William Thomas Best
Encyclopedia
William Thomas Best was an English
organist
.
The son of a solicitor
, he was born at Carlisle. Having decided on a musical career, he became a pupil of the cathedral
organist. He became particularly skilled in the interpretation of Bach
's music. His successive appointments were to Pembroke chapel, Liverpool
, 1840; to a church for the blind, 1847, and the Liverpool Philharmonic Society, 1848. For a short time (1854–1855) he was in London at the Royal Panopticon
in Leicester Square
, the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields
, and Lincoln's Inn
chapel.
In 1855 he returned to Liverpool as organist of St George's Hall, where his performances rapidly became famous throughout England. Ill-health compelled him at last to retire in 1894. He was engaged as solo organist at all the Handel
festivals at the Crystal Palace
, and also as organist at the Royal Albert Hall
, where he inaugurated the great organ
in 1871. He had been in the receipt of a civil list pension of £100 a year since 1880, and in 1890 went to Australia
to give organ recitals in the town hall of Sydney
. Best died in Liverpool.
His command over all the resources of his own instrument was masterly; his series of Saturday recitals at St George's Hall, carried on for many years, included the whole field of organ music, and of music that could be arranged for the organ, ancient and modern; and his performances of Bach's organ works were particularly fine. His own compositions for the organ, notably Organ Pieces for Church Use, have a strong and marked individuality. Unlike many soloists, he was an all-round musician. His bust
, by Conrad Dressler
, was placed on the platform in front of the Liverpool organ, as a memorial of his long series of performances there.
William Thomas Best was a free-mason.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
.
The son of a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, he was born at Carlisle. Having decided on a musical career, he became a pupil of the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
organist. He became particularly skilled in the interpretation of Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
's music. His successive appointments were to Pembroke chapel, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, 1840; to a church for the blind, 1847, and the Liverpool Philharmonic Society, 1848. For a short time (1854–1855) he was in London at the Royal Panopticon
Royal Panopticon
The Royal Panopticon of Science and Art, to give the full title, was one of the grand social institutions and architectural splendours of Victorian London, that is now lost. It was given a Royal Charter in 1850 and in July 1851 a lease was taken out on a premium site for 60 years, and building...
in Leicester Square
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west...
, the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours.-Roman era:Excavations at the site in 2006 led to the discovery of a grave dated about 410...
, and Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
chapel.
In 1855 he returned to Liverpool as organist of St George's Hall, where his performances rapidly became famous throughout England. Ill-health compelled him at last to retire in 1894. He was engaged as solo organist at all the Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
festivals at the Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
, and also as organist at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, where he inaugurated the great organ
Royal Albert Hall Organ
The Grand Organ situated in the Royal Albert Hall in London, is the second largest pipe organ in the United Kingdom. It was originally built by Henry "Father" Willis and most recently rebuilt by Mander Organs, having 147 stops and 9,997 speaking pipes....
in 1871. He had been in the receipt of a civil list pension of £100 a year since 1880, and in 1890 went to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to give organ recitals in the town hall of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Best died in Liverpool.
His command over all the resources of his own instrument was masterly; his series of Saturday recitals at St George's Hall, carried on for many years, included the whole field of organ music, and of music that could be arranged for the organ, ancient and modern; and his performances of Bach's organ works were particularly fine. His own compositions for the organ, notably Organ Pieces for Church Use, have a strong and marked individuality. Unlike many soloists, he was an all-round musician. His bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
, by Conrad Dressler
Conrad Dressler
Conrad Dressler was an English sculptor and potter.Dressler was born in London and studied sculpture at the Royal College of Art. He was later influenced by the Arts & Crafts Movement...
, was placed on the platform in front of the Liverpool organ, as a memorial of his long series of performances there.
William Thomas Best was a free-mason.
Recordings
- "Christmas Fantasy on Old English Carols" in Adeste Fideles - Organ Music for Christmas Delphian - DCD34077