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Music
Raynor wrote more than 680 pieces, mainly song settings for solo voice, but with a substantial number of choral and sacred items including carols, a Mass setting and an Evening Service. He also wrote piano pieces, and his song accompaniments are regarded as being well-suited to the voice parts. English tenor Ian Partridge has performed Raynor’s songs on radio, and his work was championed by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Life
John Theodore Livingston Raynor attended the Royal College of Music in 1929 and was St. Nicolas Scholar at the School of English Church Music (now the Royal School of Church Music).
After showing early skill as a writer (his autobiography "A Westminster Childhood" was published by Cassell after his death), Raynor wrote more than 680 works, mostly song settings for soprano or tenor soloist, but also sacred pieces including carols and a Mass setting. Until recently he remained largely unknown, though his music was championed by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
He lived for over 30 years in Sussex, at Roffey, near Horsham, where most of his composing was done, though enjoyed holidays in Cornwall. He died as the result of a road accident.