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333:
in other colleges), the first organist to receive that honour. His son has written that
Amstrong "found the wider academic community deeply congenial, especially the Senior Common Room at Christ Church âĻ For him, Oxford was, and remained, a spiritual home." When Allen died, after a road accident in
444:
entry he confined himself to seven words on the subject: " Compositions: various, the larger ones remain unpublished." He admitted that he had not lived up to
Vaughan Williams's advice that "if you write a little bit of music to the best of your ability on every day of your life you will write one
353:
It was entirely typical of
Armstrong that at this stage, aged 57, he should take up playing the double bass, receiving lessons from one of his own staff. Supported by his wife Hester, who provided a refuge of comfort and affection for literally thousands of students, he guided the Academy's often
416:, his former colleague from the RAM. Robert Armstrong recalled that in Olney, when already ninety years old, Armstrong "was delighted to be sought out, as 'the old man in East Street who plays the organ', to play for Mass at the local Roman Catholic church for six months."
125:, the eldest of three children, and only son, of Amos Ebenezer Armstrong (1878â1950) and his wife Elizabeth Annie West, nÊe Handford (1880â1939). His mother was a former headmistress, and his father was a leading figure in Peterborough's musical life, music master at the
208:, whom Armstrong later described as "the greatest influence of anybody on my life". Armstrong remained in France for some months after the cessation of hostilities, not returning to England until 1919; he rented a room with a piano in
445:
good piece before you die." He continued to compose into his nineties: "I still try to write a little music in my antiquated idiom. But I suppose nothing is so antiquated as what was avant-garde five years ago".
329:. He was also conductor of the Oxford Orchestra and Oxford Bach Choir, and president of the Musical Club and Union. In 1939 the governing body of Christ Church elected him a student (the equivalent of a
93:, conductor, composer and educationalist. He was from a musical family and his early career was as a church and cathedral organist. From the 1920s onwards he was a broadcaster for the
36:
289:; his long association with the BBC included many talks on the radio about topics such as British music. In 1928 he completed the three compositions required for the award of a
129:, organist and choirmaster at St Augustine's church, Woodston, and conductor of the local operatic, orchestral, and choral societies. The young Armstrong was a chorister at the
947:
358:
As well as his concern for the well-being of his students and staff, Armstrong worked to develop links between the RAM and conservatoires of music in other
European countries.
748:
987:
937:
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108:(RAM), London, where he was known for his concern for the well-being of his staff and students and his efforts to strengthen links with overseas music colleges.
460:
and a large number of songs. The ambitious secular works composed for his doctorate remained unperformed until after his death, when they were recorded on a
957:
408:
border. There he formed and conducted a village choir, which won several prizes in music festivals. After the death of his wife in 1982, he moved to
902:
892:
464:
CD. His biographer
Richard Stoker writes that Armstrong "belonged to the gentle English tradition of Parry, Vaughan Williams, Howells, and Finzi".
267:
967:
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907:
755:
104:
Armstrong combined academic work with practical musicianship, as player and conductor. From 1955 to 1968, he was principal of the
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897:
361:
In addition to his RAM duties, Armstrong was prominent in other aspects of
British musical life. He was senior adviser to the
680:
385:
Foundation, chairman of the governors of the
Central Tutorial School for Young Musicians (founded in 1962), now renamed the
952:
917:
126:
922:
247:
438:
Armstrong was modest about his music, although he composed all his life, despite the other demands on his time. For his
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603:
168:, later known as a conductor, became a lifelong friend. They liked to trace their musical ancestry back to
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in 1916, before being commissioned towards the end of the war. During his war service he met
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188:
In 1915â16, Armstrong was assistant organist in
Peterborough for a year before being elected
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in 1958 and retired in 1968, when he was 70. He and his wife moved to the village of
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715:
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362:
321:
Armstrong returned to Oxford in 1933 as organist of Christ Church in succession to
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and
Vaughan Williams. In 1926 Armstrong married Hester Draper, daughter of the Rev
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270:(later Baron Armstrong of Ilminster) (1927-2020) and Helen Hilary (b. 1930).
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305:(for soprano, chorus and orchestra). From 1928 to 1933 he was organist of
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shaky fortunes with wisdom, foresight and humanity for the next 13 years.
