A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Best, William

BEST, William Thomas, was born at Carlisle (where his father was a solicitor), August 13, 1826. He received his first instruction in music from Young, organist of Carlisle Cathedral. He intended to follow the profession of a civil engineer and architect, but that pursuit proving distasteful he (when in Liverpool in 1840) determined to renew his musical studies, and devoted his attention to organ and pianoforte playing. The study of the organ was at that time greatly hindered by its defective construction, the unsuitable pedal compass, and the mode of tuning then in vogue, which rendered the performance of the works of the great organ composers almost an impossibility, whilst the number of professors practically acquainted with the works of Bach was then extremely small. Having determined on a rigid course of self-study, and fortunately obtaining the use of an organ of ameliorated construction, Best spent many years in perfecting himself in the art of organ-playing in all its branches. His first organ appointment was at Pembroke Chapel, Liverpool, in 1840; in 1847 he became organist of the church for the blind in that town, and in the following year organist to the Liverpool Philharmonic Society. In 1852 he came to London as organist of the Panopticon of Science and Art in Leicester Square, and of the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and in 1854 was appointed organist of Lincoln's Inn Chapel. He returned to Liverpool in 1855 on receiving the appointment of organist to St. George's Hall. In 1860 he became organist of the parish church of Wallasey, Birkenhead, and in 1863 organist of Holy Trinity Church near Liverpool. In 1868 he was appointed organist of the Musical Society of Liverpool, and in 1872 was reappointed organist to the Liverpool Philharmonic Society. These last two appointments and that at St. George's Hall he still holds. Best has composed several church services, anthems, and hymns, many fugues, sonatas, and other pieces for the organ; ten pianoforte pieces, two overtures, and a march for orchestra. He is also the author of 'The Modern School for the Organ,' 1853, all the examples and studies in which are original, and 'The Art of Organ Playing,' the first and second parts published in 1870, but the third and fourth yet in MS. Best's arrangements for the organ are exceedingly numerous.

[ W. H. H. ]