T. Tertius Noble
T. Tertius Noble | |
---|---|
Born | Thomas Tertius Noble May 5, 1867 |
Died | May 4, 1953 Rockport, Massachusetts, U.S. | (aged 85)
Education | Royal College of Music |
Occupation(s) | Organist and composer |
Thomas Tertius Noble (May 5, 1867 – May 4, 1953) was an English-born organist and composer, who lived in the United States for the latter part of his career.
He served as organist and choirmaster at a number of churches including
Early life and education
Noble was born on 5 May 1867 in Bath, England, to Thomas Noble (a silversmith) and Sarah Jefferson.[1][2] The name 'Tertius' derives from Noble being the third Thomas in his family.[3]
In his youth, Noble was introduced to the
At the age of 15 he was appointed organist at All Saints' Church, Colchester, where he was also educated by the rector. He won a scholarship to attend the Royal College of Music, where he was tutored by Walter Parratt, Charles Villiers Stanford and Frederick Bridge,[4] and made other close connections with George Grove and John Stainer.[3]
Career
After graduating from the Royal College of Music in 1889, Noble was appointed a member of staff there, teaching the organ. He also took the position of organist at the Church of St John the Evangelist, Wilton Road, in London.[4]
In 1890, Stanford recommended him to fill the vacancy as his assistant organist at Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge. Noble was dissatisfied with the quality of singing and Stanford's bad temper,[5] leaving Trinity in 1892 to serve as organist and choirmaster at Ely Cathedral.
From 1898 to 1913 Noble served as organist at York Minster. While there, he established the York Symphony Orchestra and composed pieces for them. He was also conductor of the York Musical Society and in 1910 revived the York Festival.[4]
In January 1913 Noble moved to America after accepting the post of organist and choirmaster of
In 1932 Noble became the first person outside the British Isles to be awarded the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Music by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was an examiner and member of the national council of the American Guild of Organists and also served as president of the National Association of Organists.[2] He was a member of the Hymn Society of America, and served as its president for multiple terms.[6]
Noble composed orchestral and chamber music, including an orchestral Introduction and Passacaglia performed at
Personal life
In 1897 Noble married Meriel Maude Stubbs (daughter of Charles Stubbs, Dean of Ely), with whom he had a son, Philip Raymond Noble (1903–1979).[2] His nephew was the English jazz composer and actor Ray Noble (1903–1978).[11]
Death
Noble died on 4 May 1953, the day before his 86th birthday, in Rockport, Massachusetts, and he was buried at Beech Grove Cemetery there. The hymn tune "Rockport" composed by Noble was named after the city of his death.[1]
References
Citations
- ^ ISBN 978-0-664-25180-2.
- ^ a b c Trinity College, "Trinity College Bulletin, May 1953" (1953), Trinity College Bulletins and Catalogues (1824-present), Vol. L, New Series No. 4. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Bainbridge, John L. (1 June 1943). "Guild Honors Noble at its Annual Dinner" (PDF). The Diapason. 34 (403): 1.
- ^ a b c d "Tertius Noble | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-19-816383-1.
- ^ "Record of the Year 1947 in the Organ World in Review" (PDF). The Diapason. 39 (2): 6. January 1, 1948.
- ^ "Promenade Concerts: New Works by T. Noble and Martinu". The Times. 18 August 1945. p. 6.
- ^ "Index of Composers, Sources, Arrangers". The Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. 1940. p. 813.
- ^ "Dr T. Tertius Noble". American Organist, 27. 1944.
- ^ "Honor Lowell Mason with Three Services" (PDF). The Diapason. 33 (3): 1. 1 February 1942.
- ^ Wilson, John S. (4 April 1978). "Ray Noble, 71, Dies; Popular Composer". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
Further reading
- Fuller-Maitland, J.A.; Colles, H.C.; Barker, Duncan J. (20 January 2001). "Noble (Thomas) Tertius". ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
- McConnell, Frank A. (13 March 1989), "Memories of T. Tertius Noble", lecture delivered to the Lancaster, PA, Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (McConnell was a student of Noble and was his assistant during Noble's last years at St. Thomas.)
External links
- Free scores by T. Tertius Noble in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- Free scores by T. Tertius Noble at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- T. Tertius Noble & the St Thomas Choir School - The First Century on YouTube
- "Hymn tunes by T. Tertius Noble". hymnary.org. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- York Musical Society