The 70-year Wait - First Recording

[Guest Barry Oakley]

Some of you will know that I have long had an interest in Holy Trinity, Hull, having been a chorister there in the glory days. I have been privileged to receive a pre-release copy of Paul Derrett’s latest and aptly named Benchmark recording, “The Sleeping Giant.” It’s a wonderful recording of Holy Trinity's stunning 4-manual Compton. It’s also a recording that has created history in the sense that the near 70-year-old, untouched organ has never before been recorded by a commercial label. Boy, have the likes of Priory and Hyperion surely missed something!

 

The 75-minute CD features works by a number of composers, three of whom I confess I had not heard of previously – Galuppi, d’Evry and Ljapunow. But this is something you can always expect from Paul Derrett as he delights in bringing the music of little-known composers to the ears of the organ-loving public.

 

Of the more well-known composers there are works by Dubois, Delius, Karg-Elert and the monumental “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Mussorgsky.

 

Every piece serves to capture the exquisite colours of this 104-stop Compton masterpiece, but you have to forgive, particularly in the quieter passages, the presence of wind leaks. Even so, the beautiful shimmering delicacy of the Swell strings is not lost. Full organ does nothing less than stir the soul. But this is surely something to expect from an organ voiced by the legendary W C “Billy” Jones, voicer to most of Britain’s major organ builders at the time.

 

And what of Paul Derrett’s playing? I found his clarity, expressive technique and registration a sheer joy to hear.

 

If anyone would like to track down this recording, try logging on to: www.paulderrett.piczo.com

 

And no, I’m not his PR man.

[Guest Cynic]

Some of you will know that I have long had an interest in Holy Trinity, Hull, having been a chorister there in the glory days. I have been privileged to receive a pre-release copy of Paul Derrett’s latest and aptly named Benchmark recording, “The Sleeping Giant.” It’s a wonderful recording of Holy Trinity's stunning 4-manual Compton. It’s also a recording that has created history in the sense that the near 70-year-old, untouched organ has never before been recorded by a commercial label. Boy, have the likes of Priory and Hyperion surely missed something!

 

[snip]

 

If anyone would like to track down this recording, try logging on to: www.paulderrett.piczo.com

 

And no, I’m not his PR man.

 

Needless to say, I'm most grateful to Barry for that kind write-up.

 

To be strictly accurate, this is not the first recording of the Holy Trinity organ on CD. Two of my predecessors (Alan Dance and Roland Dee) combined to produce one entitled 'Organ Favourites' about six years ago. Copies (of that one) are still available from the church if anyone would like to pick one up.

[Guest Barry Oakley]

Needless to say, I'm most grateful to Barry for that kind write-up.

 

To be strictly accurate, this is not the first recording of the Holy Trinity organ on CD. Two of my predecessors (Alan Dance and Roland Dee) combined to produce one entitled 'Organ Favourites' about six years ago. Copies (of that one) are still available from the church if anyone would like to pick one up.

 

Paul, It was the least I could do. I was aware of the Dance/Dee disc, but there are recordings and recordings. Your's is in a very different class from every aspect.

 

Barry

[Peter Allison]

Paul.

excellent disc, and I have told david to put me a copy to one side as I had no spare cash on me when I saw him the other night

Regards

Peter

[john carter]

Some of you will know that I have long had an interest in Holy Trinity, Hull, having been a chorister there in the glory days. I have been privileged to receive a pre-release copy of Paul Derrett’s latest and aptly named Benchmark recording, “The Sleeping Giant.” It’s a wonderful recording of Holy Trinity's stunning 4-manual Compton. (edit)

And what of Paul Derrett’s playing? I found his clarity, expressive technique and registration a sheer joy to hear.

Having received my copy today, I have to agree with Barry and Peter, it's an hour and a quarter of absolute delight! Agreed the organ is not in the best of health, but its distinctive sound can still send a tingle down your spine. Programme and performer are faultless as ever. For those who mourn W****r, the HTH organ is a sufficiently unspoiled representative of its era to make it well worth saving.

 

JC