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.
Biography
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.
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