Introduction

Biography

Edward was the son of James Oates Bair­stow and Eliz­abeth Ad­eline Wat­son.

Bairstow taught for a while at Wind­sor, then was a stu­dent and as­sist­ant to Fred­er­ick Bridge at West­min­ster Ab­bey for six years.

He played the or­gan at All Saints Church in Nor­folk Square, Lon­don, un­til 1899, when he be­came or­gan­ist at Wig­an Par­ish Church, Lan­ca­shire. He trans­ferred to Leeds Par­ish Church in 1913, then served as or­gan­ist at York Mins­ter (1913–46).

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Dur­ham award­ed him a Doc­tor­ate of Mu­sic de­gree in 1902, and made him a Pro­fes­sor of Mu­sic in 1929. King George V knight­ed him in 1932.