work, by the way, is one of the most stimulating and Although it can't match Hull's grandeur or beauty, convincing of the more avant-garde organ pieces I've the 1969 Rushworth & Dreaper rebuild at Chester heard, and Bielby's registrations are illuminating. (VPS 1044) is pleasant and versatile. Roger Fisher has Walter Hillsman's bicentennial program of Ameri- used it persuasively in his previous Vista recordings can organ music at Southwark (VPS 1038) struck me of Rheinberger sonatas, and he does so here in the as a rather unflattering one, since the only selection Reger Halleluja! Gott zu loben fantasia and two that really held my attention was Samuel Barber's shorter chorale preludes. His ample musicianship charming "Wondrous Love" variations. The Concert shows some weaknesses, though, in the Bach and Variations on "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Dud- Buxtehude pieces. He fails utterly to make any kind ley Buck (who could win with a name like that?) is a of rhythmic (and thus structural) sense of Buxte- veritable catalog of the Victorian clichés that Ives hude's magnificent Prelude, Fugue, and Chaconne in satirized so cleverly in his own "America" vari- C, and one searches in vain for such stylistic niceties ations. Unfortunately, the latter's Adeste fidelis is as cadential trills. The Bach Passacaglia fares better, merely tedious, the Choral No. 1 strongly suggests although the fugue is too slow and the big reeds that Roger Sessions was uncomfortable writing for heard at the end are noticeably anachronistic. So the organ, and Copland's Episode reminds me of the buy this record for the Reger side-and beware that preacher who wrote in the margin of his sermon, the record labels may be (as mine were) reversed. "Shout loudly-argument weak here." Anyone want- ing a record of American organ music would do BRITISH ORGANS. Various organs and organists. [Michael much better to get George Baker's Delos album (FY Smythe, prod.] VISTA (various numbers), $7.98 each (distrib- 025), which offers a vastly superior selection of uted by HNH Distributors). works by Sowerby, Berlinski, Persichetti, Anderson, Six FAMOUS BRITISH ORGANS. Richard Galloway, David Harrison. Ronald Perrin. John R Turner. Allan and Arthur Wills, organ. VPS 1033 and Roberts and the best romp through the Ives Tie ORGAN OF Jonathan Bielby. organ. VPS 1034. "America" that I've heard. AMERICAN ORGAN MUSIC FROM Walter Hillsman, organ. The brothers Stephen and Nicholas Cleobury have VPS 1038 Oman Dims FROM WESTMINSTER ABBEY ',tephen and Nicholas Cleobury. organ. been unearthing and commissioning music for organ VPS 1039 duet during the past couple of years, and they have THE ORGAN IN . Ronald Perrin. organ. VPS 1040 now recorded some of the results on the 1937 Harri- THE ORGAN IN HULL CITY HALL. Goodman, organ VPS 1042. son & Harrison organ of Westminster Abbey (VPS THE ORGAN IN CHESTER CATHEDRAL. Roger Fisher, organ VPS 1044 1039). The instrument's tone is rather ugly-with blunt, forced diapasons and reeds-but the playing is fine indeed. Among the curiosities are S. S. Wesley's duet transcription of Bach's "St. Anne" fugue (an ar- rangement that would have been necessitated by the HAVING DEVELOPEDa distinguished catalog of inadequate pedal divisions of early nineteenth-cen- organ recordings for his Vista label, producer tury British organs) and a pleasantly Men- Michael Smythe has begun to add some choral delssohnian D minor Sonata by Gustav Merkel records as well, including the newly released (1827-85). Of the two modern pieces, Leighton's Dia- "Famous Hymns of Praise from St. Edmunds- logues on the Scottish Psalm -Tune "Martyrs" struck bury Cathedral." Twenty hymns are per- me as much more successful: Elizabeth Luytens' formed by four massed choirs in the English static Plenum IV will probably sound more annoying cathedral, with organ accompaniment. The than interesting to most listeners. choral tone is not always very refined-there is, in particular, a tendency among the trebles and At Ripon, Ronald Perrin proves quite a skilled sopranos to strain on high notes-but the ac- player (VPS 1040), and his 1964 Harrison & Harrison companiments and descants demonstrate the organ is well balanced except for an ove.ly promi- sensitivity, imagination, and taste characteris- nent 32 -foot reed. Among the solo works the most in- tic of the English cathedral tradition. teresting is a splendid Fantasia and Toccata in D mi- Of the twenty hymns, American church- nor by Charles Villiers Stanford (who, like Parry, goers will probably recognize between a half was one of Vaughan Williams' teachers), Perrin is and three -fourths, and the unfamiliar ones are joined by his pianist wife, Mary, in a virtuosic and certainly worth attention. Indeed, anyone who imaginative performance of a colorful Concerto for is at all interested in hymnody will find much Organ and Piano written by the Belgian organist/ to admire-not, however, including the re- composer Flor Peeters in 1957. The piano sounds a corded sound, which is rather thin and not en- bit hard and cavernous in the cathedral acoustic, but tirely free of noticeable distortion. the balance between organ and piano has been han- Michael Booker's program notes are both in- dled well. formative and chatty, and we are given the The huge Hull City Hall organ (VPS 1042), rebuilt number for each hymn in the English hymnal in 1951-52 by Compton, can produce a thrilling full - Hymns Ancient and Modern. S.C. organ sound, and the softer stops are equally beau- tiful. Peter Goodman plays with panache, and he FAMOUS HYMNS OF PRAISE FROM ST. EDIALINDSSURY generously demonstrates his instrument's tonal vari- CATHEDRAL St. Edmundsbury Cathedral , St. Edmundsbury Bach Choir, Garland Street Baptist ety in Guilmant's noble Fifth Sonata and in shorter Church Choir, and Silver Jubilee Girls School Choir, pieces by Sweelinck, Kellner, Harwood, and Hollins. Harrison Oxley, cond. [Michael Smythe, prod.] VISTA While the Hollins Trumpet Minuet is barely respect- VPS 1036, $7.98 (distributed by HNH Distributors). able, one is glad for an opportunity to hear Hull's glo- rious orchestral trumpet stop.

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