Allan Wicks

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title: "Allan Wicks" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["english-cathedral-organists", "1923-births", "2010-deaths", "duke-of-wellington's-regiment-officers", "british-indian-army-officers", "british-army-personnel-of-world-war-ii", "indian-army-personnel-of-world-war-ii", "commanders-of-the-order-of-the-british-empire", "english-classical-organists", "holders-of-a-lambeth-degree", "alumni-of-christ-church,-oxford", "people-educated-at-st-john's-school,-leatherhead", "20th-century-english-classical-musicians", "20th-century-english-male-musicians", "english-male-classical-organists", "military-personnel-from-west-yorkshire"] description: "English cathedral organist" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Wicks" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary English cathedral organist ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

Field	Value
background	person
name	Edward Allan Wicks
honorific_suffix	CBE
image	Allan_Wicks_(composer).png
birth_date
birth_place	Harden, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
death_date
genre	Classical
occupation	Organist, Choirmaster
instrument	Organ
years_active	1941–1988
::

| background = person | honorific_prefix = | name = Edward Allan Wicks | honorific_suffix = CBE | image = Allan_Wicks_(composer).png | birth_date = | birth_place = Harden, West Riding of Yorkshire, England | origin = | death_date = | death_place = | genre = Classical | occupation = Organist, Choirmaster | instrument = Organ | discography = | years_active = 1941–1988 | label = | current_member_of = | past_member_of = | spouse = | partner = | website = | module = | module2 = | module3 = Edward Allan Wicks (6 June 1923, Harden, West Riding of Yorkshire − 4 February 2010{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/allan-wicks-organist-p5c8fppdtbm|title=Allan Wicks: organist |publisher= Times Online Obituary |date=11 February 2010|access-date=19 September 2019|url-access=subscription}}) was an English cathedral organist, who served in Canterbury Cathedral for nearly 30 years. He was an early champion of the music of Olivier Messiaen, Peter Maxwell Davies and Kenneth Leighton. He also directed the specially-commissioned music for the 1951 revival of the York Mystery Plays, regarded as the greatest event in the Festival of Britain celebrations.

Career

The son of a parson, He took his degree at Christ Church, Oxford, where he was also organ scholar at the cathedral, assistant to Thomas Armstrong. Completing his studies after serving in the 14th Punjab Regiment, gaining an MA and an FRCO, he then took up post at York Minster in 1947, as sub-organist to Francis Jackson. He described his time at York as being much easier than modern cathedral organists: "In those days it was easier to manage on one's own, because we never used to conduct, except a cappella pieces, we never conducted like cathedral organists now who hardly ever play the organ, they're down there wagging a finger, waving their arms about." Whilst based in York, he was on the music staff at St Peter's School and Chorus Master of Leeds Philharmonic Society. For the 1951 revival of the York Mystery Plays he was director of the music, composed by his friend James Brown. The plays captured the hearts of the British public, and have been performed regularly ever since.

In 1954, Wicks left York to take the job of organist and choirmaster of Manchester Cathedral. There he inspired Maxwell Davies by his directing the choir in performances of John IV of Portugal and John Dunstaple.{{cite web |accessdate = 14 February 2009 |url = http://www.bbcmusicmagazine.com/news/allan-wicks-1923-2010 |title = Allan Wicks (1923–2010) |publisher = BBC Music Magazine |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100305141823/http://www.bbcmusicmagazine.com/news/allan-wicks-1923-2010 |archivedate = 5 March 2010}} Wicks also championed Maxwell Davies's Fantasia on O Magnum Mysterium, as well as Malcolm Williamson's six-movement Symphony. He also organised a Cantata Choir and a small orchestra for Tuesday evening concerts of larger-scale works, including Igor Stravinsky's Canticum Sacrum and Messiaen's Messe de la Pentecôte.

In 1961 he was appointed organist and master of the choristers of Canterbury Cathedral, where he served for 27 years, under three Archbishops, retiring after being appointed C.B.E. in 1988. Whilst at Canterbury, he also was honoured with the Lambeth MusDoc in 1974 and an honorary DMus from the University of Kent in 1985.

Wicks died in 2010, and was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and their two daughters.

Organist posts

• 1941–1946: Organ Scholar, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford (interrupted by wartime service in the 14th Punjab Regiment)
• 1947–1954: Sub Organist, York Minster
• 1954–1961: Organist at Manchester Cathedral.
• 1961–1988: Organist at Canterbury Cathedral.

References

|years=1954–1961}} |years=1961–1988}}

References

1. (11 February 2010). "Obituary: Allan Wicks, organist and choirmaster". gramophone.co.uk.
2. Moore, Philip. (5 March 2010). "Allan Wicks obituary". The Guardian.
3. Harris, Richard, [http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/5002555.Former_York_Minster_organist_Allan_Wicks_has_died/ York Mystery Plays musician and York Minster organist Allan Wicks has died], York Press, 11 February 2010.

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