Thomas Forbes Walmisley(22 May 1783 – 10 July 1866) was an organist, and a composer of church music and ofglees.
Life
editWalmisley was born in Westminster, London in 1783, the third son of William Walmisley, clerk of the papers to the House of Lords. He, like his brothers, was a chorister inWestminster Abbey,and he was educated atWestminster Schoolfrom 1793 to 1798. In 1796 he sang in oratorios atCovent Garden.[1][2]
He studied music under John Spencer andThomas Attwood.From 1810 to 1814 he was assistant organist to the Female Orphan Asylum; in 1814 he succeededRobert Cookeas organist ofSt Martin-in-the-Fields.He resigned, on a pension, in March 1854. He was elected a professional member of theNoblemen and Gentlemen's Catch Clubin 1827. From 1803 he was a teacher of piano and singing, and became well known as a teacher; pupils includedEdward John Hopkins.[1][2]
In 1810 Walmisley married the eldest daughter ofWilliam Capon,an architectural draughtsman. His eldest son, of six sons and four daughters who survived infancy, wasThomas Attwood Walmisley(1814–1856), whoseCathedral Musiche edited in 1857.[1][2]
Walmisley died on 10 July 1866, and was buried in the family grave atBrompton Cemetery.[3]
Compositions
editWalmisley composed more than fifty glees, four of which won prizes; he also composed anthems, and a morning and evening service. He publishedA Collection of Glees, Trios, Rounds and Canons(1826),Three Canons(1840) andSacred Songs(1841).[1][2]
HisSix Gleeswere reviewed in October 1830: "We do not perceive in any one of them the semblance of an error, either in composition or in the manner of setting the words, and the parts are constructed with every possible regard to vocal convenience, as well as joint effect. The total absence, too, of all nonsensical pedantry... is another recommendation of them.... But we must also say... that we now and then meet with a cadence whose day is past.... On the other hand, the melodies are generally distinct and flowing, and not devoid of elegance...."[4]
References
edit- ^abcdEdwards, Frederick George (1899)..InLee, Sidney(ed.).Dictionary of National Biography.Vol. 59. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 161–162.
- ^abcdA Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800: Tibbett to M. West.SIU Press,1993. pp. 241–242.
- ^"Walmisley, Thomas Forbes".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/28589.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^"Review of Music".The Harmonicon.8(10): 432. October 1830 – viaRIPM.
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Edwards, Frederick George (1899). "Walmisley, Thomas Forbes".InLee, Sidney(ed.).Dictionary of National Biography.Vol. 59. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 161–162.