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{{Short description|British organist and composer}}
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Sir '''George Thomas Thalben-Ball''' (18th June 1896 - 18th January 1987) was an English organist and composer.
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}


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'''Sir George Thomas Thalben-Ball''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (18 June 1896 – 18 January 1987) was an Australian organist and composer who spent almost all his life in England.
He was born in [[Sydney]], [[Australia]] of English parents who brought him back to England when he was 4. Until he was a young man he went by the name of George Thomas Ball.


==Early life==
He studied piano at the [[Royal College of Music]] in [[London]] at the unusually early age of 14 and there he was the soloist in the first English performance of [[Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninov]]'s famously difficult [[Piano Concerto No. 3 (Rachmaninoff)|Piano Concerto No. 3]]. He also studied the organ there and was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (of which he later became President).
George Thomas Ball (he later took the additional name of "Thalben") was born in Sydney, Australia, where his father George Charles Ball had gone for business. His mother was Mary Hannah (née Spear). He had a younger brother. His parents were both of Cornish origin.<ref>{{Cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-39916|isbn=978-0-19-861412-8|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/39916|title=The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|year=2004}}</ref> He studied organ and piano at the [[Royal College of Music]] (RCM) in London, which he entered at the unusually young age of 14. The level of his talent can be gleaned from the fact that he played the solo part in the first performance by an English-trained pianist of [[Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninoff]]'s famously difficult [[Piano Concerto No. 3 (Rachmaninoff)|Piano Concerto No. 3]]. This event occurred in 1915 at the RCM, when he was aged 19.


==Career==
He was asked to deputise as organist at the [[Temple Church]] by its then organist Sir [[Henry Walford Davies]] and, in 1923, he succeeded him as organist and director of the Temple Church choir, a post he was to retain for nearly sixty years.
After graduating from the RCM the young man was asked to deputise as organist at London's [[Temple Church]] by its then organist, Sir Henry [[Walford Davies]]. In 1923, he succeeded Walford Davies as organist and director of the Temple Church choir, a post he held for nearly 60 years. Under his direction, the choir achieved in 1927 international fame with its recording of Mendelssohn's ''[[Hear My Prayer]]'', featuring [[Ernest Lough]] as the treble soloist. This recording was followed by a number of others on the [[HMV]] label.


⚫
Thalben-Ball composed several anthems and organ works, of which the best known is his meditative ''Elegy'' for organ, which was played, for example, at the [[Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales]]. This piece originated in an improvisation which Thalben-Ball played at the end of a live BBC daily religious service during World War II, when the service finished a couple of minutes earlier than expected. So many listeners to the broadcast telephoned the BBC to ask what the composition was, that he decided to write down his improvisation as well as he could remember it. He compiled, in addition, a complete set of chants for the [[psalms]], most of them being his own work; this set was published as ''The Choral Psalter''.
Under his direction, the choir achieved in [[1927]] international fame with its ground breaking recording of Mendelssohn's ''Hear My Prayer'' with boy soprano soloist [[Ernest Lough]]. This was followed by a number of other recordings on the [[HMV]] label.


==Awards and posts==
⚫
He composed a numerous anthems and organ works of which the best known is his meditative ''Elegy'' for organ which was played, for example, at the funeral of [[Diana Princess of Wales]]. It was said to have had its origin in an improvisation which Thalben-Ball played one morning at the conclusion of a Temple Church service. He also compiled a complete set of chants for the [[psalms]], most of them being original compositions by himself, which was published as ''The Choral Psalter''.
⚫
In 1935 he was awarded the [[Lambeth degree]] of Doctor of Music. From that time until his knighthood, he was generally known by his colleagues (as Walford Davies had been known before him) simply as "Doctor".


In 1937 he became a bard of the [[Gorsedh Kernow|Cornish Gorsedh]], taking the bardic name Ylewyth Mur (Great Musician).
⚫
In [[1935]] he was awarded the [[Lambeth degree]] of Doctor of Music and from that time until his knighthood was generally known by his colleagues, as Walford Davies had been known before him, simply as "Doctor".


