Cathedral music and the First World War: A view from the Archives of Durham, St Paul’s, and York Minster

This thesis explores the impact of the First World War on English Cathedral music, both during the long four years and in its aftermath. Throughout this study, reference will be made specifically to three English cathedrals: York Minster, Durham and St Paul’s. The examination will be carried out chronologically, in three parts: before the war (part one), during the war (part two) and after the war (part three). Each of these three parts consists of two chapters. Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 help to set the scene and offer context. In chapters 2- 5 there is a more focused and systematic investigation into the day-to-day administrative challenges that the Cathedrals faced, followed in each chapter by an assessment of the musical programme. Chapter 6 examines the long-term impact of the war on British cathedral music, especially in the centenary anniversary years.

The Great War is often perceived as a complete break with the past, yet it also represented an imaginative continuity of sorts. As such, 1914-18 can be seen as a period of twilight in a lot of senses. The war managed to bring the flirtation with modernism, which was undoubtedly happening at the beginning of the century, to at least a temporary halt. Through the examination of the archives of the three cathedrals, this thesis investigates how the world war left its mark on the musical life of this portion of English religious and music life, during and after the war, drawing national comparisons as well as showing the particulars of each cathedral.