Horace Finch
Encyclopedia
Horace Finch was an English pianist
and organist
.
and organ
studies in 1910 at the age of four. By 1915, he was organist at Clock Face Methodist Church, St. Helens. In 1919 he left St. Helens for Blackpool for health reasons.
During 1920 he began piano
studies with Robert Gregory. Throughout the 1920s he took several positions playing in cinemas up and down the Fylde Coast and on 1 April 1926 took up his position as solo and orchestral pianist in the Blackpool Tower
Orchestra. On Whit Sunday 1927 he became the first English pianist to perform Gershwin's
Rhapsody in Blue
from memory. He also made his debut on record with 'Bertini' and the Tower Band. In addition to playing the piano, he also played xylophone
and accordion
and also made a few recordings with Bertini on the 'Crystalite' label using the small Decca Wurlitzer in London.
organ was installed in the Tower Ballroom Blackpool
and after three organists, Reginald Dixon
was appointed. Mr. Dixon later designed his own Wurlitzer and the original Tower organ was removed and enlarged as a 'twin' to the new organ to be installed in the Empress Ballroom Blackpool within the Winter Gardens
complex. Horace Finch was chosen as the new organist for the Empress Ballroom, the new organ being opened on on 3 April 1935.
Radio broadcasts soon followed as well as solo organ recordings. In 1939, the New Opera House Blackpool
(also in the Wintergardens) opened on 14 July with a Wurlitzer organ installed to the design of Mr. Finch. It was, in fact, the very last new Wurlitzer organ to be installed in the UK. This organ contained a rare Tibia Plena rank of pipes, the only other in the UK being installed at the Gaumont Theatre, Holloway, which was destroyed in World War II (oddly, the remains of the Holloway organ provided spares for the Tower Wurlitzer after the fire of 1956). The Opera House organ has recently been restored and returned to the spotlight by a team of enthusiasts led by Wolverhampton City Organist, Steve Tovey. Soon after, War came and Horace joined the RAF
.
at the Tower with fellow organist, Watson Holmes.
On 14 December 1956 a fire almost destroyed the Blackpool Tower
Ballroom and during this time, Reginald Dixon
took up residency at the Empress whilst Horace was demoted to the Winter Gardens Pavilion on the Hammond Organ
. By 1958, he was back on his Wurlitzer.
On 19 October 1962 he made what was to be his last broadcast from the organ of the Opera House as on 16 November, he sustained an injury to his left hand which prevented him from playing publicly again.
He died on 30 September 1980.
He composed a few pieces of light music which were never published but were broadcast by the BBC
including The Blackpool Express and Get Goin'.
Sadly, Horace Finch was overshadowed by Reginald Dixon
and never really became as famous as 'Mr. Blackpool'. He did, however, notch up a great deal of air time on the radio during his tenure as resident organist at the Wintergardens. His position was taken by Ernest Broadbent who, in 1970, would take over at the Tower.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
.
Early life and education
Horace Finch began pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
studies in 1910 at the age of four. By 1915, he was organist at Clock Face Methodist Church, St. Helens. In 1919 he left St. Helens for Blackpool for health reasons.
During 1920 he began piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
studies with Robert Gregory. Throughout the 1920s he took several positions playing in cinemas up and down the Fylde Coast and on 1 April 1926 took up his position as solo and orchestral pianist in the Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Tower Eye is a tourist attraction in Blackpool, Lancashire in England which was opened to the public on 14 May 1894. . Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it rises to 518 feet & 9 inches . The tower is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers...
Orchestra. On Whit Sunday 1927 he became the first English pianist to perform Gershwin's
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue is a musical composition by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band written in 1924, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects....
from memory. He also made his debut on record with 'Bertini' and the Tower Band. In addition to playing the piano, he also played xylophone
Xylophone
The xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
and accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
and also made a few recordings with Bertini on the 'Crystalite' label using the small Decca Wurlitzer in London.
