Ken Cowan Previous positions have included Associate Professor of Organ at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, where he was awarded the 2008 Rider University Distinguished Teaching Award, and Associate Organist and Artist in Residence at Saint Bartholomew’s Church in New York City. Ken is a member of the keyboard faculty of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University where he is Associate Professor and head of the organ program.
In this video Mr. Cowan play a work by the organist, composer and choir director; George Thalben-Ball (1896-1987).
George Thalben-Ball was well known for his extraordinary technical prowess at the organ, and the famous theme from Paganini's twenty-fourth caprice was the melodic inspiration for these variations, played entirely with the feet until the final variation. Thalben-Ball employs such technical demands as three and four-note chords, arpeggios, glissandos and rapid passagework for the organist's feet. A demanding study at any age, it is interesting to note that Thalben-Ball himself recorded this work when well into his '70s, apparently unfettered by time.

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