A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Reay, Samuel

by George Grove

REAY, Samuel, born at Hexham, Mar. 17, 1828; was noted for his fine voice and careful singing as a chorister at Durham Cathedral; and under Henshaw the organist, and Penson the precentor there, became acquainted with much music outside the regular Cathedral services. After leaving the choir he had organ lessons from Mr. Stimpson of Birmingham, and then became successively organist at St. Andrew's, Newcastle (1845); St. Peter's, Tiverton (1847); St. John's, Hampstead (1854); St. Saviour's, Southwark (1856); St. Stephen's, Paddington; Radley College (1859, succeeding Dr. E. G. Monk); Bury, Lancashire (1861); and in 1864 was appointed 'Song-schoolmaster and organist' of the parish Church, Newark, a post which he still holds. In 1871 Mr. Reay graduated at Oxford as Mus. Bac. In 1879 he distinguished himself by producing at the Bromley and Bow Institute, London, two comic cantatas of J. S. Bach's ('Caffee-cantate' and 'Bauern-cantate'), which were performed there—certainly for the first time in England—on Oct. 27, under his direction, to English words of his own adaptation. Mr. Reay is noted as a fine accompanyist and extempore player on the organ. He has published a Morning and Evening Service in F, several anthems, and 2 madrigals (all Novello); but is best known a writer of part-songs, some of which ('The clouds that wrap,' 'The dawn of day') are deservedly popular.

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