Drury family history

Positions and works of Organist, Composer and Musical Director, Bertram Luard-Selby

A Brief biography

Bertram Luard-Selby was born in the 14th-century manor house owned by the Selby family for about 300 years. Having studied at the Leipzig Conservatoire, he became organist of St Barnabas, Marylebone, London and Director of Music at Highgate School 1876-81. He was then at Salisbury Cathedral 1881-83; St John's Church Torquay 1884-87; St Barnabas, Pimlico, London 1887-1900 (in succession to Basil Harwood) and Rochester Cathedral 1900-16. His compositions included two operas, incidental music for the theatre, church music, songs, organ and chamber works. His "musical duologue", Weather Or No was used as a companion piece to The Mikado at the Savoy in 1896, and among his orchestral works Village Suite, premiered at the Henry Wood Proms in 1908 and an Idyll seem to be on the lighter side.

He was music editor for A&M 1904 to which he contributed 21 tunes.