| Intro | English organist and composer |
| Was |
Composer Organist |
| From | United Kingdom |
| Type | Music |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 1 January 1695 |
| Death |
1 January 1744 (aged 49 years) |
Thomas Kelway (c. 1695 – 1744) was an English organist and composer.
Career
He became a chorister in the choir of Chichester Cathedral in 1704 and studied the organ with John Reading and Samuel Peirson. He succeeded Peirson as Organist of Chichester Cathedral in 1720 – however he was placed under probation for a period of 13 years before he was confirmed in the office. Kelway died in office, and left numerous compositions; his service in B minor remains a part of the choir’s repertoire. During his tenure at the cathedral, John Byfield added the second manual (choir organ).
Compositions
- Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis in B minor
- Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis in G minor
- Organs and Organists of Chichester Cathedral
Personal life
Kelway was born in Chichester in c. 1695. His father was a lay vicar at Chichester Cathedral, and his brother John was Organist of St Michael, Cornhill (1734-1736) and St Martin-in-the-Fields (1736-1781).