Boris Ord
Boris Ord (born Bernhard Ord) (9 July 1897 – 30 December 1961) was a British organist and choirmaster of King's College, Cambridge (1929-1957). During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force. He is best known for his choral setting of Adam lay ybounden, his only published composition.
Early life and education
Ord was born at Clifton, Bristol, the son of Clement Ord, a lecturer at the University of Bristol. He was educated at Clifton College, Bristol – as was his successor, Sir David Willcocks[1] – and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he was the John Stewart of Rannoch scholar in Sacred Music.
Career
In 1920, Ord won an organ scholarship at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. During his time there, he was very active in the musical life of the university and founded the Cambridge University Madrigal Society, in recognition of which he was awarded a Cambridge Fellowship in 1923. Ord spent a year working at the Cologne Opera in 1928, before returning to Cambridge as a conductor. In 1936, Ord became director of the Cambridge University Musical Society.[2]
In 1929, Boris Ord took the position of Organist of King's College, Cambridge, a role which placed him in charge of the chapel choir.[3] He was assisted by an organ scholar, a role held from 1934 by David Willcocks.[4] After the outbreak of World War II, both Ord and Willcocks left King's to join the armed forces. Ord served in the Royal Air Force. The composer Harold Darke deputised for Ord during that period.[3]
In the mid 1950s, Ord began to suffer from ill health, and it was decided to split Ord's role into two new positions. Ord took on the new title of "Director of Music", while Willcocks was appointed to the role of Organist.[3]
Ord died in 1957, and Willcocks took over his role under the title "Organist and Director of Music", a title which has since been held by all his successors.[3]
Composition
Ord is known for his his only published piece of music, a choral setting of a medieval text, Adam lay ybounden, written in 1957.[5] Ord's carol is frequently performed at the popular annual service Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's,[6] sometimes alternating with the other settings by Peter Warlock and Philip Ledger.[7]
References
- ^ "Sir David Willcocks, choirmaster - obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ "Ord, Boris :". Oxford Music Online. OUP. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d "History of the Choir". King's College Cambridge. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Sir David Willcocks: Charismatic conductor and organist who raised". The Independent. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ Kennedy, Michael; Bourne, Joyce (2004). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 533. ISBN 9780198608844. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ "King's College Chapel Choir 100 Years of Nine Lessons & Carols KING'S COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE KGS0033 [MR] Classical Music Reviews: November 2018 - MusicWeb-International". MusicWeb International. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ Sinden, David. "2017 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols: Adam's Fall – Richard Elfyn Jones | blog.sinden.org". Retrieved 2 October 2019.
Further reading
Jacobs A. A New Dictionary of Music 3rd edition. Penguin Books, Middlesex, 1973.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
  | This article about an English musician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article on an organist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1897 births
- 1961 deaths
- People educated at Clifton College
- Fellows of King's College, Cambridge
- English classical organists
- Male organists
- Royal Air Force officers
- Alumni of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
- 20th-century classical musicians
- 20th-century English musicians
- 20th-century organists
- 20th-century male musicians
- English musician stubs
- Organist stubs