Noble, Thomas Tertius

(May 5, 1867-May 4, 1953). Choirmaster, composer and teacher. He was born in Bath, England. In 1886 Noble won a scholarship at the Royal College of Music where he studied under Frank Bridge, Walter Parratt, and Charles Villiers Stanford. He became a Fellow of the College in 1905. In 1890 Noble was appointed assistant to Stanford at Trinity College, Cambridge. He served there until 1892 when he became organist and choirmaster at Ely Cathedral. In 1898 he became organist and choirmaster at York Minster. At York he founded a symphony orchestra, directed the York Musical Society and in 1909 was master of the music and conductor of the York Pageant. In 1912 he revived the York Musical Festival after a lapse of seventy-five years. Noble became organist and choirmaster of St. Thomas Church, New York, in 1913. In 1919 he established its choir school and developed a choral program in the English cathedral tradition. He was a member of the Joint Commission on the Hymnal in 1916, the Joint Commission on Church Music until 1943, and the Musical Committee of The Hymnal (1940). He exerted a major influence on church musicians in the United States. Noble retired as organist and choirmaster of St. Thomas at the age of seventy-five, but he continued to compose until his death eleven years later. He died in Rockport, Massachusetts. He was a prolific composer. The Hymnal 1982 contains his well-known tune, “Ora Labora,” used with the text “Come, labor on” (Hymn 541), an arrangement of “St. Elizabeth,” used with the text “Fairest Lord Jesus” (Hymn 383), and one of his many Anglican chants (S 38).