A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Elvey, George

by William H. Husk

ELVEY, Sir George Job, Knight, Mus. Doc. was born at Canterbury, March 27, 1816. He commenced his musical education as a chorister of Canterbury Cathedral under Highmore Skeats, the organist. After quitting the choir he pursued his studies under his elder brother, Stephen. In 1834 he gained the Gresham prize medal for his anthem, 'Bow down Thine ear.' In 1835 he was appointed to succeed Skeats as organist of St. George's Chapel, Windsor. In 1838 he graduated as Bachelor of Music at Oxford, his exercise being a short oratorio, 'The Resurrection and Ascension,' which was afterwards produced in London by the Sacred Harmonic Society on Dec. 2, 1840, and has also been given at Boston, U. S. A., and at Glasgow. In 1840 he proceeded Doctor of Music, his exercise being an anthem, 'The ways of Zion do mourn.' He composed an anthem for voices and orchestra 'The Lord is King' for the Gloucester Musical Festival of 1853, and a similar one, 'Sing, O heavens,' for the Worcester Festival of 1857. Elvey's compositions are chiefly for the church; many of his anthems are published. He composed a Festival March for the wedding of the Princess Louise in 1871, which was afterwards performed in public. In the same year he received the honour of knighthood. His tune for the harvest hymn, 'Come, ye thankful people,' is generally admired.

[ W. H. H. ]