Compositions
Throughout his life Armstrong felt a strong urge to compose. Although his many activities left him little time for composing, he composed 25 anthems, carols, services and a large number of songs, many of them remaining unpublished. The ambitious secular works composed for his doctorate remained unperformed until after his death, when they were recorded on a Chandos CD which brought together several of his best works. His musical roots lie with Parry and Elgar, and the music of Vaughan Williams and Delius had a profound influence on his style. Two of Armstrong's compositions remain part of the musical fabric of the Church of England to this day. Firstly, the hymn tune 'Forest Green' sung at Christmas to the words "O little Town of Bethlehem" and the Te Deum Laudamus in F Major, originally written for Paston Grammar School in North Walsham, Norfolk, but now regarded as a leader in its genre for its innovative structure and compositional devices.
Read more about this topic: Thomas Armstrong (conductor)