Lines on the death of Willie Luttman, organist at Tylers Green, at the age of 55.
Willie, the humble spot where you began
to show your genius in the eyes of man
should surely add a laurel to the crown
which claims you great in musical renown!
Your youthful years with music were beguiled
and fortune, looking down on you, smiled
your young ambition father was to man
(I put it that way so that the Iine might scan!)
You made the most of your allotted span
A gift the gods give not to every man
Did you forgo the play of other boys
Did finger exercises take the place of toys
Did mother mind you making all that noise?
Did Wycombe feel no shame, ‘as you were seen
Each Sunday setting off for Tylers Green?
And so the promise of your early youth
Materialized before your wisdom tooth
A little boy of fourteen tender years
They picked you out to lord it o’er your peers
And chose you – full of musical desire
As organist and master of the choir.
So Tylers Green is proud to have the name
of being the nursery of your greater fame.
Footnote: From Mrs Becher’s history of St. Margaret’s Church.
1888 Mr. Willie Lewis Luttman, of High Wycombe.
(Appointed Organist and Choirmaster at the age of 14. 1888-1891)
M.A. Mus.Bac.(Cantab), F.R.C.O.,
Editor’s Note: (From Alumni Cantabrigienses)
LUTTMAN, WILLlE LEWIS. Adm. pens. at Peterhouse, Oct. 1, 1894.
[2nd] s. of Charles (Edwin), Esq., of High Wycombe. B. there Feb. 20, 1874.
School, Royal Grammar, High Wycombe.
Organist and choirmaster (age 14) at Tyler’s Green Parish Church, Bucks., 1888-91;
student at the Royal College of Music, 1891-3;
Organist and Choirmaster, Hughenden Parish Church, 1894.
Matric. Michs. 1894; Organ Scholar, 1894; B.A. 1897; M.A. 1901; Mus.B., 1903. F.R.C.O.; A.R.C.M. Organist at Banbury Parish Church, 1898-1907.
Organist at St Albans Cathedral, 1907-30. Conductor of the St Albans Bach Choir.
Served in the Great War, 1914-19 (Sub-Lieut., R.N.V.R.).
For the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the death of Dr Robert Fayrfax (organist of St Albans Abbey, 1498-1502), he translated and adapted Fayrfax’s Albanus Mass. Composer, songs, anthems, services.
Resided at The Old Rectory, St Albans, where he died, Feb. 2, 1930.
(T. A. Walker, 631; Univ. War List; Schoolmasters’ Directories; Who was Who; The Times, Feb, 3, 1930,)