Frederick Thurston

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Frederick Thurston
Born September 21, 1901
Origin London
Died December 12, 1953 (aged 52)
Genre(s) Classical
Instrument(s) Clarinet
Years active 1920s–1953

Frederick John Thurston (21 September 1901 – 12 December 1953) was an English clarinetist.

From the age of 7 he was taught by his father and he won an open scholarship to the Royal College of Music, becoming a pupil of Charles Draper. During the 1920s he played with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the BBC Wireless Orchestra before becoming principal clarinetist of the newly formed BBC Symphony Orchestra. He left the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1946 to concentrate on chamber music.[1]

He gave the first performance of new works, including Arnold Bax's Clarinet Sonata, Arthur Bliss's Clarinet Quintet and Gerald Finzi's Clarinet Concerto. Works dedicated to him include Malcolm Arnold's Clarinet Concerto No 1, Iain Hamilton's Three Nocturnes, Herbert Howells's Clarinet Sonata, John Ireland's Fantasy-Sonata, Gordon Jacob's Clarinet Quintet, Elizabeth Maconchy's Clarinet Concertino #1 and Alan Rawsthorne's Clarinet Concerto.[1]

He taught at the Royal College of Music from 1930 to 1953.[1] In 1953 he married Thea King, one of his pupils, but died later the same year.[2]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Robert Philip/Pamela Weston, 'Thurston, Frederick', Grove Music Online, accessed 30 June 2007 [1]
  2. ^ Pamela Weston/Robert Philip, 'King, Thea', Grove Music Online, accessed 30 June 2007 [2]

[edit] Writings

  • Thurston, Frederick; A. Frank (1939 (revised and enlarged 1979)). The Clarinet: a Comprehensive Tutor for the Boehm Clarinet. 
  • Thurston, Frederick (1940–41). "Clarinet Tone". Woodwind Year Book: 47ff. 
  • Thurston, Frederick (1956). Clarinet Technique. ISBN 0193186039. 
  • The Passage Studies Volume 1 ( Boosey & Hawkes )
  • The Passage Studies Volume 2 ( Boosey & Hawkes )
  • The Passage Studies Volume 3 ( Boosey & Hawkes )

[edit] See also

  • Weston, P. (1971). Clarinet Virtuosi of the Past, 271–274.