The Centenary of the Death of Willaim Baines Part 1

On the 6 November 1922, the young promising British composer William Baines died at his home in York. Several obituaries appeared in various journals. I have transcribed four of the “rarer” ones from local Yorkshire newspapers. The texts need no introduction: they all give succinct, accurate and largely sympathetic accounts of the composer’ life and achievement. I have provided a few notes.  

BRILLIANT YOUNG YORK COMPOSER DEAD. MR. WILLIAM BAINES. MODERNIST WHO DELIGHTED THE CRITICS

Mr. William Baines, the young Yorkshire composer, who rather less than three years ago was hailed as a new musical genius, an English Scriabin, has died at his home at York after long and painful illness, at the early age of 23.

Born at Horbury March 1899. he lived most his life in small Yorkshire industrial towns – Horbury and Cleckheaton, and only moved to York five years ago. He had been working hard for three or four years before he attained recognition at the age of 21.

He was first thought to belong to the school Debussy, then he was transferred to the school of Scriabin, and now it is agreed that he does not belong to either, but has created a new, distinctive style that fills executants with wonder and admiration. His harmonies are essentially modern, without being jagged or sharp-cornered; and whilst his music is strongly individual, it combines elements that suggest Scriabin and Debussy, with a dash of Palmgren.

To his father, who is a professional pianist, the boy was a marvel, and the boy himself admitted that having had so little tuition, it is astonishing that his work had the quality being right.

He learnt something of harmony from Mr. Albert Jowett, a Leeds singing master, and as a student he played the organ in St. Johns Church, Leeds. Speaking of himself he once said: “I am like Debussy: I have learnt more from the wind than from any master. Music was in me, naturally. I am great believer in exercising the imagination, and I think the reason I have attained a distinctive style all my own is that I have always tried something different from anything I have ever heard.”

Yorkshire Evening Post: Tuesday 07 November 1922 p.5

WILLIAM BAINES: DEATH OF A YORKSHIRE COMPOSER

The death has taken place at York, after a long illness, of Mr. William Baines, the young Yorkshire composer, whose works have created considerable interest in the musical world during the past few years. Mr. Baines, who was in his 24th year, was born at Horbury, near Wakefield, and from an early age showed signs of considerable ability. It was only a few years ago that he moved to York, where hie father had secured employment as a pianist, and it was at York where he composed many of the works which have brought him fame. But for many years before that, and despite the obvious disadvantages of his humble circumstances, Baines had written music that was peculiarly his own, music that was difficult to place in any known category, and which has more or less defied classification since that time - beautiful beyond description, clear and logical in its outline, and daring in flight; and music which has an irresistible appeal.

William Baines was, in the words of Dr Hull, a small boy reared in circumstances so humble that they allowed of no musical training, of only sparse opportunities of hearing good music…weaving music of an unusual beauty and a rare originality out of nothing."

It is sad to think that one who had such supremely beautiful gifts to give to the world has been taken so early. He has been a victim of the war, which destroyed so many beautiful things. rejected for the Army five times on account of his already indifferent health he was called up once again and this time was "passed." Three weeks of Army training wrecked him. He was sent into hospital, but he never recovered his former degree of health. Baines's published compositions, even the titles of which have a strange beauty, comprise, Paradise Gardens, Seven Preludes, Silverpoints, Milestones, and Tides.

Halifax Evening Courier Wednesday 08 November 1922 p.3

FUNERAL OF MR. WILLIAM BAINES

The funeral of Mr. William Baines the Yorkshire composer, who died on Monday at the early ago 23, took place at Horbury Cemetery yesterday afternoon. There was a large attendance of music-lovers from various parts of Yorkshire. The British Music Society were officially represented Dr Eaglefield Hull, and representatives were present from the Leeds and York branches of the Society. A memorial service was held at the Horbury Primitive Methodist Church, at which Dr Hull played the organ Mr. Baines's "Angelus." There were numerous wreaths, among them one from the Leeds branch of the British Music Society, bearing the following inscription: To the memory of William Baines, from the Leeds branch of the British Music Society - With deep regret and sorrow, and a keen sense of the loss by sustained British music, and in grateful recognition the work has left behind him.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Saturday 11 November 1922 p.6 

Notes

1. Arthur Eaglefield Hull (1876-1928) was a British music critic, author, organist and composer. He wrote for many periodicals, including The Monthly Musical Record. His books include an early biography of Cyril Scott (1919) and Modern harmony, its explanation and application (1915). He edited the organ works of Alexander Guilmant. His life ended in tragedy when he fell in front of a train at Huddersfield Railway station. The coroner reported “Suicide whilst of unsound mind.”

2. The British Music Society mentioned in these pages is no relation of the present British Music Society which was founded in 1979.