Eric Thiman

Eric Harding Thiman (12 September 1900 – 13 February 1975)[1] was an English composer, conductor and organist. The surname is pronounced 'tea-man'.[2] By 1939 he was considered one of the leading non-conformist organists in England.[3]

Life

Thiman was born in Ashford, Kent, England. Largely self-taught, he was awarded a fellow of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO) in 1921, and a doctor of music (DMus) in 1928. From 1930 he was Professor of Harmony at the Royal Academy of Music and later, from 1956 to 1962, was Dean of the Faculty of Music at the University of London.

He toured Australia in August 1951 to conduct examinations for the Australian Musical Examinations Board.[2][4]

From 1958, having moved from Park Chapel (a Congregational church in Crouch End, later to join with Ferme Park Baptist Church to form a Union Church in the same district), he was organist of the City Temple in London, a Congregational church. He was a keen advocate of amateur music-making and in the 1960s was the conductor and Musical Director of the Purley Choral Society, which performed his Spring garland in 1964. The choir, which changed its name to The Chandos Choir in 1969, performed his Go, lovely rose in 2012. He wrote much educational music for piano and other instruments, as well as music for church choirs, some of which is still performed. He is best remembered for his short passion cantata, The last Supper (1930), which sets texts from the gospels of Matthew and John and hymns by St Thomas Aquinas, Charles Wesley and Johann Franck.

Thiman's list of published works numbers about 1,300. These include a large number of part songs (many for SS or SSA and piano, but also many for SATB) and many anthems and carols. Most of his church music was written for the non-conformist churches, but he also wrote anthems and canticles for Church of England choirs. It was considered he was strongly influenced by Edward Elgar (1857–1934).[3]

He composed some lighter songs under the name Eric Harding (Harding being his middle name), one of which was published when he was only fifteen.

He was conductor of the Elysian Concert Society that performed at Hornsey Town Hall, The City Temple and other venues in London.

Thiman died in 1975.

Works

An archive of his music, The Eric Thiman Collection, was set up in 2014 in the choir library of Southwell Minster.

Some of Thiman's musical compositions include:

  • Apple blossom, from poem by Will H. Ogilvie (1869–1963)[5]
  • A clean wind blowing, from poem by Will H. Ogilvie (1869–1963)[5]
  • Highland scenes.[6] Stated to consist of five short piano numbers of moderate difficulty, commencing with 'By rock-bound coast', a mistful 'Evening on Skye', bright and rhythmic 'Celtic tune', an expressive 'In the heather', finishing with the Scottish melodies of 'At the highland gathering'.
  • The jolly waggoner[7]* The last supper[3]
  • Miniature trio[8]
  • My bonnie lass[9]
  • The nativity[10]
  • Songs of England, based on a group of six poems by Thomas Campbell, John Masefield (1878–1967), Irene Gass, and J. R. Wreford[11]
  • Songs of travel[12]
  • Three choral songs of praise[13]
  • When cats run home, a lively two part canon[14]

Thiman wrote Varied harmonies to hymn tunes: A short practical treatice,[15] and was also the musical director of the Congregational Hymn Book to be published in 1951.[4]

References
  1. "ENGLISH COMPOSERS FOR AMATEURS: No 2 - ERIC THIMAN by Philip L Scowcroft". Musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  2. "Noted organist to play in surprise recital". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 10 August 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
  3. "Choir's great work". News. South Australia. 3 April 1939. p. 9. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
  4. "New Organ for City Church". The Age. Victoria, Australia. 11 August 1951. p. 10. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
  5. OGILVIE, George Thomas Anderson (1994). Will H. OGILVIE: Balladist of Borders and Bush. Cumbria, England: GTA OGILVIE. p. 79.
  6. "New music". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 16 December 1933. p. 7. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
  7. "Music festival". The West Australian. Western Australia. 8 October 1938. p. 17. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
  8. "Music and theatre". The West Australian. Western Australia. 16 March 1940. p. 4. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
  9. "Choral society ends season with fine cultural treat". The Evening Advocate. Queensland, Australia. 19 May 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
  10. "Christmas observance in Perth churches". The West Australian. Western Australia. 23 December 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
  11. "Choral concert". The West Australian. Western Australia. 1 October 1947. p. 13. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
  12. "Music and Drama Hobart recital by Burl Ives on July 8". The Mercury (Hobart). Tasmania, Australia. 27 June 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
  13. "Music And Theatre". The West Australian. Western Australia. 19 May 1951. p. 14. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
  14. "Fine programme by Harmony Club". The Mercury (Hobart). Tasmania, Australia. 22 November 1950. p. 6. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
  15. "Democracy on its trial". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 21 April 1934. p. 8. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Trove.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.