Walford Davies

Major Sir Henry Walford Davies (6 September 1869 – 11 March 1941) was a renowned English composer, organist, and educator who was Master of the King’s Music from 1934 until 1941. He was also a music adviser to the British Broadcasting Corporation, for which he gave commended talks on music between 1924 and 1941. His most widely known works are the Royal Air Force March Past, God Be In My Head, and Solemn Melody. Life and career Early years Henry Walford Davies was born in Oswestry, Shropshire. He was the seventh of nine children of John Whitridge Davies and Susan, née Gregory, and the youngest of four surviving sons. His father, although an accountant by profession, was an amateur musician who founded and conducted a choral society at Oswestry and was choirmaster of Christ Church Congregational church: at which Walford was a chorister, and at which Walford’s siblings, Charlie and Harold, later held the post of organist. Harold Davies was professor of music at the University of Adelaide from 1919 to 1947. In 1882 Walford was accepted as a chorister at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, by the organist, Sir George Elvey. When his voice broke in 1885 Davies left the choir and was app