{{Short description|English musician, writer and composer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''William Spark''' (28 October 1823 – 16 June 1897) was an English musician, writer, composer and [[organist]] based in [[Leeds]].
== Early life and education == Spark was born in Exeter on 28 October 1823 and died in Leeds on 16 June 1897.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67356|title=Jerusalem on High CDA67|last=Graham|first=Barber|date=2003|website=Hyperion Records}}</ref> He was a chorister at [[Exeter Cathedral]] and studied with the composer [[Samuel Sebastian Wesley]] in his home town of [[Exeter]] in 1840 and moved with him to [[Leeds]] in 1842.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dw.asp?dc=W3703_GBAJY9806003|title=Jerusalem the Golden|last=Westrop|first=Stephen|date=1998|website=Hyperion Records}}</ref>
== Career == Spark's first post was as deputy organist to Wesley at [[Leeds Minster|Leeds Parish Church]] in 1842. He then worked as organist and choirmaster at [[Chapeltown, Leeds|Chapeltown]] Church.
In 1850 Spark was appointed organist to [[St George's Church, Leeds|St George's Church]]. In 1859 he helped to design the organ for [[Leeds Town Hall]] together with [[Henry Smart]].<ref name=":1" /> The following year he was appointed Leeds Municipal Organist and held the post until his death in 1897.<ref name=":1" />
He was a major contributor to the musical life of 19th-century Leeds. He founded the Leeds Madrigal and Motet Society and the Leeds Recreation Society. The latter organised People's Concerts in the Albion Street Music Hall from 1852 to 1859. From 1864 he helped to organise orchestral subscription concerts at Leeds Town Hall and was a key organiser of the [[Leeds Festival (classical music)|Leeds Triennial Musical Festivals]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.leodis.org/discovery/discovery.asp?pageno=&page=20031110_356182278&topic=20031110_154781521&subsection=2003128_444774807|title=Discovering Leeds - Leeds Classical Music|website=www.leodis.org|access-date=2020-04-01}}</ref>
Spark was a Freemason and member of the Lodge of Fidelity No.289, Leeds and was for many years their organist.
== Writing career == In 1851 Spark wrote a ''Lecture on Church Music, More Particularly the Choral Service of the Church of England as Applied to Parochial Worship.''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Spark|first=William|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_WiStQEACAAJ|title=Lecture on Church Music, More Particularly the Choral Service of the Church of England as Applied to Parochial Worship|date=1851|publisher=R. Slocombe|language=en}}</ref>
In 1869 he began publishing the ''Organist’s Quarterly Journal'' to showcase new organ compositions by English and continental composers.<ref name=":0" />
In 1888 he published a collection of his writings and reminiscences under the title ''Musical Memories'', including portraits of the conductor [[Michael Costa (conductor)|Sir Michael Costa]], composer [[Felix Mendelssohn]] and soprano [[Adelina Patti]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Spark|first=William|title=Musical Memories|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2013|isbn=978-1108062428}}</ref>
A further book ''Musical Reminiscences: Past and Present'' was published in 1892.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Spark|first=William|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O7oUAAAAYAAJ|title=Musical Reminiscences: Past and Present|date=1892|publisher=Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Company|language=en}}</ref>
== Compositions == Easy Voluntary in G major<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bardon-music.com/music.php?id=Spark_William_1823&lang=en&curr=gbp|title=Bardon Music {{!}} Organ Sheet Music {{!}} Compositions by Dr William Spark|website=www.bardon-music.com|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>
Gavotte in D Major<ref name=":2" />
Grand March composed by in celebration of Leeds being made a City, 1893 <ref>Sheet music in collection of [[Leeds Museums & Galleries]]</ref>
Immanuel (oratorio) 1887-1889 <ref>{{Cite book|last=Smither|first=Howard E.|author-link=Howard E. Smither|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1qh_QfteHVEC&q=William+Spark+oratorio+Immanuel&pg=PA799|title=A History of the Oratorio: Vol. 4: The Oratorio in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries|date=2012-09-01|publisher=UNC Press Books|isbn=978-0-8078-3778-8|language=en}}</ref>
Introduction & Fughetto in E flat<ref name=":2" />
Jerusalem the Golden <ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
Minuet in A Minor<ref name=":2" />
The Worthy Mason
The Ancient Vesper Hymn 'Theme, variations and fugue' <ref name=":0" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/ * https://www.leodis.org/discovery/
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Spark, William}} [[Category:Musicians from Exeter]] [[Category:Musicians from Leeds]] [[Category:1823 births]] [[Category:1897 deaths]] [[Category:English classical musicians]] [[Category:Writers from Leeds]] [[Category:Oratorio composers]] [[Category:People educated at Exeter Cathedral School]] [[Category:19th-century English organists]]