345:
In 1955 Armstrong was appointed principal of the Royal
Academy of Music.
238:
After leaving Oxford in 1922 Armstrong briefly took up an appointment at
273:
In 1927 Armstrong made his first broadcast, in an organ recital for the
35:
215:
After the war Armstrong completed his studies, studying music with
90:
378:
309:, a post he held in tandem with the directorship of music at the
209:
449:
196:. His studies were interrupted by service in France during the
137:
from 1907 to 1910, during which time he sang at the funeral of
763:
506:, Oxford University Press, 2004. Retrieved 13 November 2017
274:
94:
334:
1946, Armstrong hoped to be appointed to succeed him as
266:. They were married for 52 years and had two children:
242:(assistant organist), during which time he worked with
657:, Oxford University Press, 2014. Retrieved 14 Nov 2017
591:, Oxford University Press. Retrieved 13 November 2017
419:
Armstrong died at his home in Olney at the age of 96.
316:
297:(a rhapsody for baritone, chorus and orchestra), a
988:Presidents of the Independent Society of Musicians
948:People educated at The King's School, Peterborough
938:Honorary members of the Royal Philharmonic Society
246:. The following year he was appointed organist of
89:(15 June 1898 â 26 June 1994) was an English
874:
250:, London. During this period he studied at the
978:Chairpersons of the Royal Philharmonic Society
500:"Armstrong, Sir Thomas Henry Wait (1898â1994)"
749:
338:at the university, but the post was given to
373:, a member of the board of directors of the
148:In 1912 Armstrong was appointed organist of
412:, a few miles away, sharing a cottage with
756:
742:
958:Principals of the Royal Academy of Music
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903:Academics of the Royal Academy of Music
893:20th-century British conductors (music)
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577:
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527:
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521:
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504:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
231:in modern history in 1921 and took his
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737:
712:Organist and Master of the Choristers
681:Organist and Master of the Choristers
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561:
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100:While organist and faculty member of
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569:", Notes to Chandos CD 9657, pp. 4â7
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311:University College of the South West
968:20th-century British male musicians
13:
651:"Armstrong, Sir Thomas Henry Wait"
641:
531:"Obituary: Sir Thomas Armstrong",
473:
111:
14:
999:
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404:in Buckinghamshire, close to the
317:Oxford and Royal Academy of Music
212:to get himself back in practice.
97:giving talks as well as playing.
983:British male classical organists
933:Fellows of Christ Church, Oxford
634:"Professor of Music at Oxford",
604:"Programmes for Friday, July 29"
349:later commented on this period:
301:for pianoforte and strings, and
248:St. Peter's Church, Eaton Square
152:, and the following year he was
34:
928:British male conductors (music)
908:Alumni of Keble College, Oxford
716:Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
433:
183:
87:Sir Thomas Henry Wait Armstrong
973:20th-century British musicians
898:20th-century English composers
628:
615:
597:
180:, who was articled to Mozart.
172:: Keeton had been articled to
116:
40:Armstrong by John Aubrey, 1970
1:
795:Sir William Sterndale Bennett
567:The Works of Thomas Armstrong
277:, playing music ranging from
510:UK public library membership
16:British musician (1898â1994)
7:
953:Musicians from Peterborough
918:English classical organists
327:St George's Chapel, Windsor
10:
1004:
923:English conductors (music)
367:Royal Philharmonic Society
325:who had been appointed to
772:
722:
709:
701:
691:
678:
670:
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625:, 8 September 1933, p. 10
391:Musicians Benevolent Fund
371:Countess of Munster Trust
61:
53:
45:
33:
23:
861:Jonathan Freeman-Attwood
467:
807:Sir Alexander Mackenzie
593:(subscription required)
585:"Armstrong, Sir Thomas"
365:Trust, chairman of the
200:; he enlisted with the
164:. A fellow apprentice,
963:20th-century organists
766:Royal Academy of Music
695:Alfred William Wilcock
612:, 22 July 1927, p. 145
448:Amrstrong composed 25
430:
389:, and chairman of the
356:
252:Royal College of Music
227:. He graduated with a
206:Ralph Vaughan Williams
176:, who was articled to
162:Peterborough Cathedral
121:Armstrong was born in
106:Royal Academy of Music
57:26 June 1994 (aged 96)
825:Sir Reginald Thatcher
535:, 28 June 1994, p. 23
425:
351:
194:Keble College, Oxford
102:Christ Church, Oxford
831:Sir Thomas Armstrong
819:Sir Stanley Marchant
801:Sir George Macfarren
705:William Henry Harris
638:, 19 June 1946, p. 6
583:Rose, Bernard Rose.
