William Litton Viner

William Litton Viner (14 May 1790 – 24 July 1867) was an organist and composer of church music.

Life

Viner was born in Bath; he studied under Charles Wesley junior, and in 1820 became organist of St Michael's Church, Bath. In 1835, on the recommendation of Samuel Sebastian Wesley, he was appointed organist of St Mary's Church, Penzance. Viner continued to be organist at St Mary's until 1859; in that year he went to America.

He died in Westfield, Massachusetts in 1867.

Viner was a prolific composer of church music, organ music, and songs. He was the author of the hymn tunes "Dismissal" and "Helston" (also known as "Kingston").

{\key aes \major aes'4 g'8 f'8 ees'4 c'4 f'4 aes'8 f'8 ees'4 c'4 c''4 bes'8 aes'8 f'4 bes'4 aes'4 g'4 aes'2}

The beginning of the hymn tune "Dismissal"

Works

He edited the following publications:

  • One Hundred Psalm and Hymn Tunes in Score (London, 1838)
  • A Useful Selection from the most approved Psalms (London, 1846)
  • The Chanter's Companion (1857)

References

Viner, William Letton Robert Evans, Maggie Humphreys: Dictionary of Composers for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland. Bloomsbury Publishing 1997.

Attribution

  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Edwards, Frederick George (1899). "Viner, William Litton". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 58. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 369.
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