The death of Sir Richard Terry, Mus.D., F.R.C.O., occurred last Monday night in the Princess Beatrice Hospital, S.W., after a comparatively brief illness. Sir Richard, who was seventy-two, had been suffering for about a fortnight from bronchial pneumonia; he succumbed to a sudden heart attack which his weakened state was not able to resist.
Richard Runciman Terry — the second name came from his connection, on his mother's side, with the family of Viscount Runciman—was the son of Thomas Terry, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and was born at Ellington, near that city. He was educated at Oxford and at Cambridge: at the latter university he was Choral Scholar at King's College. He became organist and choirmaster at Elstow School, and later at St. John's Cathedral, Antigua; then, returning to England, he worked in the same capacity, from 1896 until 1901, a(Downside.
Terry's next post, which he held for twenty-three years, until his resignation in 1924, made him a prominent figure in musical circles in London by his work as director of the music at Westminster Cathedral. During those years, and earlier still at Downside, he had thrown himself into the work of reviving the forgotten compositions Of sixteenth century composers. His own contributions to music were a number of Masses, motels, and other pieces.
By his varied musical interests for sea shanties and folk songs appealed to him as well as ecclesiastical music—Sir Richard Terry has left, whether as author, compiler, or editor, a not inconsiderable literature. Much sixteenth century music he edited. He was musical editor of the Westminster Hymnal, and the author of volumes on Catholic Church Music and on The Mush of the Roman Rite. For the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust he began the editorship of a monumental edition of Tudor Church Music, an enterprise from which ill-health subsequently withdrew him.
Other works in Dr. Terry's output include The Complete Benediction Book for Choirs; Calvin's First Psalter; The Scottish Psalter; On Music's Borders: three books of Old Rhymes with New Tunes; Salt Sea Ballads; The Shanty Book; A Medieval Carol Book; Two Hundred Folk Carols; and The Carols of Gilbert and Sandys.
As an adjudicator, Sir Richard was associated with the principal music competition festivals in Wales and in Ireland. He had been University Extension lecturer in music at Oxford, London, and Birmingham Universities; conductor of the Western Madrigal Society and the Elizabethan Madrigal Society; and President or examiner to various musical organisations.
In 1911 Terry ,received the honorary degree of Doctor of Music from Durham University. He was knighted in 1922. He married. in 1909, Mary Lee, daughter of Jasper Stephenson, of .Blanclaland, Northumberland. Lady Terry died six years ago.
A Requiem Mass was offered for Sir Richard Terry at the Servite church, Fulham, on Thursday, April 21, at 11 o'clock. The burial followed at Putney Vale Cemetery.
On Tuesday, April 26. at 9.30 a.m., Fr. Joseph Keating, S.J., will offer Mass at the church of St. Anselm and St. Cecilia, Kingsway, for Sir Richard on behalf of the members of The Keys—an association of Catholic journalists—of whlth he was president. Cardinal Hinsley offered the Cathedral for the funeral of Sir Richard Terry, but, finding that arrangements had already been made, he has offered the Cathedral for a Solemn Requiem on Thursday, April 28.
(See also page 3)