BEST, WILLIAM THOMAS (1826-1897), English or ganist, the son of a solicitor, was born at Carlisle on Aug. 13, 1826. After holding various smaller appointments he became, in 1855, organist of St. George's Hall, Liverpool, where his perform ances rapidly became famous throughout England. Ill-health com pelled him at last to retire in 1894. He was engaged as solo organist at all the Handel festivals at the Crystal Palace, and also as organist at the Albert Hall, where he inaugurated the great organ in 1871. He died at Liverpool on May Io, 1897.
One of the greatest of modern organists who was also a fine all-round musician, his performances of Bach's organ works were particularly fine. His own compositions for the organ, chiefly comprised in the publication entitled Organ Pieces for Church Use, have a strong and marked individuality, typical alike of the composer, and of the style of his own organ playing.