George Thalben-Ball: Elegy For Organ: Organ: Instrumental Work

Sir George Thalben-Ball was organists of the Temple Church in London for over sixty years. Also a music advisor to the BBC his compositions include Elegy Tune In E In The Style Of John Stanley Variations On Psalm And Hymn Tunes and Variations On A Theme By Paganini For Organ Pedals.

The Tune in E is Thalben-Ball’s own invention. In the Style of John Stanley almost certainly refers to the many works Stanley wrote for Organ that start with a slow short introduction followed by a Trumpet voluntary as in Tune in E.John Stanley was a contemporary of Handel’s who often came to the Temple Church to hear him play. Stanley directed many of Handel’s oratorios and continued to direct performances at Covent Garden of oratorios of other composers after Handel’s death.George Thalben-Ball succeeded Sir Henry Walford Davies in the position of Organist of Temple Church and remained there for nearly sixty years. In the 1920’s he led the choir to international famewith a recording of Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer and continued to make many recordings with them. His Elegy for Organ is a popular piece in the repertoire and was played at the funeral of Diana Princess of Wales.