After Thalben-Ball’s family moved to England, he joined the choir of G. D. Cunningham in Muswell Hill. He later won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music, and studied organ with Walter Parratt. In 1916, he became organist at Paddington Parish Church. In 1919, he succeeded Henry Walford Davies as organist at the Temple Church, London, serving there 62 years. The Archbishop of Canterbury conferred the degree of Lambeth Doctor of Music on Thalben-Ball in 1935. Thalben-Ball was knighted in 1982.
None of Thalben-Ball's hymn tunes is included in Common Praise, but the tune Arden and two canticles may be found in the red hymnal. Thalben-Ball also composed the beautiful tune Llanherne, to which an English translation by John Blackie of a canticle from the Septuagint (Angels Holy, High and Lowly) is set.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/t/h/thalben-ball_gt.htm
The following links let you hear the Thalben-Ball chant, played by the computer on a synthesised organ.
It will play twice, and clicking on the link again will cause it to repeat.
You might need to click Refresh on your browser, or press F5 before playing, as the chant files change regularly.
| Soprano | Alto | Tenor | Bass | |
| Hear the part | Soprano only | Alto only | Tenor only | Bass only |
| Karaoke | No Soprano | No Alto | No Tenor | No Bass |
Go back to Psalm of the Week.
J. Malton
April 6, 2003
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