THE LEGACY OF PAUL LINDSLEY THOMAS

THE LEGACY OF PAUL LINDSLEY THOMAS

March 18, 1929 - October 29, 2021

By Pam Barbera

Once upon a time, a wise priest from an Episcopal church in Dallas Texas, went looking for an organist/choir director. This wise priest was our own Father Taliaferro and his discovery was Paul Thomas.

Who was this man and what made him so special anyway?

Paul started studying piano at age four with his mother who was a well-known organist recitalist. His early schooling was outside of New York City at a school started by a priest at the end of the Civil War. His name was Bishop Muhlenberg. He wrote a hymn in his lifetime with the text being “Shout the Glad Tidings”. Sound familiar? It is that same text used by Paul in 1975 when he wrote the anthem with that same name and dedicated it to the Men and Boys Choir at Saint Michael. It is, to this day, one of our congregation’s favorites. (And truth be told—the congregation sings along with the choir).

Paul gave an organ recital at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York city when he was fifteen. He had the rare distinction of having been the first chorister in the history of the Cathedral Choir School to have given a recital on the four manual organ in the Cathedral. It’s hard enough to think of anyone using both hands and feet to play diverse passages on multiple manuals, including the pedalboard. Didn’t bother Paul. (He had Polio at five years of age which makes this all the more amazing!) In fact, when Paul was only eleven, his mom was playing at the World’s Fair. She needed to slip away for a moment and had Paul take her place while she was gone. Just a normal day!

Paul’s first job was organist and choirmaster while he was a student at Trinity College in Norfolk, Connecticut.

His second job was in Rumson, New Jersey — a job he began one day after graduating from Trinity. This is where he met Joyce, the daughter of the Rector of the church. They married in 1955.

In 1957 he graduated first in his class from Yale. Interestingly, both his parents and his two brothers also graduated from Yale.

By 1960, the challenge of a new frontier in far off Dallas, Texas, influenced by the offer of a job by Father Taliaferro, lured them here and exposed the congregation to all the talents, kindness, and class of this fine gentleman.

He played his first recital in 1961 when the organ was dedicated. His choirs grew, so that by his second year here the church had to hire an assistant organist. His wife Joyce helped with the children’s choirs while Paul took on the task of dealing with the older junior high and high school kids’ choirs. There was also a Men and Boys Choir and the Oratorio Choir. All during this time spent directing and practicing, he was busy composing, too. By the time Paul died, he had over forty compositions of which he dedicated eighteen to choirs and individuals. He was commissioned to write over eleven pieces as well.

For the first five years in Dallas, Paul was also the instructor of organ at SMU and jointly put on the Play of Daniel at Saint Michael.

The next year, 1965, the Music and Drama Guild formed and the first production of Noyes Fludde by Benjamin Britten was performed. It was such a hit that it was performed three more times, the last performance being in 1992. Each performance was a sell-out or close to it.

During Paul’s tenure, the choirs put on four more plays—everything from Saul, written by George Handel to Everyman written by Paul Lindsley Thomas with words by Kent West.

Paul gave concerts all over the United States and Europe. One that stands out was his recital at the United States Airforce Academy Chapel celebrating the 200th anniversary of American independence.

Paul’s choirs were privileged enough to be asked to sing in the United States and Europe as well. One of his favorite memories was of the Boys Choir appearing in SemiTough, the movie with Burt Reynolds. Paul accompanied the choir in the wedding scenes in the movie. Other choir trips taken in the United States were to Galveston and Washington, D.C., with the Children’s Choirs and the Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City, and Grace Cathedral in San Francisco with the Oratorio Choir.

The combined choirs of children and Oratorio Choir were also privileged to go to Europe on two separate occasions. The first trip was to England and Paris. While in England, the choir sang in three churches. During the second trip to Europe, the choir sang in four places — Eisenstadt, Kuchel, Seefeld, and Engelberg. What an honor! The Oratorio Choir was honored to sing at the Meyerson twice — once on Pentecost and once for a wedding.

In 1996, the tower bells at Saint Michael were named. One was for Joyce and the largest one was for Paul.

Paul’s last day at Saint Michael was August 31, 1997. By this time, he had played or was in charge of eighteen Bach’s Lunches and six Sing-Along Messiahs. He also had his choirs singing works by such masters as Mozart, Haydn, Brahms, Bach, and Handel. The Puccini Mass even got a standing ovation! John Rutter, the English composer, wrote "Be Thou My Vision" and dedicated it to Paul and the Oratorio Choir.

Paul went on to be organist and choir director at two other Episcopal churches in the area before retiring. In 2010, the Festival of Church Music honored him with a multi-choir celebration of his music at the Meyerson. His compositions have been performed at the Park Avenue Christian Church in New York City, Preston Hollow Presbyterian, Saint Luke’s Episcopal in San Antonio, US Air Force Academy, and at a Methodist church. You don’t have to be an Episcopalian to appreciate good music!

Lest you think Paul Thomas was just a musician—he had a dog named Lassie, lettered in track in high school, was a secret New York Yankees fan, loved the Texas Rangers, and loved to play Trivia under his alias name, Bizet.

His legacy will forever be linked with his body of works and his tenure as music director of Saint Michael and All Angels. He was a wonderful man who helped shape the knowledge and love of singing for many. His compositions will live on in the hearts and voices of future choirs that will make music for years to come.

Now we say farewell and "Well done thou good and faithful servant".

Paul Thomas Memorial Chorister Scholarship

The Paul Thomas Memorial Chorister Scholarship is a new fund established to recognize outstanding young singers within the Saint Michael Choristers. These gifts will provide scholarships for annual chorister tours as an enduring memorial to Dr. Thomas’ legacy and passion for young singers. Go to saintmichael.org/paulthomas.