A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Garrett, George

GARRETT, Dr. George Mursell, was born at Winchester in June 1834. In 1844 he entered the choir of New College, Oxford, where he studied under Dr. S. Elvey until 1848. He then returned to Winchester and studied for six years with Dr. S. S. Wesley, to whom he acted for some time as assistant. In 1854 he accepted the post of organist at the cathedral of Madras, but returned to England in 1857 on his appointment as organist at St. John's College, Cambridge, in which town he has since resided. Dr. Garrett took the degree of Mus. B. in 1857, and that of Mus. D. in 1867. In May 1875 he succeeded Mr. J. L. Hopkins as organist to the University. In Nov. 1878, by grace of the senate, he received the degree of M.A. propter merita, a distinction which had never been previously conferred on a musician who did not fill a professorial chair. Dr. Garrett is also an examiner for the University, the Local Examinations, and the Irish Intermediate Education Board; an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College, London; and a member of the Philharmonic Society. His compositions include a sacred cantata, 'The Shunammite' (performed by the Cambridge University Musical Society in 1882 and at the Hereford Festival in the same year), church music, songs, part-songs, and a few pieces for the organ; but it is chiefly as a composer of services that he has won a well-deserved reputation. (Died Apr. 9, 1897.)

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