Composer David Palmer RIP

David Palmer 13 August 1933- 23rd August 2026.

Two days before the death of Dolly Parton, another less well known, musical legend passed away. Composer David Palmer, who died on 23 August just ten days after his 93rd birthday, was legendary among the Catholics in the Croydon area and had a huge impact on the children he taught in Purley for thirty years.

His oratorio Holy Boy received its premier at Croydon's Fairfield Halls in December 1977 and has been performed there and in schools and parishes across the country and around the world many times since.

Readers may have sung his Advent hymn When is He Coming without realising it began life in this oratorio as a lament of the Israelites awaiting the foretold Emmanuel.

David Palmer was born in 1933 in Portsmouth and was baptised at St Colman's Catholic church. He began playing the piano when the family were evacuated to the West Country during the war, but after passing Grade 2 his teacher told his parents not to waste any more money on lessons! They did not know then that David's skill lay in playing by ear and composing his own music.

David's education continued after the war at Portsmouth Grammar School and the Royal Naval School in Malta where the family had relocated. After National Service and a couple of jobs in a bank and a jewellers, David discovered his calling to become a music teacher and was offered a place at St Mary's, Twickenham, for teacher training. This is where he met his wife-to-be, Annette, who was training to become a drama teacher and who later directed many of the performances of David's compositions.

As a devout Catholic, David dedicated his entire teaching career to Catholic education at St Thomas More, Secondary School in Purley where he remained until his retirement. As a teacher, he had the rare gift of seeing the good in every pupil. He inspired confidence, encouraged self-belief, and helped countless young people discover their potential, often through his passion for music.

In the early 1970s David started the Parish Music Group at St John the Baptist Church in Purley, which he led for over 50 years. He composed Mass settings, psalms and hymns which he taught to the congregation. It was important to him that everyone could join in, and he particularly encouraged younger choir members to sing the psalms or lead call and response settings. Any instrument player was welcome and he would write parts specifically for each one.

David wrote music to fill gaps that he saw in the modern repertoire, such as psalm settings and offertory hymns. Seeing the lack of Christmas music that told the full story of the birth of Christ and our redemption he composed his dramatic oratorio, Holy Boy. The style is between rock and classical, with infectious tunes and carefully set words that tell the story starting with King David the "lonely shepherd on the hill" and incorporating Isaiah's prophecies: "he could tell".

Holy Boy is a musical that can be sung and enjoyed equally by school children, parish choirs and professionals. It has been performed globally from Australia to Singapore and it's music has even been heard at the English seminary in Rome!

Following the success of Holy Boy, David went on to write the "sequel" Son of Man, telling of the passion of Christ, and his resurrection. His setting of Mary Magdalene's song 'I Know that the Lord is risen' rivals, though in a very different style, Handel's 'I know that my redeemer liveth' in its beauty and conviction, and is sung every year at the Easter Vigil in St John the Baptist, Purley. These works were born from a deep faith and they remain a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.

David was immensely proud when his service to liturgical music was recongnised by the Vatican and he was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal by Pope John Paul II in recognition of his outstanding contribution to liturgical music.

He is survived by his wife, Annette, two daughters, Sarah and Lucy, and a son, Dominic, who all continue David's work of helping young people to deepen their faith and realise their potential through their passion for music.

David's family and friends would love to hear of any memories of productions of Holy Boy or Son of Man, or if any parish or school has performed any of David Palmer's music more recently. Messages can be directed to Louise Cook louisemilnecook@outlook.com