He was a regular broadcaster for the [[BBC]]. He was also a frequent organ recitalist in many concert venues and opened the organs at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] (where he had the post of curator organist) and the BBC Concert Hall. He was also, for 30 years, Civic and University Organist to the City of [[Birmingham]] where he gave over 1,000 weekly recitals.
A regular radio broadcaster, Thalben-Ball also carried out numerous performances in many concert venues, not only in Britain; he gave the inaugural recitals on the organs of the [[Royal Albert Hall]] (where he had the post of curator organist) and the BBC Concert Hall. In 1949, he was appointed [[Birmingham City Organist]] and [[Birmingham University]] Organist, a post he held for three decades. During this tenure, he gave over 1,000 weekly recitals. He wrote in 1972 an organ solo called 'Toccata Beorma' as a celebration of his links with the city.<ref>http://www.simonlindley.org.uk/the_civic_organist.html The Civic Organist</ref>


In 1948 Thalben-Ball was elected president of the [[Royal College of Organists]]. He had become a fellow of this institution in 1915 (at the age of 18). For many years he taught at the Royal College of Music, where his students included [[Meredith Davies]], later to find fame as a conductor. In 1956 he was the featured artist for the [[American Guild of Organists|American Guild of Organist]]'s annual national convention.<ref>"Events of the Year 1955 in the Organ World in Review" (PDF). The Diapason. 47 (2): 6. January 1, 1956.</ref>
He continued in post at the Temple Church until 1982 and, immediately upon his retirement, received his knighthood.


Thalben-Ball was throughout his life an unashamed virtuoso and performer, whether as pianist, organist, choirmaster or broadcaster. His style of performance was rooted in the nineteenth century and made full use of every facility of the modern organ: with many registration changes, ample swell pedal and dramatic contrasts in dynamic, even when playing baroque repertoire. He could sightread, transpose and improvise in any style and at any length to the highest standard without effort. Long after this had ceased to be customary elsewhere, he retained full conduct of his choir, without any assistant organist or voice coach.
Thalben-Ball was throughout his life an unashamed virtuoso, whether as pianist, as organist, or as choirmaster. His style of performance (like that of his younger contemporary [[Virgil Fox]] in the US) was rooted in the 19th century, and made full use of every facility of the modern organ. Even when he was playing baroque repertoire, there would be many registration changes, ample swell pedal and dramatic contrasts in volume. He could sight-read, transpose and improvise in any style and at any length to the highest standard without perceptible effort.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Pen Portrait: George Thalben-Ball | journal = The Musical Times | date = January 1957 | first = John | last = Lade | volume = 98 | issue = 1367 | pages = 15–16}}</ref> Long after many organists had taken up the habit of hiring a deputy for choir-training purposes, he retained full control of his choir, without any assistant organist or voice coach.


He was appointed a [[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in 1967 and [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in 1982. The latter honour was conferred shortly after his retirement from Temple Church.
He was twice married and had a son.


==Personal life==
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[[Category:English organists]]
[[File:Family grave of Sir George Thomas Thalben-Ball.jpg|thumb|Family grave of Sir George Thomas Thalben-Ball in [[Highgate Cemetery]]]]
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[[Category:Classical organists]]
He was twice married: firstly, in 1926, to painter Grace Evelyn Chapman, (1888–1961) with whom he had a daughter (Evelyn Pamela, also a painter, 1927–2012) and a son (John Michael, 1932–2004); secondly, in 1968, to the concert organist [[Jennifer Bate]] (1944–2020) (marriage annulled 1972).<ref>Rennert, Jonathan (1979).''George Thalben-Ball''. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. pp. 141, 172.</ref>

He was buried on the eastern side of [[Highgate Cemetery]] East with his first wife and her parents.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{YouTube|d01m5PY4Ee0|Footage of Thalben-Ball at the Birmingham City organ}}
* [http://ernest-lough.goldenmusic.net/ audio file] of a 1927 recording of Thalben-Ball at the organ of the Temple Church with [[Ernest Lough]]
* {{YouTube|7bJ2X9vhKTc|File of Thalben-Ball}} playing ''[[Finlandia]]'' by [[Jean Sibelius|Sibelius]] on the Willis Grand Organ of [[Alexandra Palace]]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thalben-Ball, George}}
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1987 deaths]]
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[[Category:Australian classical organists]]
[[Category:Bards of Gorsedh Kernow]]
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[[Category:British classical organists]]
[[Category:20th-century British organists]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian musicians]]
[[Category:Australian composers]]
[[Category:20th-century British composers]]
[[Category:20th-century British male musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from Sydney]]
[[Category:Australian Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Musicians awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Composers awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Music]]
[[Category:Holders of a Lambeth degree]]
[[Category:Burials at Highgate Cemetery]]
[[Category:British male classical organists]]
[[Category:BBC radio presenters]]

Latest revision as of 05:18, 7 November 2024

Sir George Thomas Thalben-Ball CBE (18 June 1896 – 18 January 1987) was an Australian organist and composer who spent almost all his life in England.

