Elgar Organ Sonatas

ELGAR ORGAN SONATAS June Nixon at the organ of St. Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne EDWARD ELGAR (1857-1934) he Cathedral Organist at although Elgar’s friendship with Atkins Worcester, Hugh Blair, bullied dated from 1890, several years before Elgar into producing his first the Worcester appointment. Atkins asked Sonata in G Major Op. 28 really large-scaled instrumental Elgar to be godfather to his only son, Tpiece in four movements. (who is now chairman of the trustees 1st movement responsible for the cottage birthplace at – Allegro Maestoso 8’56” The organ sonata, op. 28, was written in Broadheath, which Elgar himself wished 1895, only five years after completion to have as his memorial). 2nd movement of the Lewis instrument in St. Paul’s – Allegretto 5’10” Cathedral, Melbourne, Australia, to which Atkins took movements from the it is ideally suited. Severn Suite op. 87 for brass band: the 3rd movement Introduction, Toccata and Fugue, into This is romantic writing for the romantic which he wrote his own cadenza. The – Andante Espressivo 6’24” organ. The work is symphonic in idea was Atkins’, but it gained Elgar’s conception, and full of orchestral ideas thorough approval. 4th movement and dynamics. In fact, it explores the – Presto (comodo) 8’17” entire tonal range of the instrument. This recording was produced by the Elgar himself was an organist, having Australian Broadcasting Corporation in succeeded his father for four years 1984, 50 years after Elgar’s death, for Sonata No. 2, Op. 87A at St. George’s Church in Worcester. the programme Musicians of Australia. As a teenager, he heard recitals by Introduction, Toccata, Fugue and distinguished organists on the new Due to the Cathedral’s location at a Cadenza 14’59” instrument in Worcester Cathedral. busy city intersection, some traffic noise, also some wind noise from the The sonata is dedicated to Dr. C. organ, may be audible. This is what ] Swinnerton Heap, the English composer a listener would hear in St. Paul’s and conductor of the Birmingham Cathedral. This recording published by Festival Choral Society, which performed Move Records in 1985 so many of Elgar’s choral works. move.com.au Elgar’s second organ sonata, opus 87A, Cover photograph by Peter Dunphy is an arrangement by Sir lvor Atkins, Blair’s successor at Worcester Cathedral, ne of Australia’s best known for “outstanding dedication and service organists, choir trainers given to music for worship”. and composers, June Nixon initially obtained Diploma She was made a Member (AM) in ofO Music (piano) and Bachelor of Music the General Division in the Queens (organ) from Melbourne University. Birthday Honours in 1998 for services to church music. In 1999 the Lambeth Post graduate Scholarships enabled Degree, Doctor of Music(Cantuar) was further study in London where she conferred on her by the Archbishop of gained F.R.C.O. and became the first Canterbury. She was a consultant for woman to receive the John Brooke prize the restoration of the T.C. Lewis Organ for the Choir Training Diploma. In 1968 in St. Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne in she was the winner of the Australian 1990 and on the steering committee National Organ Competition. for the restoration of the Hill Organ in the Melbourne Town Hall in 2000. In She was appointed Organist and 2003 June was nominated and made a Director of Music at St. Paul’s member of the Association of Anglican Cathedral Melbourne in 1973 and only Musicians. relinquished this after 40 years on 3 February 2013 and has been made Organist Emerita. She is on the teaching staff of Melbourne University Faculty of Music. She has given numerous recitals at the Cathedral and at the Melbourne Town Hall, and given other recitals in London, the most recent at Westminster Abbey. Her influence outside the Anglican Church was recognized in 1995 by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne awarding her the Percy Jones Award Reproduced from the Victorian Organ Journal, June 1985 The specification of the Lewis organ at the time of this recording..

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