Herbert Walton: Organist Extraordinaire

Any research into the history of Glasgow’s musical life during the late nineteenth/early twentieth century invariably throws up the name of Herbert Walton. I first read about him in a cutting from The Glasgow Herald (Monday, 28 April 1913, p.11). He had been invited to inaugurate the new organ at Cardross Parish Church on the previous Saturday. The instrument was not large – two manuals, pedals and 14 speaking stops, with tubular pneumatic action. The organ was built by Mr Henry Hilsdon of Glasgow, who is now probably best recalled for his cinema organ design. The concert programme was varied, with several arrangements and transcriptions. There were original works by Alfred Hollins and William Wolstenholme, as well as Bach’s “delightful Fugue alla gigue” and Theodore Dubois’s war horse, the Toccata in G. Clearly, the programme was designed to display the new organ, as well as demonstrating the soloist’s technical virtuosity. Similar newspaper reports appear from many other towns including Arbroath, Dundee and Twechar. In fact, one obituary suggested that Walton had given concerts in “practically every town in Scotland.”  His recitals became known throughout the United Kingdom and extended to the Continent and the United States

Herbert Walton was born in the North Riding of Yorkshire town of Thirsk on 27 February1869. His father was a local schoolmaster and organist at the Parish Church. Early study with Dr John Naylor at York Minster led to his appointment as organist at Kirby-Wiske Church, near Thirsk, in the North Riding.

He later studied on an open scholarship at the Royal College of Music, under Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, Walter Parratt and Frederic Cliffe. For two years, Walton held the sinecure of personal organist of the Earl of Aberdeen. He relinquished this post when his Lordship proposed relocating to Canada. Shortly after, he was appointed organist at St Mark’s Church, Leeds.

In 1897, Dr Albert Lister Peace (1844-1912) left his position as musical director at Glasgow Cathedral for the prestigious St George’s Hall, Liverpool. Walton was chosen unanimously as his successor. There were more than 200 applicants for the position. For 31 years, Herbert Walton remained the distinguished organist at the Cathedral.

The Daily Record (Monday, 23 August 1897, p.4) advertised “The First Organ Recital by Mr Herbert Walton.” On that day at 8pm, the audience heard Alexandre Guilmant’s Sonata No.1 in D minor, a Pastorale by Theodor Kullak, J.S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in A minor, and Richard Wagner’s Meistersinger Overture. There was also an improvisation on An Old English Air by Dr Thomas Arne. The performance received high praise.

These annual recitals continued for many years until shortly before his death. Typically, critics remarked that he was a master of his instrument, was able to bring out the tone and strengths of any organ he played, and always designed programmes to reveal the full capabilities of the instrument.

Despite not being a prolific composer, Walton’s Rhapsodic Variations on two contrasted themes were (seemingly) popular in his day. They were published by Bayley and Ferguson of Glasgow in c.1921. I have been unable to inspect a copy of this score.

Walton was a member of the Glasgow Society of Musicians, and belonged to the Palette Club, a musical institution based in 518 Sauchiehall Street. He was president of the GSO for the year 1922/23. His interests, apart from music included walking, reading and billiards. His residence was 1 Queen’s Terrace, now 127 West Princes Street in the West End of Glasgow.

On 12 July 1929 Herbert Walton died in a nursing home in Bournemouth. He had been in failing health for some time. R. H. Clifford Smith succeeded him as organist of Glasgow Cathedral.

The CHARM discographic website, which chronicles early recordings, has three entries for Herbert Walton. The most substantial is J.S. Bach’s Fugue alla gigue dating from April 1927, performed on the organ of Glasgow Cathedral. On the same day, Franz Schubert’s Ave Maria was also recorded. Unbelievably, both have been uploaded to YouTube (search on performer/title). There was also an unissued recording of the Cathedral Choir singing Flowers of forever, with Walton accompanying. At least two records of Old Scottish Psalm Tunes: Scottish Airs were later issued. Some popularity was gained with “Lament for Sir Rory Mor,” a traditional Scottish tune.

Sadly, Cardross Old Church was destroyed during a Luftwaffe raid on Clydeside on 5 May 1941. After the war ended, the church tower was retained as a war memorial. The congregation moved to the Free Church building in Station Road. No information is extant as to what happened to the remains of the organ. 

With thanks to the Glasgow Society of Organists Journal, where this essay was first published.