Composer: Cyril Vincent Taylor

From HymnsWithoutWords

Hymns of Cyril Vincent Taylor (1907 - 1991)

Biography

Cyril Vincent Taylor (1907 - 1991) was born in Wigan, Lancaster, England, the son of a Church of England clergyman. A student at Christ Church, Oxford, he was also ordained in the Church of England. He rose to become Precentor of Bristol and later Salisbury Cathedrals. He was BBC's producer of Religious Broadcasting during the Second World War and, while stationed in Abbot's Leigh, he composed his famous hymn tune in response to complaints about the traditional setting Austria by Jospeh Haydn, which is used as the tune to the German National Anthem. For many years he served as a proprietor of Hymns Ancient & Modern, playing a major editorial role in compiling two supplements and The New Standard Edition.