Ernest Lough
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Ernest Lough was born on 11th November 1911 and was destined to become one of the most famous choirboys ever as a result of his soprano voice and being in the right place at the right time.
The Ernest Lough Album 'My life in music' LP HMV CLP1675
Hear My Prayer - The definitive CD - Pearl GEM 0145
(2002) An earlier version of this CD was also released which has only 11 tracks - Pearl GEMM CD 9211
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That beautiful oasis in the heart of London where East meets West at Temple Bar . .. and where choristers who, during their singing years, dedicate themselves to the task of adorning the Temple services with a musical offering of supreme worth.' That is how Dr. Thalben-Ball describes the Temple Church in David Lewer's splendid book of the Temple, A Spiritual Song. It was into this 'beautiful oasis' that I came at the age of twelve, timid, rather frightened, yet very excited at the thought of singing in a London choir. For a few years previously I had sung in the Parish Church of St. Peters, Forest Gate, but my uncle, Albert Frisby, who sang in Southwark Cathedral, thought I might be able to join the choir there. My attempt at passing the audition there failed, so my uncle took me along to see Dr. Thalben-Ball at the Temple. I was, of course, older than most boys joining a choir—they usually commence at nine or ten years of age—but I was accepted for the Temple Choir and also passed the City of London School Entrance Examination. So, in January, 1924, I commenced my new life as a very small, Eton-suited probationer in the Temple Church Choir. It was a busy, somewhat hectic life for a boy. Day school with homework to be completed every evening. Regular Choir practices most evenings with a full practice with the Gentlemen every Friday evening. Two services on Sundays and all the attendant 'extras' such as Weddings, Memorials, Cantata Sundays and the Special Services. And sandwiched into this life were our hobbies, our games, in fact, all the normal things an average boy does in his youth. The advent of the Temple Choir recordings was, therefore, even another 'extra' to our lives and although it was always exciting and thrilling at the recordings sessions, it demanded a great deal of our time and energy. Only the enthusiasm we had for our music and the guidance and genius of Dr. Thalben-Ball enabled us to reach the heights (and maintain these heights) so well illustrated in this record-The well-known story of his teaching me 'Hear ye, Israel' in so short a time serves to show how he guided me and the Temple Choir in all our singing. We had just finished a recording session and there were two spare 10-inch recording waxes left over. As the choir could not stay any longer. Dr. Thalben-Ball turned to me and asked if I knew 'Hear ye, Israel'. I didn't, and so he found the music there and then and taught it to me in just half-an-hour. We recorded it on the spot, and in spite of the somewhat unusual circumstances I personally have always considered it to be one of the best recordings I ever made. Apropos 'Hear ye, Israel' I well remember once, whilst listening to its strains wafting around the Record Department at Selfridges, hearing a gentleman explain in detail to his companion what a dreadful shame it was that the strain incurred by 'that boy' while he sang the actual music had caused a blood vessel to burst near his heart and he never lived to make another record! On another occasion a policeman outside the Law Courts suggested to me that instead of looking at those drab buildings I should go over to the Temple, and see the spot where that young boy "was took off like' when he sang '0 for the wings of a dove'. But the only real accident 1 can recall was a broken arm gathered whilst playing Prisoners' Base on a wet December evening, and having to sing before Royalty on the following Christmas night with the arm in a sling and a voice that was beginning to show signs of wanting to join the arm. In January, 1963, EMI presented a Golden Disc to Dr. Thalben-Ball and me to mark the 35th Anniversary of the making, by HMV, of Hear My Prayer. It also marked the completion of over 35 years of happy co-operation between the Temple Church and HMV—a record, I think, unlikely to have been matched by any other Choir in the world. This 'Ernest Lough Album" is, to some extent, another demonstration of this collaboration. From the first months of the recording of Hear My Prayer in 1927 with all the problems and difficulties of making records in those days, to the smooth, modern tape recording of today, there has been—always—a wonderful understanding between soloists and Choir on the one hand and the technicians of HMV on the other. The list of items chosen for this particular record are all excellent examples of this team work that I have just mentioned. Each, in its own way, is a particular favourite of mine. Each has all manner of memories and anecdotes surrounding it, but, perhaps best of all is Hear Ye, Israel, because of the special circumstances in the recording. Having grown away from the 'boy' who made most of these records, I find today that I can listen to them in a detached way and really enjoy them as a musical treat. Gone are all the wonderings and misgivings of the performer. My comments, therefore, that all the items are enjoyable, must not be taken as a boast by the artist, but rather as an indication of the pleasure I now get from these recordings as an 'ordinary listener'. I'm particularly happy to see that a 'first issue' is being made of 'I will sing of Thy great mercies'. This record was made in 1928 but before I could make another recording for the reverse side, my voice began to show signs of breaking. The title has therefore remained unissued until now. The last item, For the beauty of the Earth, I do especially commend to you. It is an example of excellent modern recording and some beautiful soprano singing by Robin Lough. Here, once again. Dr. Thalben-Ball is guiding and inspiring another Lough, just as he did (for me) 35 years ago. Robin has now completed his 'term' as the Head Boy and Soloist in the Temple Church Choir and has moved on to other spheres, but my youngest son, Graham—aged eleven—is still singing with me every Sunday. With Dr. Thalben-Ball and all the members of the Choir, gentlemen and boys, we hope that we may be spared to go on for many, many years with our 'sweet singing in the choir'—so long the tradition at the Temple Church.
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