A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Adams, Thomas

by William H. Husk

ADAMS, Thomas, was born Sept. 5, 1785. He commenced the study of music, under Dr. Busby, at eleven years of age. In 1802 he obtained the appointment of organist of Carlisle Chapel, Lambeth, which he held until 1814, in which year (on March 22) he was elected, after a competition in playing with twenty-eight other candidates, organist of the church of St. Paul's, Deptford. On the erection of the church of St. George, Camberwell, in 1824, Adams was chosen as its organist, and on the opening of the church (March 26, 1824), an anthem for five voices, 'O how amiable are Thy dwellings,' composed by him for the occasion, was performed. In 1833 he was appointed organist of the then newly re-built church of St. Dunstan-in-the West, Fleet Street, which post he held, conjointly with that of Camberwell, until his death. From their commencement Adams for many years superintended the annual evening performances on the Apollonicon, a large chamber organ of peculiar construction (containing both keys and barrels), and of great power, built by Flight and Robson, and first exhibited by them at their manufactory in St. Martin's Lane in 1817. For a period of upwards of a quarter of a century Adams occupied a very prominent position as a performer on the organ. Excelling in both the strict and free styles, he possessed a remarkable faculty for extemporising. His services were in constant requisition by the organ-builders to exhibit the qualities of their newly built organs, prior to their removal from the factories to their places of destination. On such occasions the factories were crowded by professors and amateurs, anxious of witnessing the performances, and Adams played from ten to twelve pieces of the most varied kind, including two or three extemporaneous effusions, not only with great effect, but often with remarkable exhibition of contrapuntal skill, and in a manner which enraptured his hearers. Even in so small a field as the interludes then customary between the verses of a psalm tune, he would exhibit this talent to an extraordinary degree. Adams was a composer for, as well as a performer on, his instrument. He published many organ pieces, fugues, and voluntaries, besides ninety interludes, and several variations on popular themes. He also published numerous variations for the pianoforte, and many vocal pieces, consisting of short anthems, hymns, and sacred songs. Besides his published works, Adams composed several other pieces of various descriptions, which yet remain in manuscript. He died Sept. 15, 1858. His youngest son, Edgar Adams, follows the profession of his father, and holds the appointment of organist of the church of St. Lawrence, Jewry, near Guildhall.

[ W. H. H. ]