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George Miles (organist)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

George Miles
Birth nameGeorge Theophilus Miles
Born(1913-02-23)23 February 1913
England
Died26 March 1988(1988-03-26) (aged 75)
Birmingham, England
GenresClassical
Occupation(s)Organist, music educator
InstrumentOrgan
Years active1935–1988
SpouseMargarete Böhm

George Theophilus Miles FRCO (23 February 1913 – 26 March 1988) was an English organist and organ teacher based in Birmingham.

Education

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He was educated at King's School, Canterbury and the Royal College of Music from 1931 to 1935, where he studied with George Thalben-Ball.

He studied with Karl Straube at the Kirchenmusikalisches Institut in Leipzig. He applied to study with Straube for his main study, Organ; but also composition under the Austrian composer Johann Nepomuk David and piano under Prof Robert Teichmueller, who was a pupil of Reinecke and taught Karg-Elert and others. Miles signed up on 28 September 1935. He remained in Germany for a few years, as he is documented living in Mittelweg, Hamburg a year or so later and did some translating work in an advisory capacity for C.F.Peters.

Career

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From the 1930s, through recitals and in particular broadcasts, he was virtually alone in representing the continental style of organ playing in Britain, especially in Bach.[1]

He was consulted by Ralph Downes on the design of the new organ for the Royal Festival Hall.

Soon after World War II he became established as a devoted and respected teacher through his hundreds of pupils from Birmingham University and the Birmingham School of Music.[1]

He was organist at St. Peter's Church, Harborne from 1946 to 1988.

Personal life

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He was born on 23 February 1913 to Canon Joseph Henry Miles (1856 - 1935) (Curate of Castlerea 1882 - 1883, Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin 1883 - 1896, Rector of Pangbourne 1896 - 1913, Curate of West Teignmouth 1918 - 1919, Benenden 1919-1922, Chaplain of Faversham Almshouses 1922 - 1930) and Helen J Kolb in Pangbourne, Berkshire. His half brother Harry Godfrey Massy-Miles died in the First World War.

He married Margarete Böhm.[2] They had one son, George Christopher Miles (1942 – 1994).

He died in Birmingham on 26 March 1988.

References

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  1. ^ a b The Musical Times, Vol 129, Jul 1988
  2. ^ Who's Who in Music. First Post War Edition. 1949-50