Basil Ramsey

Basil Ramsey (26 April, 1929 – 12 June, 2018), was an English music publisher, journalist, editor and organist.[1]

Ramsey was born in Chelmsford and grew up in London. He joined the music publisher Novello and Co in 1949, becoming Director of Publications in 1963.[2] While there he worked with composers including Peter Dickinson, Geoffrey Bush, John Joubert and John McCabe. In 1974 he set up his own publishing business (Basil Ramsey/Banks Music Publications) with his friend, the composer Bernard Herrmann – though Herrmann unfortunately died the following year.[3] Ramsey published many pieces by the musical medium Rosemary Brown.[4] He also became the publisher of the Maltese composer Charles Camilleri.

He was the editor of and contributor to various publications, including Organists’ Review (1972–84), Music & Musicians (1989–90), and The Musical Times (1990-92), and was the founding editor of Choir and Organ in 1993.[5] Ramsey suffered a stroke three years later, but continued editing for another decade from his wheelchair. And in 1999, with Keith Bramich, he founded the online music magazine Music & Vision, where he continued working until 2006.[3]

Ramsey was also a church organist in London, at St Luke’s, Old Street, and St Giles, Cripplegate, in London. He arranged the carol From Heaven Winging, which is still performed.[3]

He married his wife Violet Simpson in 1952 and there were two daughters and a son. She died in 1996. Basil Ramsey died in North Yorkshire on 13 June 2018, aged eighty-nine, following a long illness.[3]