The new Wurlitzer Organs
In 1929 a WurlitzerWurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
organ was installed in the Tower Ballroom Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
and after three organists, Reginald Dixon
Reginald Dixon
Reginald Dixon MBE, ARCM, was an English theatre organist. He was best known as resident organist at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, where he played the Wurlitzer organ from 1930 until his retirement in 1970.-Biography:...
was appointed. Mr. Dixon later designed his own Wurlitzer and the original Tower organ was removed and enlarged as a 'twin' to the new organ to be installed in the Empress Ballroom Blackpool within the Winter Gardens
Winter Gardens, Blackpool
The Winter Gardens is a large entertainment complex in the town centre of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It has twelve different venues, including a theatre, ballroom and conference facilities. Opened in 1878, it is a Grade II* listed building, incorporating various elements built between 1875 and...
complex. Horace Finch was chosen as the new organist for the Empress Ballroom, the new organ being opened on on 3 April 1935.
Radio broadcasts soon followed as well as solo organ recordings. In 1939, the New Opera House Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
(also in the Wintergardens) opened on 14 July with a Wurlitzer organ installed to the design of Mr. Finch. It was, in fact, the very last new Wurlitzer organ to be installed in the UK. This organ contained a rare Tibia Plena rank of pipes, the only other in the UK being installed at the Gaumont Theatre, Holloway, which was destroyed in World War II (oddly, the remains of the Holloway organ provided spares for the Tower Wurlitzer after the fire of 1956). The Opera House organ has recently been restored and returned to the spotlight by a team of enthusiasts led by Wolverhampton City Organist, Steve Tovey. Soon after, War came and Horace joined the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
.
1946 onward
After the war, he took up his duties again at the Winter Gardens playing both organs installed there as well as deputising for Reginald DixonReginald Dixon
Reginald Dixon MBE, ARCM, was an English theatre organist. He was best known as resident organist at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, where he played the Wurlitzer organ from 1930 until his retirement in 1970.-Biography:...
at the Tower with fellow organist, Watson Holmes.
On 14 December 1956 a fire almost destroyed the Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Tower Eye is a tourist attraction in Blackpool, Lancashire in England which was opened to the public on 14 May 1894. . Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it rises to 518 feet & 9 inches . The tower is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers...
Ballroom and during this time, Reginald Dixon
Reginald Dixon
Reginald Dixon MBE, ARCM, was an English theatre organist. He was best known as resident organist at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, where he played the Wurlitzer organ from 1930 until his retirement in 1970.-Biography:...
took up residency at the Empress whilst Horace was demoted to the Winter Gardens Pavilion on the Hammond Organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
. By 1958, he was back on his Wurlitzer.
On 19 October 1962 he made what was to be his last broadcast from the organ of the Opera House as on 16 November, he sustained an injury to his left hand which prevented him from playing publicly again.
He died on 30 September 1980.
He composed a few pieces of light music which were never published but were broadcast by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
including The Blackpool Express and Get Goin'.
Sadly, Horace Finch was overshadowed by Reginald Dixon
Reginald Dixon
Reginald Dixon MBE, ARCM, was an English theatre organist. He was best known as resident organist at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, where he played the Wurlitzer organ from 1930 until his retirement in 1970.-Biography:...
and never really became as famous as 'Mr. Blackpool'. He did, however, notch up a great deal of air time on the radio during his tenure as resident organist at the Wintergardens. His position was taken by Ernest Broadbent who, in 1970, would take over at the Tower.
See also
- OrganistOrganistAn organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
- WurlitzerWurlitzerThe Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
- Blackpool TowerBlackpool TowerBlackpool Tower Eye is a tourist attraction in Blackpool, Lancashire in England which was opened to the public on 14 May 1894. . Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it rises to 518 feet & 9 inches . The tower is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers...
- Reginald DixonReginald DixonReginald Dixon MBE, ARCM, was an English theatre organist. He was best known as resident organist at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, where he played the Wurlitzer organ from 1930 until his retirement in 1970.-Biography:...
- Theatre organTheatre organA theatre organ is a pipe organ originally designed specifically for imitation of an orchestra. New designs have tended to be around some of the sounds and blends unique to the instrument itself....