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Celebrating the pipe organ, the King of Instruments

Willis Organ
Willis Organ of Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London

England’s Glory

The magnificent Organ Sonata by Sir Edward Elgar is but one of the highlights of this week’s Pipedreams broadcast. In it, four players, two in London and two in New England, will revel in an almost orchestral wash of color. Joseph Payne plays from the Mulliner Book, Malcolm Archer takes us to Lancaster Town Hall, Robert Wolley performs 16th century music on an instrument equally old, and Colin Walsh has a blast at Lincoln Cathedral. Experience the lush sounds that characterize organ music from jolly old England.

Beyond Bach and Franck and Widor, there’s a wonderful realm of experience awaiting us in the works of British composers. From the Mulliner Book and early pieces by Orlando Gibbons and Dr. John Bull, through the proud pages of Hubert Parry and Charles Stanford, to the entire First Sonata by Edward Elgar, we prove it’s not a desert island as regards its organ music. Come and celebrate England’s Glory, this week on Pipedreams.

Program Broadcast dates:

Music played in the program

GORDON JACOB: Festal FlourishColin Walsh (1898 Henry Willis/Lincoln Cathedral, England, UK) Priory PRCD379

SIR HUBERT PARRY: Chorale-prelude, Hanover –Robert Benjamin Dobey (1930 E.M. Skinner/Girard College Chapel, Philadelphia, PA) Pro Organo CD 7059

ORLANDO GIBBONS: 2 Fantasias in d: 1 & 4 –Robert Woolley (1680 Dallam/église de Ploujean, Brittany, France) Chandos CD-0559

CHARLES WOOD: Prelude on Saint Mary’s.CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD: Prelude in the Form of a Toccata, Opus 88, number 3 –Jennifer Bate (1955 Harrison & Harrison/St. James Muswell Hill, London, England, UK) & (1919 Henry Willis & Sons/Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, Wales, UK) ASV CD-6222

NIGEL OGDEN: England’s GloryMalcolm Archer (1909 Norman & Beard/Town Hall. Lancaster, England, UK) Priory PRCD400

CHRISTOPHER TYE: When that the fifty day was come.

WILLIAM BLITHEMAN: Christe redemptor omniumJoseph Payne (1890 Hook/United Church, Stonington, CT) Naxos 8.550719

JOHN BULL: 3 Pieces: Te lucis ante terminum; In nomine; Fantasia –Etienne Baillot (1981 Garnier/Cathédrale Saint Étienne, Metz, France) K617 K.617003

SIR EDWARD ELGAR: Sonata Number 1 in G, Opus 28, 1st movement –Jennifer Bate (1871 Henry Willis; 1924; 1933 Harrison & Harrison; 2004 Mander/Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK) ASV CD-6160

SIR EDWARD ELGAR: Sonata Number 1, 2nd movement –Thomas Murray (1863 E. & G.G. Hook/Immaculate Conception RCC, Boston, MA) AFKA SK-507

SIR EDWARD ELGAR: Sonata Number 1, 3rd movement –Thomas Murray (1929 Skinner/Woolsey Hall, Yale University, New Haven, CT) Gothic G49076

SIR EDWARD ELGAR: Sonata Number 1, 4th movement –John Scott (1872 Henry Willis; 1992 Mander/Cathedral of St. Paul, London, England, UK) Priory PRCD401

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