Jennifer BATE (b. 1944)
Reflections - Organ Music
Toccata on a Theme of Martin Shaw
Introduction and Variations on an Old French Carol
Four Reflections: Reverie; Norwegian Barcarole; Cantilena;
Pastoral Palindrome
Homage to 1685: Moto perpetuo; Gigue on a theme of Scarlatti;
Largo; Postlude on a Theme of Handel
Il filatoio (The Spinning-wheel)
Canone Inglese per la festa di Garbagna (An English
Canon)
Lament
Variations on a Gregorian Theme
Jennifer Bate at the organ
of the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea.
GUILD GMCD 7209
[50:29]
Guild
guildmusic@bluewin.ch
If the name Jennifer Bate has not rung any bells until now it will do so
after hearing this riveting music of hers recorded at the organ of Brangwyn
Hall, Swansea. Jennifer Bate has a busy schedule that takes her all over
the world performing in festivals, giving recitals, and lecturing etc. She
is a Vice-President of the British Music Society. The music on this album
covers 25 years of composition.
The 'Hills of the North' will rejoice to Bate's Toccata on a Theme
of Martin Shaw. Martin Shaw (1875-1958) was an English composer and
organist; and he was a great campaigner for better church music. Following
Shaw's theme, the Toccata builds in a series of canons to a commanding and
majestic finale. [Shaw's well-known tune Little Conrad was written
for the hymn Hills of the North, rejoice.]
The Introduction and Variations on an Old French Carol. The
carol known in England as Picardy is sung to Let all mortal flesh
keep silence. The Five Variations embrace a variety of moods from the
serene to the capricious and dramatic; and include Gregorian plainchant,
a quirky march, and fugal treatment.
The Four Reflections are nicely evocative. Gentle ripples haunt
Reverie that has two themes; the first stated on delicate flutes,
while the second has rich string chords and is seraphic and dream-like. The
melodious Norwegian Barcarole seems to imply falling snow but it is
a comforting landscape. Cantilena is a romantic conversation piece
between soprano and tenor pipes accompanied by flutes. Pastoral Palindrome
is dedicated to Bates's mother who enjoyed its effect and logic. It is
fun because this musical palindrome can literally be played forwards or
backwards.
Homage to 1685, as the name implies, is an imaginative, intricate
and colourful and majestic technical tour-de-force homage to the music
of Bach, Scarlatti (treating his famous 'Cat Fugue'), and Handel.
Commissioned by Italian friends and composed whilst in South America, the
versatility of the organ is well demonstrated in Il Filatoio.
Repetitive, whirling notes, softly played, are strongly evocative of the
spinning wheel.
Canone Inglese per la festa di Garbagna written for an Italian
church is an endearing little piece combining the peal of the church's bells
with a light-hearted reference to the British national anthem.
The spare transparent textures of Lament written in 1997, lead
from a stark opening through intense mourning through to a more optimistic
melody before ending in a mood of resignation.
The Variations on a Gregorian Theme are based on a beautiful
plainsong for Vespers for the first Sunday in Advent. These five variations
on a Gregorian theme include a canon over a drone bass, a fast trio with
central tune, and an Amen accompanied by the theme in cannon. Then follows
ethereal chords uniting the tune, and a bold trio, with the tune in pedals,
forms the final variation.
For the lover of organ music, this album is a treasure. Jennifer Bate
demonstrates her command of the instrument; her technique ranging from loud
and bold to soft and delicate, showing immense variety, colour and style.
Fifty minutes of sheer pleasure.
Grace Barber
[The organ at Brangwyn Hall was built by Willis & Son in 1919 and moved
to its present home 15 years later. The instrument was restored and additions
made by the same firm in 1980 and 1994. The booklet gives a full specification
of this magnificent instrument and we are told that "a generous array of
playing aids are available at the console including adjustable manual and
toe pistons controlled by a solid state 24 channel capture system and a general
crescendo pedal"]
