John Scott - Whitlock: Organ Sonata etc. (Organ of St Paul's Cathedral) '2004

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. Organ Sonata in C Minor: I. Grave – Animato
02. Organ Sonata in C Minor: II. Canzona
03. Organ Sonata in C Minor: III. Scherzetto
04. Organ Sonata in C Minor: IV. Choral
05. 5 Short Pieces: I. Allegretto
06. 5 Short Pieces: II. Folk Tune
07. 5 Short Pieces: III. Andante tranquillo
08. 5 Short Pieces: IV. Scherzo
09. 5 Short Pieces: V. Paean
10. Fantasie Choral No. 1 in D-Flat Major

For his last recording as Organist of St Paul’s Cathedral in
London—he takes up his appointment as Organist and Director of Music at
St Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, in the autumn of 2004—John
Scott turns to the music of Percy Whitlock.

Whitlock would perhaps be better known today but for his early death (of
tuberculosis at the age of forty-two) and his personal preference for a musical
life in that twilight zone of the organ world to be found far from the
mainstream of Cathedral life—only as Borough Organist at the Bournemouth
Pavilion could he indulge his passion for concert organ performances. In this
capacity (and as the prolific builder of fiendishly complex Meccano
constructions) he won for himself quite a reputation, a solid broadcasting
career, and the opportunity to write music ranging from orchestral fripperies
for the Bournemouth orchestra to liturgically appropriate organ pieces for the
Church. Alongside this world of divergent miniatures he also composed a massive
Organ Symphony, and the Organ Sonata recorded here. And what a work it is: a
towering landmark on the generally rather dreary landscape of British organ
music of the time, and one admirably captured by the Hyperion engineers in John
Scott’s performance on the Grand Organ of St Paul’s Cathedral.

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