Eleven pieces for solo Organ from the 19th to the 21st century. Selected and edited by Martin Neary. 'An imaginative kaleidoscope of attractive pieces. There is much to enjoy in this wide-ranging collection.' - John Scott LVO Organist and Director of Music Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue New York 'A valuable collection for organists. The fact that it is published in aid of such an important cause makes it all the more appealing.' - James O'Donnell Organist & Master of the Choristers Westminster Abbey Visiting Professor of Organ Royal Academy of Music 'Containing stimulating music for professional and amateur alike thisbeautifully produced volume is one of the highest quality and useful Organ albums to have been released in years. You should buy a copy - you won't regret it.' - Jonathan Vaughn (Choir & Organ - March/April 2011) Produced in association with the Organists Charitable Trust with the support of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust this is a collection of 11 pieces for solo organ (ABRSM Grade 6-7). Featuring previously-unpublished works by Howells and Rutter and new works by Philip Moore and three 'rising stars' David Bednall Iain Farrington and Thomas Hewitt Jones. Selected and edited by Martin Neary.  

All of Bach?s six authenticated motets were written between 1723 and 1727 for St Thomas? Church Leipzig where Bach was appointed as director of music in 1723. During this period Bach composed most of his cantatas and it seems likely that for ordinary Sunday services he used existing motets from the seventeenth century tradition reserving his own motet compositions for special occasions.Four of his six motets were written for the funeral services of prominent members of the St Thomas? congregation. Jesu Meine Freude (BWV 227) the longest most musically complex and earliest of the six was written in 1723 for the funeralof Johanna Maria Käsin the wife of Leipzig?s postmaster.Jesu Meine Freude BWV 227 is a beautifully constructed motet for five-part mixed choir by J.S. Bach. This Urtext edition provides you with a clear and accurate realisation of the composer?s original intentions and includes thoroughly detailed editorial markings and suggestions as edited by Konrad Ameln.Urtext of the New Bach EditionPerformance material and choral score (BA5132) available for saleComplete edition of the 6 Motets Vocal score with Piano reduction (BA5193-90) choral score (BA5193)

Organ-The Prætorius-variationer dedicated to the organist Helge Gramstrup was composed by the Danish organist and composer Jesper Madsen (1957-1999). The work subtitled ‘Variations on a Motet by Michael Prætorius Højlovet være Kongen skøn 1609’ is his largest for Organ. The theme is presented in Prætorius’ own arrangement. Variation 1 has a rhapsodic improvisatory feel; Variation 2 that of a fast movement from a Bach Trio Sonata. Variation 3 is a slow siciliano and Variation 4’s wispy scherzando complements the meditative Variation 5. Variation 6 marked Finale starts majestically butsoon evolves into a French-style toccata with the melody on the pedal reeds. The work culminates in a triumphant arrangement of the original theme. A review in the July/August issue of Choir and Organ magazine calls this work 'very approachable' and a 'very useful recital piece although it's trickier than it looks.'

The Tune in E is Thalben-Ball’s own invention. In the Style of John Stanley almost certainly refers to the many works Stanley wrote for Organ that start with a slow short introduction followed by a Trumpet voluntary as in Tune in E.John Stanley was a contemporary of Handel’s who often came to the Temple Church to hear him play. Stanley directed many of Handel’s oratorios and continued to direct performances at Covent Garden of oratorios of other composers after Handel’s death.George Thalben-Ball succeeded Sir Henry Walford Davies in the position of Organist of Temple Church and remained there for nearly sixty years. In the 1920’s he led the choir to international famewith a recording of Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer and continued to make many recordings with them. His Elegy for Organ is a popular piece in the repertoire and was played at the funeral of Diana Princess of Wales.

The large-scale partitas Op.8 Nos.1 and 2. Hugo Distler studied Organ with Günther Ramin and composition with Hermann Grabner in Leipzig. He then worked as cantor and organist at St. Jacobi in Lübeck and taught composition and Organ at the Stuttgart Musikhochschule from 1937 onwards. In 1940 he took up the same position at the Berlin Musikhochschule and also became director of the Berlin Cathedral Choir in 1941. Considerably influenced by the Lübeck Stellwagen organ at St. Jacobi he championed the characteristic pre-Baroque and Baroque sound of the organ and the forms which best suited it. His stylistic preference was for aspecifically neo-Baroque functional-objective type of sound. This 3-volume critical edition with previously unpublished works includes the forewords of the first editions facsimiles a critical commentary for each volume as well as a list of sources. - First Urtext edition of Hugo Distler’s Organ works. - Includes previously unpublished works. - Reflects the latest state of research. - Detailed foreword critical commentary (Ger/Eng) facsimiles and tips on performance practice.

Hollins was a composer of organ music but also a virtuoso pianist and organist despite being blind from birth. The piece is light in style as its name suggests but requires a fairly good manual technique and neat pedalling. A three-manual instrument is needed for really effective performance (a choir clarinet is necessary for the solo middle section). This is an attractive piece to include as a contrasting item in a recital and would certainly be a useful addition to the repertoire of wedding music.

