Paul Edwards (composer) facts for kids

Paul Christison Edwards, born on March 19, 1955, is a talented English musician. He is known for being an organist (someone who plays the organ) and a composer (someone who writes music). He creates music especially for the Anglican Church, which is a Christian church in England.

About Paul Edwards

Paul Edwards grew up in a village called Turvey in Bedfordshire, England. He went to St Paul's Choir School and Bedford Modern School. For about four and a half years, he was a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral. A chorister is a singer in a church choir. After that, he spent a similar amount of time as a lay clerk at Peterborough Cathedral. A lay clerk is an adult singer in a cathedral choir.

Paul has worked as an organist and choir master at several churches in Bedfordshire. These include All Saints in Turvey and St. Paul's Church, Bedford. He also teaches music, plays the piano for singers, and sings in choirs himself.

His Musical Work

Paul Edwards has made recordings of old, important organs in North Bedfordshire. He has also copied and prepared ten books of 18th-century English organ music for publishing. These books help people today play music from a long time ago.

Paul has written almost 450 pieces of music! This includes about 150 hymn tunes and many anthems. Anthems are special songs often sung in church. Many of his works have been published in collections like Hymns for Today’s Church and Carols for Today.

One of his most famous carols is No Small Wonder. He wrote it in 1983. This carol was first published in 1986. The Canterbury Cathedral Choir recorded it. Later, it was heard during the famous Nine Lessons and Carols service. This service is broadcast on BBC Television by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. His music has also been featured on several music CDs.

What Inspires Him

Paul Edwards finds ideas for his music in the beautiful English countryside. He especially loves the scenery in Norfolk. Besides music, he also enjoys driving and taking pictures of buses and coaches!

Some of His Music

Paul Edwards has written many different types of music. Here are a few examples of his works.

Choral Music

Choral music is written for choirs to sing.

• No Small Wonder op. 204 (1983)
• Love is Come Again op. 224 (1985)
• Requiem Mass op. 377 (1999)
• God be in my head op. 412 (2002)
• Carol of the birds op. 436 (2007)

Organ Music

Organ music is written specifically for the organ instrument.

• Fanfare for Ascension Day op. 190 (1983)
• Turvey Tuba Tune op. 383 (2000)
• Okehampton Trumpet Tune op. 395 (2001)
• Trumpet Processional op. 429 (2006)
• A Prayer op. 438 (2008)

Recordings of His Music

You can find Paul Edwards' music on these recordings:

• No Small Wonder Music for Christmas and Remembrance - performed by The Concord Singers.
• God be in my head Choral works by Paul Edwards - performed by The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge.