John M. Glynn (1834-93): Organist and Professor Of Music

Mr Bloom looked back towards the choir. Not going to be any music. Pity. Who has the organ here I wonder? Old Glynn he knew how to make that instrument talk, the vibrato: fifty pounds a year they say he had in Gardiner street

(U 5.394-7).

John Glynn who was born in Dublin in 1834 was the son of John Glynn,¹ a civil servant who was a clerk of works at City Hall. His early education was at Mr Nattin's school in South Richmond Street, Dublin. A gifted musician from an early age, he was taught music by James Wilkinson, an eminent organist.

Glynn's first professional appointment was at St Peter's Church, in Drogheda, Co Louth where he remained for some years. He then returned to Dublin where he worked as organist in the Dominican Church, old Denmark Street and from there he went to the Church of St Nicholas of Myra in Francis Street where he remained until 1866.

He was next appointed to the Vincentian Church, Phibsborough,² and from there he was appointed to the Dominican Church, Dominick Street a position he retained until 1887,³ when he succeeded Hamilton Croft as organist and choirmaster of the Jesuit Church in Gardiner Street. Here Glynn inaugurated the beautiful new organ built by John White who worked on many of the organs in Dublin in the nineteenth century.⁴ It replaced the original instrument, which was made by Flight & Robson in 1836. Glynn worked diligently organizing and developing the church choir.

Glynn was the director of the Cecilian Society,⁵ established in Dublin some years previously. Under his conductorship, it gave many successful concerts. He conducted the first Cecilian Festival held in St Andrew's Church, Westland Row in 1879.

Glynn was also connected with the Philharmonic Society. At the opening of Rathmines Catholic Church about the year 1858 he produced Mozart's 12th Mass with a full band and a chorus of 100 voices.⁶ He also conducted the choir on the occasion of the opening of the Catholic Church in Donnybrook, and later inaugurated a new organ in St Ames's Church in James's Street.

In 1870 Glynn conducted the annual concert for Thomas Moore's birth-night and organized the performers, who included the band of the 43rd Light Infantry. To add a bit of variety to the event, besides Moore's Melodies, there was also music by Balfe, Benedict, Wallace, and Weber included in the programme.

In 1877 Glynn was living at 6 Lennox Street near Portobello; by 1884 he had moved up the street to no 10, according to Thom's Directory (1884).

At the Thomas Moore centenary celebrations in 1879, Glynn presided as organist, and opened the exhibition in the Rotunda in 1882, where he conducted several grand concerts during the season. The Round Room of the Rotunda was a particularly popular venue with an increasing number of concerts of national music being held here which involved the organists of Catholic churches in Dublin city and suburbs.⁷

Glynn was professor of music in many of the most important schools and convents in Dublin, notably Dr Quinn's, Harcourt Street; Castleknock College; Dominican Convent, Kingstown; Dominican Convent, Cabra; Loreto Convent, Rathfarnham; Stephen's Green and Balbriggan Convents. He was also examiner for the Organ and Pianoforte in the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Westland Row, and examiner in Music at the Intermediate Examinations.

Glynn composed some very beautiful church music and his compositions include 'Tota Pulchra', 'Ecce Cor', 'Jesu doloris', 'Inviolata', and 'O Cor Voluptus'. He also composed ballads and pianoforte pieces, notably the 'Memories of Erin', dedicated to Mrs Joseph Robinson; 'La Coronella'; and the song, 'Where the Lovely Rivers Flow'.⁸ He was the first to organize Vespers in Dublin, and dedicated a lot of his time to improving church music.

As an organist Glynn had few equals. He was a gentleman of a most kind and genial disposition, affable manners, and possessed a ready wit. His main residence was in Baldoyle, County Dublin but Glynn also stayed...