Christopher Tambling

Christopher Tambling (1964-2015) studied the organ with Malcolm McKelvey at Christ's Hospital, Horsham, Sussex. He went on to gain organ scholarships to Canterbury Cathedral and St Peter's College, Oxford, where he studied with Geoffrey Webber and David Sanger and was Organist of Pusey House. He started his teaching career at Sedbergh School in Cumbria, where he was Organist from 1986 to 1989: he then became Director of Music at Glenalmond College, near Perth in Scotland, also taking on roles of Perth City Organist and Conductor of Perth City Orchestra. From 1997 onwards he was the Director of Music at Downside School near Bath. He was Organist and Master of the Schola Cantorum of Downside Abbey, a 90-strong choir of boys and girls drawn from the school, which regularly sang for services, recordings and concerts. Christopher was much in demand as a composer of accessible church and organ music, and undertook many commissions for schools and churches. He was a fellow of the Royal College of Organists.

Kevin Mayhew writes: Chris Tambling was a lovely man, a fine composer and a publisher’s dream because he was always open to new ideas and delivered exactly what was needed. Over the years we have published the great majority of his choral and instrumental music, as well as his monumental four-volume work ‘The Church Organist’, which has been established as the leading tutor.

Besides his serious work, Chris also wrote many children’s songs, and two children’s musicals with Michael Forster, which have been performed all over the world. Barbara and I, and all Chris’ friends here send our love to Sara, Edward and Benjamin.