|
One of the most important organists and teachers of the last century, Lemmens became Professor of Organ at the Brussels Conservatoire (an influential position he held for twenty years); his
Triumphal March with its swaggering dotted rhythms and bold gesture is, understandably, one of his most popular pieces.
Walford Davies' position in twentieth century English musical life was unassailable: composer, conductor, choir trainer, communicator- he excelled in all these fields. His music for cathedral and
church choirs still keeps his name alive, as does his ever-green Solemn Melody - the version for organ was made by the composer himself.
Paradies' Toccata
follows the conventional pattern of the Binary Form movement essayed so brilliantly by Scarlatti in his keyboard sonatas. Resident for some years in London, Paradies was celebrated both as a composer of music for stage works and as a teacher Although composed originally for harpsichord, the Toccata lends itself particularly well to transference for playing on two contrasting organ keyboards.
WT.Best's recitals at St. George's Hall, Liverpool were legendary; although he performed much original organ music, in the manner of the period he also was responsible for presentation of
transcriptions and arrangements - a huge amount of such music was published by him. His masterly treatment of the Overture to the Occasional Oratorio is a model of its type. Each of the three
contrasted movements is treated particularly evocatively.
Reginald Goss-Custard (like his brother Harry, first organist of the new Liverpool Cathedral) was a leading organ recitalist in the Britain of the '20's and '30's, His concerts at
Alexandra Place were especially celebrated. Chelsea Fayre is a gorgeous piece of bustling mood-music, full of London self-confidence and pert utterance
The Two Trumpet Tunes and Air
of Purcell were grouped together by Henry Ley. The first is the most celebrated of the triptych, but the final Cebell is equally effective. The pieces achieved widespread popularity after performance at the Wedding of H.R.H. The Princess Margaret in 1960.
Mendelssohn's War March of the Priests
is the only music in general currency from his Cantata Athalie - a work completed in 1845, just two years before his untimely death. There are several transcriptions for organ - a medium to which this music transfers particularly well. The two main themes are vividly contrasted one with the other.
Organist to the Vatican, and later of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City, Pietro Yon spent the latter half of his life state-side, As a composer, he published a considerable corpus of music for
the organ Humoresque (a Toccatina) and Gesu Bambino
(a Pastorale) are by far his most celebrated shorter pieces The former is alleged to have been inspired by the mechanical street organs of his native Bologna
Alan Wilson, Director of Music at Bow Church in the City of London, was for many years in charge of music at the University Church of Christ the King in Gordon Square. The transcription of the ebullient
Praetorius Dance from Terpsichore comes from a collection of music especially suitable for weddings and other festivities.
Dubois' Fiat Lux is dedicated to WT. Best and its title comprises the motto of the University of Liverpool. The music moves as it were from darkness to light, from subdued grandeur to effulgent
resonance on full organ.
Transference of melodic lines from violin, flute or voice to the treble part of organ music was vary common practice in the Baroque period. Bach's lovely aria from Cantata 208, known universally as
Sheep May Safely Graze is scored originally for singer (heard in the organist's left hand) and two obbligato recorders or flutes (allotted to the right).
Fiocco's keyboard suites have recently been republished in their entirety by the publishing division of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. A previous publication disposed some of the
best single movements for solo violin with piano accompaniment Arioso and Allegro are both in the key of G, with elegant and entirely memorable melodic figuration.
Herbert Murrill's arrangement of Walton's 1937 Coronation March Crown Imperial achieves widespread popularity. Sufficient of the rhythmic impetus is provided for the player to reflect
something of the brilliant and piquant orchestration, while maintaining adequate economy of texture so as not to strain the winding unduly.
|
