George Thalben-Ball

Tune in E for Organ

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 Tunein 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 othercomposers 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 internationalfamewith 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.