[1] Oldroyd studied with the organist and composer Arthur Eaglefield Hull and took violin lessons from Johann Rasch and Frank Arnold.
It was dedicated to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Gordon Lang, in whose diocese St. Michael's at that time lay, and is still part of the repertoire of many English cathedrals and parish churches.
There is also a large scale Stabat Mater (1922), and Jhesu Christ, St Mary's Sone: A Spiritual Rhapsody (1931) for voices and orchestra.
The earlier pieces, published by Augener, include Contemplation (1913), the Prelude in F sharp minor (1914), Lune de Miel (1919, a wedding piece with the title a play on the words 'Honey Moon'), Canticle (Deus Miseratur) (1919), Three Hymn Tune Meditations (1924), and the Phantasy: Prelude and Chorale (1924, using the chorale melody 'Nun danket').
[3] Oldroyd was an authority on counterpoint, and published The Technique And Spirit Of Fugue: An Historical Study in 1948[9] and Polyphonic Writing for Voices in 6 and 8 Parts in 1953.