William Thomas Best

Synopsis

English organist, arranger, composer and teacher

• 1826, born in Carlisle, Cumbria, England
• 1847, Liverpool, organist at church for the blind
• 1848/49-52, organist to Liverpool Philharmonic Society
• 1855-94, Liverpool, city organist at St. George's Hall
• 1871-91, London, played at and associated with London Handel Festival
• 10 May 1897, died in Liverpool, England

Best was best-known for his arrangements and editings of J.S. Bach, Handel and Mendelssohn. He also published two volumes of a method book, The Art of Organ Playing: practically illustrated from the first rudiments to the highest difficulties of the instrument both in its use as an accompaniment to the different styles of church music, as well as in the various purposes of the employment of the organ as a solo instrument.

For details, see the Wikipedia article about William Thomas Best.

List of Organ Works

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Background and General Perspectives on Performing Best Organ Works

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Registration and Organs

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See the footnote in the "Notes" section at the bottom of the page

Fingering and Pedaling

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Articulation and Phrasing

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Ornamentation

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Tempo and Meter

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Scores and Editions

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Recordings

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Free Online

• 5 Short Preludes, performed by Walter Gatti on youtube

Pay to Listen

• Organ Transcriptions, as performed by Massimo Gabba on NAXOS Music Library

Other Resources

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Notes

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