A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lowe, Edward

by William H. Husk

LOWE, Edward, was a native of Salisbury and a chorister in the cathedral there under John Holmes, the organist. In 1630 he succeeded Dr. William Stonard as organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. In 1660 he was appointed one of the organists of the Chapel Royal. In 1661 he published at Oxford 'A Short Direction for the performance of Cathedrall Service, published for the information of such as are ignorant of it and shall be called upon to officiate in Cathedral or Collegiate Churches where it hath formerly been in use,' containing the notation of the Preces, Responses, Litany, etc., for ordinary days, and, under the title of 'Extraordinary Responses upon Festivalls,' a version of Tallis's Responses and Litany, and also 'Veni Creator,' harmonised for 4 voices. In 1662, on the resignation of Dr. Wilson, he was appointed Professor of Music at Oxford, having been deputy for some time before. In 1664 he published 'A Review' of his 'Short Direction,' adapted to the then newly-revised Liturgy, and including also several chants and John Parsons's Burial Service. This edition was reprinted by Dr. llimbaultin 1843, and by Dr. Jebb in his 'Choral Responses' in 1857. Low composed several anthems, some of which are in the Tudway collection and at Ely Cathedral. He died at Oxford, July 11, 1682, and was buried in the Divinity Chapel on the north side of the cathedral.

[ W. H. H. ]