Thalben-Ball to play here

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32609, 18 May 1971, Page 13

Thalben-Ball to play here

T h e distinguished English organist, George Thalben-Ball, whose name has been associated with London’s historic Temple Church for many years, is making his first tour of New Zealand and will give an organ recital at Christchurch Cathedral on Thursday, June 3. The tour is sponsored by the N.Z.B.C. Although he has been associated with English organ music and the 83. C. since the 19205, George Thal-ben-Ball was bom in Australia. His parents were Cornish, and they returned to England while he was still a boy. At 14 he was already,

| enrolled at the Royal Col- , lege of Music in London, and ' London has remained the ■ centre for his diverse musical ■ activities ever since. ■ In 1919 he first took up a • post at the Temple Church. ’ and in 1923 he became chief • organist and director of the r choir there. His long associai tion with the church was . given special recognition in . 1959, when he was elected an honorary Bencher of the Inner Temple. , Over the years, George ' Thalben-Ball has perhaps won , his widest recognition through his work for the ’ 8.8. C. A frequent London ’ 8.8. C. proms soloist at the ’ Albert Hall, he has also made ’ many radio broadcasts and J has acted as adviser and editor for the compiling of •the 8.8. C. hymnbook. A composer of organ and choral music as well as an eminent organist, he has had compositions commissioned by the 8.8. C. His records with the choirboy, Ernest Lough, will be remembered. In 1959 he was i awarded the E.M.I. gold disc I award. r Among many honours, he - has been made a citizen with b the freedom of the City of ! London, created curator--1 organist of the Royal Albert • Hall, and been the guest of : honour at the American 1 Guild of Organists’ convention in 1956. j Now a professor and i examiner of the Royal Colt lege of Music, he is also a 1 fellow of the Royal School of Church Music and a member - of the Council and examiner sof the Royal College of > Organists. s In his Christchurch recital, - Professor Thalben-Ball will present a programme that r includes Fantasias by J. S. - Bach and Liszt as well as s organ music by modem comf posers,