Early life

[edit]

George Thomas Ball (he later took the additional name of "Thalben") was born in Sydney, Australia, where his father George Charles Ball had gone for business. His mother was Mary Hannah (née Spear). He had a younger brother. His parents were both of Cornish origin.[1] He studied organ and piano at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London, which he entered at the unusually young age of 14. The level of his talent can be gleaned from the fact that he played the solo part in the first performance by an English-trained pianist of Rachmaninoff's famously difficult Piano Concerto No. 3. This event occurred in 1915 at the RCM, when he was aged 19.

Career

[edit]

After graduating from the RCM the young man was asked to deputise as organist at London's Temple Church by its then organist, Sir Henry Walford Davies. In 1923, he succeeded Walford Davies as organist and director of the Temple Church choir, a post he held for nearly 60 years. Under his direction, the choir achieved in 1927 international fame with its recording of Mendelssohn's Hear My Prayer, featuring Ernest Lough as the treble soloist. This recording was followed by a number of others on the HMV label.

Thalben-Ball composed several anthems and organ works, of which the best known is his meditative Elegy for organ, which was played, for example, at the Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. This piece originated in an improvisation which Thalben-Ball played at the end of a live BBC daily religious service during World War II, when the service finished a couple of minutes earlier than expected. So many listeners to the broadcast telephoned the BBC to ask what the composition was, that he decided to write down his improvisation as well as he could remember it. He compiled, in addition, a complete set of chants for the psalms, most of them being his own work; this set was published as The Choral Psalter.

Awards and posts

[edit]

In 1935 he was awarded the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Music. From that time until his knighthood, he was generally known by his colleagues (as Walford Davies had been known before him) simply as "Doctor".

In 1937 he became a bard of the Cornish Gorsedh, taking the bardic name Ylewyth Mur (Great Musician).

A regular radio broadcaster, Thalben-Ball also carried out numerous performances in many concert venues, not only in Britain; he gave the inaugural recitals on the organs of the Royal Albert Hall (where he had the post of curator organist) and the BBC Concert Hall. In 1949, he was appointed Birmingham City Organist and Birmingham University Organist, a post he held for three decades. During this tenure, he gave over 1,000 weekly recitals. He wrote in 1972 an organ solo called 'Toccata Beorma' as a celebration of his links with the city.[2]

In 1948 Thalben-Ball was elected president of the Royal College of Organists. He had become a fellow of this institution in 1915 (at the age of 18). For many years he taught at the Royal College of Music, where his students included Meredith Davies, later to find fame as a conductor. In 1956 he was the featured artist for the American Guild of Organist's annual national convention.[3]

Thalben-Ball was throughout his life an unashamed virtuoso, whether as pianist, as organist, or as choirmaster. His style of performance (like that of his younger contemporary Virgil Fox in the US) was rooted in the 19th century, and made full use of every facility of the modern organ. Even when he was playing baroque repertoire, there would be many registration changes, ample swell pedal and dramatic contrasts in volume. He could sight-read, transpose and improvise in any style and at any length to the highest standard without perceptible effort.[4] Long after many organists had taken up the habit of hiring a deputy for choir-training purposes, he retained full control of his choir, without any assistant organist or voice coach.

He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1967 and knighted in 1982. The latter honour was conferred shortly after his retirement from Temple Church.

Personal life

[edit]
Family grave of Sir George Thomas Thalben-Ball in Highgate Cemetery

He was twice married: firstly, in 1926, to painter Grace Evelyn Chapman, (1888–1961) with whom he had a daughter (Evelyn Pamela, also a painter, 1927–2012) and a son (John Michael, 1932–2004); secondly, in 1968, to the concert organist Jennifer Bate (1944–2020) (marriage annulled 1972).[5]

He was buried on the eastern side of Highgate Cemetery East with his first wife and her parents.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/39916. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ http://www.simonlindley.org.uk/the_civic_organist.html The Civic Organist
  3. ^ "Events of the Year 1955 in the Organ World in Review" (PDF). The Diapason. 47 (2): 6. January 1, 1956.
  4. ^ Lade, John (January 1957). "Pen Portrait: George Thalben-Ball". The Musical Times. 98 (1367): 15–16.
  5. ^ Rennert, Jonathan (1979).George Thalben-Ball. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. pp. 141, 172.
[edit]
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