A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Norris, Thomas

NORRIS, Thomas, Mus. Bac., born about 1745, was a chorister of Salisbury Cathedral under Dr. Stephens. He appeared as one of the principal soprani at Worcester Festival, 1761, and Hereford Festival, 1762, and in the latter year at Drury Lane in 'The Spring,' a pasticcio. In 1765 he was appointed organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford; in November of the same year graduated at Oxford as Mus. Bac., his exercise (two anthems, 'The Lord is king' and 'I will alway give thanks') being performed in the Music School, Nov. 12; and on Dec. 15 was chosen organist of St. John's College. In 1766 he appeared at Gloucester Festival as a tenor singer, and continued to sing at the Meetings of the Three Choirs until 1788. On Nov. 5, 1771, he was admitted a lay clerk of Magdalen College, Oxford. He sang at the Commemoration of Handel in 1784 (where his delivery of the final recitatives in 'Israel in Egypt,' and of 'Thy rebuke,' and 'Behold and see,' in 'Messiah,' was greatly admired), and at most of the subsequent performances in the Abbey. He sang also at the oratorios in London. In 1790 he was engaged at the Birmingham Festival. But the effort proved fatal; ten days afterwards (Sept. 5, 1790), he expired at Himley Hall, near Stourbridge, the seat of Lord Dudley and Ward. Norris composed several anthems, only one of which has been printed; 6 symphonies for strings, with two hautboys and two horns; and some glees and other vocal pieces, of which 5 glees and 3 canons are printed in Warren's Collections. His career was much prejudiced by habits of intemperance.

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