Richard Runciman Terry (1865 – 1938)

Sir Richard Runciman Terry (1865 – 1938) was an English organist, choir director and musicologist. He is noted for his pioneering revival of Tudor liturgical music.

His first appointments were to Elstow School in 1890 and as organist and choirmaster of St John’s Cathedral, Antigua, in 1892.

In 1896 he was appointed organist and director of music at the Roman Catholic Benedictine Downside School in Somerset. It was here where he began the massively important work of reviving the Latin music of Tudor English composers such as William Byrd and Thomas Tallis. He was greatly inspired by the revival of Gregorian chant by Dom Prosper Gueranger at Solesmes Abbey in France, which was to be an important part of the Downside musical repertoire.

Terry was the first Director of Music at the newly built Westminster Cathedral, a post which he held from 1901 to 1924, when he resigned after coming under significant criticism for his choice of music. Nonetheless, during this time he was able to establish a choral tradition of great merit at the Cathedral, developing a repertoire of both Gregorian chant and polyphonic music. The choir’s particular focus on renaissance polyphony is believed to have had an impact on the emerging school of 20th century English composers and on the performance of church music in England. Following his resignation from Westminster Cathedral he went on to work as a musical editor, journalist and academic.

He was awarded a knighthood in 1922.

  • Fill Thou My Life O Lord My God (Billing, Organ, 7 verses)
    Fill Thou My Life O Lord My God Lyrics Fill thou my life, O Lord my God, in ev’ry part with praise, that my whole being may proclaim thy being and thy ways. Not for the lip of praise alone, nor e’en the praising heart, I ask, but for a life made up of praise in ev’ry part: Praise in the common things of ...
  • Lord, For Tomorrow And Its Needs (Providence) – Organ
    Lyrics ~ 5 verses Lord, for tomorrow and its needs I do not pray; keep me, my God, from stain of sin just for today. Let me both diligently work and duly pray; Let me be kind in word and deed, just for today. Let me be slow to do my will, prompt to obey; help me to sacrifice myself, just for today. Let me no wrong or ...
  • O Perfect Love (Highwood, Piano, 3 Verses)
    O Perfect Love : Lyrics 1. O perfect Love, all human thought transcending, Lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne, That theirs may be the love which knows no ending, Whom thou forevermore dost join in one. 2. O perfect Life, be thou their full assurance Of tender charity and steadfast faith, Of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance, With childlike trust ...
  • This Is The Day The Lord Has Made (Billing, Organ, 5 Verses)
    This Is The Day The Lord Has Made Lyrics 1. This is the day the Lord has made; He calls the hours His own; Let heav’n rejoice, let earth be glad, And praise surround the throne. 2. Today he rose and left the dead, And Satan’s empire fell; Today the saints His triumphs spread, And all His wonders tell. 3. Hosanna to th’anointed King, To ...