Editorial Board
MusicWeb International
Founding Editor Rob Barnett Editor in Chief
John Quinn Contributing Editor Ralph Moore Webmaster
David Barker Postmaster
Jonathan Woolf MusicWeb Founder Len Mullenger
Restored to Glory - The Organ of
Birmingham Town Hall George Frederick
HANDEL(1685-1759) Organ Concerto No 16 in F major (c.1740s), four movements
in solo organ reductions by Marcel Dupré arranged by Thomas
Trotter [10:07] Niccolò PAGANINI (1782-1840) Variations on a theme of Paganini (24th Caprice for solo violin) arranged
for solo organ pedals by George Thalben-Ball [7:34] George THALBEN-BALL (1896-1987)
Elegy for solo organ (1944) [4:49] William Thomas BEST (1826-97)
Concert Fantasia on a Welsh March (Men of Harlech) for solo organ (second of
set of four Concert Fantasias) [11:06] John IRELAND (1879-1962)
Villanella for solo organ (1904) [3:56] Georges BIZET (1838-1875)
Suite from opera Carmen (1873-75) transcribed for solo organ by Edwin
Lemare [11:31] Edwin H. LEMARE(1865-1934)
Andantino in D flat major for solo organ [4:05]
Rondo Capriccio (A Study in Accents) for solo organ [3:36]
Concertstück (Concert Piece in the form of a Polonaise) for solo organ [7:21] Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) Overture to opera Rienzi (1838-40) transcribed
for solo organ by Edwin Lemare [11:48]
Thomas Trotter
(organ)
rec. 28-29 July 2007, Birmingham Town Hall, England. DDD REGENT
RECORDS REGCD265 [75:44]
This 2007 commemorative recording is the first recital
produced on the recently rebuilt 1834 organ at the magnificently-restored
Birmingham Town Hall.
The impressive Roman Revival civic architecture of Birmingham
Town Hall houses the specially commissioned, public-funded
instrument, that was, at the time of completion in 1834,
the largest organ in England. Constructed by organ builder
William Hill the instrument has four manuals and a complete
set of pedals. Visually spectacular the massive 32-foot pipes
were integrated into the ornamental front casing originally
decorated by Crace of London. The excellently presented booklet
for this CD provides several splendid colour photographs
together with a detailed history. Over the years many renowned
organists have performed recitals on the William Hill organ
the most famous being Mendelssohn in 1837.
Birkenhead-born Thomas Trotter is one of the world’s
most eminent organists and has held the post of City Organist
at Birmingham since 1983. He is the seventh holder of the
position succeeding the Australian-born Sir George Thalben-Ball.
A player highly in demand as a soloist with leading international
orchestras, Trotter was a student of Ralph Downes at the
RCM and an organ scholar at King’s College, Cambridge where
he received tuition from Gillian Weir.
For this recital Thomas Trotter has selected an accessible
and eclectic mix of ten scores. Avoiding the more obvious,
the programme ranges from the Baroque of Handel, through
the Romantic period of Paganini and Wagner, and on to late-Romantic
twentieth century composers. The programme employs pared
down arrangements of orchestral and operatic scores written
specifically to the solo organ.
The recital opens with Trotter’s arrangements of four
of Marcel Dupré’s six reductions of Handel’s Organ Concerto
No 16 in F major. The work opens with a very brief Ouverture of
a ceremonial quality; followed by a vibrant Allegro;
a restrained Andante and a short but colourful March.
Thalben-Ball was a British pianist, organist and church
musician of Australian birth. At fourteen he attended the
Royal College of Music, studying with Walford Davies and
Walter Parratt. He was evidently one of Parry’s last pupils.
The holder of several prestigious academic positions and
organ appointments Thalben-Ball became a renowned international
recitalist. He was the soloist in the first English performance
of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 that was held
at the RCM.
Few could fail to be entertained by Thalben-Ball’s arrangement
of the Variations on a theme of Paganini from the 24th
Caprice for solo violin. The eleven short movements,
played on the organ pedals, pertinently display the spirit
of the Paganini’s virtuosity. The Elegy for solo organ
(1944) started life as an improvisation after a broadcast
Evensong at the Temple Church. One senses that the writing
of this solemn and poignant hymn-like work is influenced
by the horrors of the Second World War. The Elegy was
one of several of pieces played at the funeral service of
Princess Diana of Wales at Westminster Abbey in 1997.
William Thomas Best, the English organist,
composer and arranger, was generally regarded as the finest
organist of the British Town Hall tradition. Best successfully
developed an international reputation as a much admired and
extraordinary virtuoso player. From Best’s set of
four Concert
Fantasias his substantial Concert
Fantasia on a Welsh March is
based on the traditional Welsh tune Men of Harlech.
Trotter’s playing passionately evokes a helter-skelter ride
of colourful amusement combined with strong nationalistic
fervour.
One might generally associate the Cheshire-born Ireland, a student at the
Royal College of Music who studied under Stanford, with more serious
compositions than the Villanella. It is strongly redolent of the
salon.
The English-born organist and composer Edwin Lemare,
a student of the Royal Academy of Music, chose the USA as
his adopted country from the early nineteen hundreds. Lemare
is represented here by two transcriptions and three original
works. The syrupy Andantino in D flat major is Lemare’s
signature piece; a perennially fresh score evocative of Edwardian
wakes, weeks and theatres at the end of the pier. The score
was successfully set to music with the words ‘Moonlight
and Roses’. Next, the Rondo Capriccio (A Study
in Accents) is a score that occupies a similar world
to that of the Andantino. By contrast the dramatic
and robust Concertstück (Concert Piece in the form
of a Polonaise) is made of stronger stuff.
Lemare has prepared a transcription of the suite from
Bizet’s enduringly successful Carmen. With Bizet’s
greatest hits, such as the Habanera and the Toreador’s
Song all included this appealing Carmen transcription
is guaranteed to please. Trotter concludes his recital with
Lemare’s transcription of Rienzi. This is a magnificent
work that feels as if it has been hewn from granite. The
remarkable hymn-like Rienzi’s prayer is memorable
and stands out for its innate appeal.
Regent Records are to be congratulated on this superbly
presented disc with annotation and photographs that put many
of the premier labels to shame. The Birmingham Town Hall
has enviable acoustics which have been superbly captured
with the commanding William Hill organ sounding opulent and
colourful. There’s inspired and assured playing from Thomas
Trotter who conveys an instinctive feel for the music. Containing
many gems of the repertoire this disc will reward the specialist
and casual listener alike. One of the finest organ
recitals that I have heard.
Reviews
from previous months Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the
discs reviewed. details We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin
Board
Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to
which you refer.