Walford Davies, organist at the Temple Church, Professor
of Music at Aberystwyth and Master of the King’s Musick is comparatively
little regarded these days. His memory is kept alive, in this writer’s
mind at least, by four memorable tunes. These are the RAF March Past
(first section only), the brief anthem God Be In My Head,
a setting of O Little Town Of Bethlehem which is far better than
the usual one to be heard and Solemn Melody, usually now heard
on great patriotic occasions. The latter is indeed here, twice, in versions
for organ solo and, arranged by Roger Fisher, cello, splendidly played
by Andrew Fuller. Otherwise the disk extends our knowledge of the composer.
Mr Fisher is one of our finest organists and has a
deep sympathy with romantic organ (and piano) repertoire. Here he puts
an excellent case for Davies’ music on the Rothwell organ of St George’s,
Headstone, an instrument known to Walford Davies, who, curiously published
nothing for organ in his lifetime, apart from Jesu Dulcis for a volume
in memory of Parry. However the arrangement and unpublished items here
are well worth our notice. The Interlude (1937) is a cheerful, tuneful
piece. The much earlier Fugue and Chorale are teaching pieces, maybe,
but direct in appeal. In the Reverie the organ is dominant in the voices
(excellent singing) merely colouring melodious argument. Memorial Melody
is an arrangement from the original (organ/strings) written to mark
the death of King George V. We also have pieces dedicated to Davies
by other composers. These include the Elegy by Thalben–Ball, his successor
at the Temple Church, being heard, like Solemn Melody – which it strongly
resembles – in both organ and cello/organ versions. There are also extracts
from two of Walford Davies’ radio broadcasts on "Music and the
Ordinary Listener" which were landmarks of music appreciation.
We must be grateful for this valuable and excellently recorded and annotated
CD. Dare we hope for recordings of the Symphony, the oratorio Everyman
and some of the chamber music?
Phil Scowcroft
See also review by Christopher
Howell
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Roger Fisher (organ)