow-clad City. Words by 'Clover'.[3]
    • Willow Pattern. Words by Frederic Edward Weatherly.[3]
  • 1882: The Little Crossing Sweeper. Words by Louisa Brockman.
  • 1883: Love and Trust. Words by A. Brent.[3]
  • 1886: Forty Winks. Words by G. Clifton Bingham.[3]
  • 1888: The March of the Boys. Words by R. Tissington.[3]

Violin

  • (1897) Four Pieces for Violin and Piano. No. 1. Romance. No. 2. Berceuse. No. 3. Tarantella. No. 4. Gavotte and Musette.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 'Obituary: Arthur Carnall'. The Musical Times, vol. 45, no. 739, 1904, 599. Accessed 24 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 Arthur Carnall (1852–1904). Penge Heritage Trail. Online resource, accessed 22 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 'Arthur Carnell' JISC COPAC.
  4. ↑ The Vesper Voluntaries. Vol 1 (Books 1–6)
  5. ↑ [Melody in Bb https://urresearch.rochester.edu/institutionalPublicationPublicView.action?institutionalItemId=22094&versionNumber=1]. University of California: Sibley Music Library. Online resource, accessed 22 July 2026.

Open-access scores

Vocal

Organ

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