Introduction

Biography

Myles was the son of ar­tist Myles Bir­ket Fos­ter (1825–1899).

He at­tend­ed Brigh­ton and Guild­ford Gram­mar School, and en­tered the stock ex­change.

He sub­se­quent­ly en­rolled at the Roy­al Aca­de­my of Mu­sic, and was a pu­pil of Ha­mil­ton Clarke, Ar­thur Sul­li­van and Eb­en­ez­er Prout.

He played the or­gan at St. James Church, Ma­ry­le­bone (1873), and St. George’s, Campden Hill (1875); the Found­ling Hos­pi­tal (1880–94); and at Her Ma­jes­ty’s Thea­tre. He was al­so choir­mas­ter of St. James, Hol­born.

Works

He com­posed child­ren’s can­ta­tas and much church music, and published:

• Methodist Free Church Hymns, 1889 (co-editor)
• Anthems and An­them Com­pos­ers (Lon­don: No­vel­lo, 1901)
• History of the Phil­har­mo­nic So­ci­ety (Lon­don: 1913)