One of the doyens of
English Cathedral music, Arthur Wills
is also a prolific composer whose works
span not only church music, but also
song cycles, concertos for various,
sometimes unlikely, forces, and even
an opera.
He is undoubtedly best
known for his contribution to the British
organ world both as a concert and recording
artist and as a composer. Indelibly
linked with Ely Cathedral, where he
served as Director of Music from 1958
until 1990, he left his mark on the
organ there in the mid 1970s when he
commissioned a radical, though at the
time not unfashionable, rebuild of the
1908 Harrison. The result of which was
not without its critics. Despite recent
substantial work, including 6 new reeds,
the overall effect on the basis of this
recording is still dictated more by
the ethos of the 1970s than by that
of the original instrument. It should
be said, however, that the effect is
also coloured by the rather dry acoustic
and a very slightly claustrophobic recording;
probably down to a very high microphone
position?
The stylistic elements
in Wills' organ music, perhaps unsurprisingly,
reflect the nature of the organ. His
style is difficult: there are neo-classical
elements, atonal elements though his
harmonic language is not exclusively
atonal by any means, a somewhat free
approach to form in the larger pieces
and frequently non-musical inspirations.
The latter include in this instance
religious icons in Cyprus, the pre-Buddhistic
'Bhagavad Gita' and the poetry of Robert
Browning. The most attractive pieces
are the little Lullaby for a Royal
Prince and the Homage to Howells,
based on the latter's famous hymn
tune 'Michael' ("All my hope on God
is founded"). Icons forms an
interesting set of miniatures which
satisfy more with repeated listening.
The larger works are less accessible.
The huge and often very virtuosic symphony
Bhagavad Gita is especially difficult
to follow. What unifying elements are
there to classify it as a symphony I
wondered?
Robert Crowley is a
former student of Arthur Wills and Susi
Jeans. He is currently Chapel Organist
and Director of Music at St George's
School in Harpenden. He deals with the
technical challenges in Wills' music
with ease, but perhaps lacks the last
ounce of commitment needed to bring
Wills' music off the page. Still, this
is a relevant recording; Wills' larger-scale
music deserves to be recorded and the
decision to ask one of his former students
to perform on the organ Wills knows
so well is very sensible.
The booklet contains
extensive programme notes, a brief organ
history and full specification.
Chris Bragg
Robert Crowley, organ