Jennifer Bate
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Lucy Bate OBE
(born 11 November 1944) is a British
concert organist.
Born in London
, Bate is the daughter of H.A. Bate, organist of St James's Muswell Hill
from 1924 to 1978. She is especially regarded as an authority on the organ music of Messiaen
, having befriended him within the last twenty years of his life as his organist of choice. In 1986, she gave the first British performance of his Livre du Saint Sacrement at Westminster Cathedral
and later made the world premiere recording of the work under the personal supervision of the composer, winning the Grand Prix du Disque
. He also endorsed her earlier recordings of all of his other organ works. Bate owns scores which contain many personal markings and references made by him.
Bate has a broad repertory
spanning several centuries, also having recorded much English organ music, the complete organ works of César Franck
and the complete organ music of Felix Mendelssohn
.
Bate was briefly married (as his second wife) to Sir George Thalben-Ball
.
She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 11 November 1944) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
concert organist.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Bate is the daughter of H.A. Bate, organist of St James's Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill is a suburb of north London, mostly in the London Borough of Haringey. It is situated about north of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. Muswell Hill is in the N10 postal district and mostly in the Hornsey and Wood Green parliamentary constituency.- History :The...
from 1924 to 1978. She is especially regarded as an authority on the organ music of Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
, having befriended him within the last twenty years of his life as his organist of choice. In 1986, she gave the first British performance of his Livre du Saint Sacrement at Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral in London is the mother church of the Catholic community in England and Wales and the Metropolitan Church and Cathedral of the Archbishop of Westminster...
and later made the world premiere recording of the work under the personal supervision of the composer, winning the Grand Prix du Disque
Grand Prix du Disque
The Grand Prix du Disque is the premier French award for musical recordings. The award was inaugurated by l'Académie Charles Cros in 1948 and offers prizes in various categories. The categories vary from year to year, and multiple awards are often made in any one category in the same year...
. He also endorsed her earlier recordings of all of his other organ works. Bate owns scores which contain many personal markings and references made by him.
Bate has a broad repertory
Repertory
Repertory or rep, also called stock in the United States, is a term used in Western theatre and opera.A repertory theatre can be a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation...
spanning several centuries, also having recorded much English organ music, the complete organ works of César Franck
César Franck
César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life....
and the complete organ music of Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
.
Bate was briefly married (as his second wife) to Sir George Thalben-Ball
George Thalben-Ball
Sir George Thomas Thalben-Ball CBE was an organist and composer who, though originally from Australia, spent most of his life in Britain....
.
She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours.