Edgar Pettman (1866–1943) [1] was an English organist, choral conductor and music editor. Born in Dunkirk, Kent, in 1881 he entered the Royal Academy of Music where he studied under George Alexander Macfarren. [2] [3] He was organist at a number of London churches, including St Mary's, Kilburn and St James's Church, Piccadilly until his retirement in 1924. [4] [5] Although the composer of a number of anthems and other church music, [6] he is best known for his 1892 book Modern Christmas Carols. [4] Pettman harmonized the now popular carols I Saw a Maiden and Gabriel's Message, both based on Basque carol melodies, publishing the latter in a pamphlet, The University Carol book, in 1922 with an English rendering by Sabine Baring-Gould. [7] He was also an early editor of the works of Thomas Tallis, publishing an edition in 1900. [5]