A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Holmes, George

by William H. Husk

HOLMES, George, organist to the Bishop of Durham, was appointed organist of Lincoln Cathedral on the death of Thomas Allinson in 1704. He composed several anthems, two of which—'Arise, shine, daughter of Zion,' composed on the Union with Scotland, 1706, and 'I will love Thee, O Lord,'—are to be found in the Tudway Collection (Harl. MS. 7341), and others are in the choir books of Lincoln. Holmes composed an Ode for St. Cecilia's day, but for what particular year is not stated; its contents however show it to have been written between 1703 and 1713. He died in 1720. Some catches by a George Holmes are contained in Hilton's 'Catch that Catch can,' 1652; their composer may possibly have been the father of the organist of Lincoln.

[ W. H. H. ]