In a Monastery Garden

In a Monastery Garden
Light music by Albert Ketèlbey
Cover of the sheet music
Composed	1915 (1915)
Published	1915 (1915)
Scoring	orchestra optional chorus

In a Monastery Garden is a piece of light classical music by Albert Ketèlbey who composed it in 1915 after a visit to a real monastery garden. It was especially successful when performed by Ronnie Ronalde who often performed it as his finale and sold over a million recordings.

There are conflicting accounts of the origins of this piece. Here are four accounts:

1. From Franciscans Here and There, no.34:

During Fr. Edgar's noviciate... a visit was made to Chilworth in 1910 by Fr. Edgar's brother, Joseph. The latter, as J.H. Larway, was a well-known music publisher... He brought with him to Chilworth on this 1910 visit a man who was at that time distinguished as a composer, conductor and musical editor: Albert Ketelbey... Joseph Larway and Albert Ketelbey were taken round the friary and grounds of Chilworth. During the tour of the woods Ketelbey turned to Joseph Larway and said "I've got an idea. If I put it on paper, will you publish it." The idea or inspiration was In a Monastery Garden.

Between one thing and another some time elapsed before the various parts were ready for publication... In 1915 Joseph Larway... took out the copyright...

What was the surprise Fr. Edgar had in store for his guests at the 1959 Jubilee of his 50 years in the Order? Notwithstanding the many moves a friar may have in 50 years Fr. Edgar went up to his cell to bring down a remnant he had stored, and saved from the wreck of many moves. It was the score of the original MS of Ketelbey's In a Monastery Garden... Asked if he would mind this original score going into the archives of the Province, Fr. Edgar not only agreed, but agreed most willingly, and handed over the MS, which was once described in a musical review as "touching the hearts of millions of people"...

2. This account is included in the article In a Monastery Garden, by Albert W. Ketèlbey, in Music Masterpieces, Part 12, 18 March 1926, page 183:

It is highly necessary to feel what one writes, and also to have the right kind of inspiration. When I was writing In a Monastery Garden, one of my most popular compositions, I was for the time being an imaginary monk, and as in my earlier days I had had certain ascetic inclinations it was not difficult to get myself into a suitable frame of mind. The first inspiration to write the piece came to me during a visit to Scarborough. I happened to drive over to Bridlington one day, and on the way I visited a beautiful old monastery. Its quietude and its aloofness from the gaiety of the world at its doors seemed to cry aloud for expression through the medium of the orchestra. I had an idea, and when I returned home I set to work to draw a musical picture of the scene as it had impressed itself upon my mind - the chanting of the monks, the serenity and calm of the landscape, and the emotional aspect generally.