George Thalben-Ball at his last service as Organist of the Temple Church

Sir George Thomas Thalben-Ball CBE (18 June 1896–18 January 1987) was an English organist and composer. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Events 618 - Coronation of the Chinese governor Li Yuan as Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the new Emperor of China, initiating three centuries Year 1896 ( MDCCCXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland

He was born in Sydney, Australia of English parents who brought him back to England when he was 4. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. His father and brother were born in Cornwall and his parents were married there. Cornwall ( Kernow ˈkɛɹnɔʊ is the most southwesterly county of England, on the Peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar Until he was a young man he went by the name of George Thomas Ball.

He studied organ and piano at the Royal College of Music in London at an unusually young age of 14 and was the soloist in the first English performance of Rachmaninov's famously difficult Piano Concerto No. 3. The Royal College of Music is a well known conservatoire located in the South Kensington district of London, England, and one London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff (Сергей Васильевич Рахманинов The Piano Concerto No 3 in D minor Op 30 by Sergei Rachmaninoff (colloquially known as the "Rach 3") is famous for its technical and musical demands

He was asked to deputise as organist at the Temple Church by its then organist Sir Walford Davies and, in 1923, he succeeded him as organist and director of the Temple Church choir, a post he held for nearly sixty years. The Temple Church is a late 12th century church in London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built for and by the Knights Sir Henry Walford Davies, KCVO, OBE, ( September 6, 1869 - March 11, 1941) was a British Composer,

Under his direction, the choir achieved in 1927 international fame with its recording of Mendelssohn's Hear My Prayer, featuring Ernest Lough as the soprano soloist. Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ernest Lough ( 17 November 1911 - 22 February 2000) was a famous Boy soprano. This recording was followed by a number of others on the HMV label. His Master's Voice, today usually abbreviated to HMV, is a famous Trademark in the music business and for many years was the name of a large record label

He composed 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. Psalms ( Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים, or "praises" is a book of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) included

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". Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Lambeth degrees are Academic degrees conferred by the Archbishop of Canterbury under the authority of the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533 (25 Hen VIII c 21 (Eng

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. The Royal Albert Hall is an Arts venue situated in the Knightsbridge area of the City of Westminster, London, England, best known In 1949, he was appointed Civic & University Organist, City of Birmingham, a post he held for 30 years and during which he gave over 1,000 weekly recitals.

In 1950, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (of which he later became President) and appointed as Professor of Organ in the Royal College of Music, London.

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.

He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1967 and knighted in 1982, the latter honor being conferred immediately following his retirement from Temple Church. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system.

He was twice married and had a son and daughter.

External links

• Find-A-Grave biography
• audio file of a 1927 recording of Thalben-Ball at the organ of the Temple Church with Ernest Lough