Ralph Downes

Ralph William Downes CBE (16 August 1904 – 24 December 1993) was an English organist, organ designer, teacher and music director and was Professor of Organ in the Royal College of Music.

Downes was born in Derby and studied at the Royal College of Music from 1922 to 1923 under Walter Alcock, Henry Ley, and Edgar Cook. He was then assistant organist at Southwark Cathedral from 1923 until 1925, before moving to Keble College, Oxford (where he was also Organ Scholar to continue his education (1925 to 1928). He was then musical director and organist of the new chapel at Princeton University between 1928 and 1935, before returning to London.

During his time in America, Downes was influenced by the organ builder Donald Harrison and the harpsichordist Ralph Kirkpatrick, and other baroque music performers. These influences persisted on his return to London, where he was appointed as organist of the London Oratory (a post he would hold from 1936 to 1977). His recitals and broadcasts were known for their use of historical performance styles, which was uncommon at the time. He gave first performances on British soil of organ pieces by composers such as Darius Milhaud, Paul Hindemith and Arnold Schoenberg. He was the only instrumentalist whom Benjamin Britten invited to perform at every Aldeburgh Festival in Britten's lifetime.

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