William Monk Gould

William Monk Gould, (24 October 1858–7 April 1923) was a British composer of light music: his popular song The Curfew (1898) was particularly well-known.[1][2][3]

Monk was born in Tavistock, becoming organist at Rye parish church when only 12 years old.[2] He later served as organist and choirmaster at St Michaels' Church, Portsmouth.[4] He published 56 compositions between 1883 and 1920.[3] He married Agnes Hilton Skinner (died 1937), and they had a son, Rupert Gould who achieved fame as a horologist and scientific broadcaster.[5] Another son was Henry Hilton Monk Gould.[6]

He died 7 April 1923 in Portsmouth.[2]

  1. ^ Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1920, http://www.ancestry.co.uk
  2. ^ a b c Musical Times, 1 May 1923, Obituary
  3. ^ a b www.musicweb-international.com Phil L Scowcroft: A thirty-ninth garland of British light music composers
  4. ^ Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle Saturday, January 17, 1880
  5. ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Rupert Thomas Gould (accessed 19 Feb 2011)
  6. ^ Charterhouse Register 1872–1910