565:Armstrong, Robert. "
377:, a Governor of the
264:Master of the Temple
240:Manchester Cathedral
913:Cathedral organists
621:"Broadcast Talks",
402:Newton Blossomville
764:Principals of the
589:Grove Music Online
431:
369:, a member of the
336:professor of music
870:
869:
843:Sir David Lumsden
837:Sir Anthony Lewis
732:
731:
723:Succeeded by
692:Succeeded by
666:Cultural offices
508:(subscription or
498:Stoker, Richard.
414:Rosemary Rapaport
375:Royal Opera House
143:Westminster Abbey
135:St James's Palace
84:
83:
995:
943:Knights Bachelor
855:Sir Curtis Price
758:
751:
744:
735:
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702:Preceded by
685:Exeter Cathedral
671:Preceded by
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428:Exeter Cathedral
307:Exeter Cathedral
303:Friends Departed
219:and organ under
38:
28:Thomas Armstrong
21:
20:
1003:
1002:
998:
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873:
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813:Sir John McEwen
783:Cipriani Potter
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319:
299:Fantasy Quintet
202:Royal Artillery
198:First World War
186:
166:Malcolm Sargent
139:King Edward VII
119:
114:
112:Life and career
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29:
26:
17:
12:
11:
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396:Armstrong was
387:Purcell School
383:Sadler's Wells
323:William Harris
318:
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244:Hamilton Harty
185:
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178:Thomas Attwood
160:, organist of
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77:Educationalist
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789:Charles Lucas
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726:Sydney Watson
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225:Christ Church
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199:
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191:
190:organ scholar
181:
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150:Thorney Abbey
146:
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127:King's School
124:
109:
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44:
37:
32:
22:
19:
863: (2008)
857: (1995)
851: (1993)
849:Lynn Harrell
845: (1982)
839: (1968)
833: (1955)
830:
827: (1949)
821: (1936)
815: (1924)
809: (1888)
803: (1876)
797: (1866)
791: (1859)
785: (1832)
779: (1822)
710:
679:
654:
635:
630:
622:
617:
607:
599:
588:
532:
503:
447:
439:
437:
434:Compositions
426:Memorial in
418:
406:Bedfordshire
395:
360:
357:
352:
346:
344:
340:Jack Westrup
320:
302:
298:
294:
272:
237:
214:
187:
184:Early career
174:George Elvey
158:Haydn Keeton
147:
131:Chapel Royal
123:Peterborough
120:
99:
86:
85:
49:15 June 1898
18:
888:1994 deaths
883:1898 births
655:Who Was Who
609:Radio Times
295:A Passer-By
117:Early years
62:Occupations
877:Categories
720:1933â1955
689:1928â1933
331:fellowship
260:W H Draper
217:Hugh Allen
636:The Times
623:The Times
533:The Times
512:required)
441:Who's Who
347:The Times
279:Buxtehude
235:in 1922.
221:Henry Ley
71:Conductor
458:services
398:knighted
283:Stanford
154:articled
91:organist
74:Composer
68:Organist
462:Chandos
450:anthems
379:Old Vic
210:Cambrai
454:carols
363:Delius
268:Robert
170:Mozart
468:Notes
410:Olney
287:Parry
256:Holst
254:with
291:Dmus
285:and
233:BMus
54:Died
46:Born
714:of
683:of
281:to
275:BBC
223:at
192:of
156:to
141:in
95:BBC
25:Sir
879::
653:,
643:^
606:,
587:,
574:^
540:^
518:^
502:,
475:^
456:,
452:,
393:.
342:.
313:.
293::
262:,
229:BA
145:.
133:,
757:e
750:t
743:v
381:-
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