The Sacred Hour (Reverie) was first published in 1929. It is a musical story of a young priest playing the Organ in a Catholic church when he is interrupted by a choir singing the Ave Maria. He then adapts to this new melody rising to a climax of devotional fervour. Albert William Ketelbey (1875-1959) was a British composer pianist and conductor. He studied Piano at Trinity College of Music in London before branching out and earning a living as a composer and arranger. He became the foremost composer of cinema and light music between the wars so much so that he was hailed as ?Britain?s greatest living composer? in some circles.

Cradle Song-Vuggesang / Cradle Song for Organ solo by Peter Bruun (2016). The piece is based on Martin Luther's hymn 'Vom Himmel Hoch'. Dedicated to Vibeke Vanggaard. 'Peter Bruun's cradle song Vuggesang is an inventive and refreshingly unconventional set of variations on 'Vom Himmel Hoch'. There are some fascinating textures here and the whole thing is a far cry from a dutiful neo-classical perusal of stock partita motifs - the crystalline final variation which disappears into nothing in the final bars is especially striking. Numerous rhythmic complexities throughout the score will need thought but the piece will reward thediligent.' - Stephen Farr Choir & Organ Magazine 'Organ music makes up only a small part of Danish composer Peter Bruun’s (b. 1968) varied output. Nonetheless  Vuggesang (‘Cradle Song’) from 2016 is idiomatically and sympathetically written for the organ: a series of five variations on Luther’s hymn Vom Himmel hoch that affords variety of texture colour and mood. A clear head is needed to negotiate some of the rhythmic complexities but this is a fine work for the Christmas season that will reward performer and listener.' - Sunday by Sunday  

Toccata for Organ was commissioned by the Three Choirs Festival and first performed in Gloucester Cathedral on 1st August 1977 by Andrew Millington. Rory Boyle (b.1951) is a Scottish composerand educator currently Professor of Composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He was a chorister at St George’s Chapel Windsor before studying composition with Frank Spedding and Lennox Berkeley. His music coversevery style from large orchestral works to solo instrumental pieces. He is regularly in demand for commissions from Festivals Music Societies and leading performers.

Handbook of classical-modern organ playing-Handbook of classical-modern Organ playing.Barenreiter's two-volume edition is the first to offer a reference work on Organ technique systematically subdivided into 60 exercise units. It provides an overview of all relevant topics on manual and pedal playing based on the tutors by Marcel Dupré Fernando Germani Charles-Louis Hanon and Johannes Brahms as well as on their sequels and supplements. There is also a comprehensive set of exercises to maintain the achieved performance level.This compendium is a tutor for all levels of expertise and training from ambitious semi-professional organists through to fully professional church musicians and conservatorystudents. Furthermore it is aimed at all of those who teach the Organ whether privately or at academies colleges conservatories or universities.Two-volume reference work on Organ technique (Ger/Eng)Covers all relevant areas of manual and pedal playingIncludes a comprehensive set of exercisesConcise introductory text (Ger/Eng)Index for topics and keywords on teaching and performing issuesFor every level of expertise and trainingPeter Wagner (b. Karlstadt 1967) studied Catholic church music (A-level certification) Organ improvisation concert Organ and music theory in Cologne Würzburg and Salzburg. His later career led him to a wide variety of teaching consultancy and jury activities in the areas of Organ playing music theory choral and orchestral conducting voice training and children?s choirs. He has also given concert tours in Germany and abroad. From 2001 to 2003 Wagner was an educational consultant and teacher at the Bavarian State Academy of Music in Hammelburg. Since then he has been cathedral organist and choral director in Minden as well dean church musician for the archbishopric of Paderborn.

Commissioned by the American Guild of Organists for their 2012 convention here is the first major work from the pen of Rosephanye Powell. With text from the Book of Jeremiah the four movements follow the prophet's feelings of abandonment and redemption by God. Powell combines this ancient text with music that draws simultaneously from the African American musical heritage as well as the classical music traditions.

Prelude Canonique for Chamber Orchestra (version 2009) Canonic elements play an important role in this work. Shortly after the opening a two-part canonic passage is introduced by the violins. Later on this energetic music shows up as three-part and four-part canons in different orchestrations. But next to the canons a different kind of music is present almost from the beginning: fragments of choral-like melodic lines. Gradually choral-like music gets a more prominent role. By a process of manipulating the fragments in different ways (i.e. argumentation and superpositioning) a more extensive version of the choral isprogressively (re)constructed. At the end of the piece the choral appear in its ‘original’ form. Niels Rosing-Schow 2009

With Supplement-Over 800 hymns and chants Gelineau psalms Mass settings Benediction settings and the music of the St Louis Jesuits. Extensively indexed including Lectionary.