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Finding The Obscure


father-willis

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Ever been asked to give a recital and just not found inspiration in the "normal" recital stuff? I'm sure it must happen to others. There are times when I just want to play something which I can be fairly certain that no one in the potential audience has heard (unless there was a member of this forum present!).

 

Having now a fairly large organ CD collection, when I go looking among the racks for something new it's really the unusual repertoire that interests (apart from a stunning player in some equally stunning setting) but the usual bland selection and - if I may put it thus "parish" - recorded recital just receives a wide yawn and the CD goes back in its place on the shelf.

 

The topic concerning Mulet and out of print items started me thinking and I wonder if anyone out there in "console land" has a piece by David Clegg (1867-1923) called "A Church Service interrupted by a thunderstorm"? It's a real hoot but could be a very entertaining recital piece! It was recorded by Kevin Bowyer at Blackburn Cathedral in 2004 on a disc called "The Storm" (Regent), a collection ofstorm illustrative pieces (Lemmens, Neukomm, Lefebure-Wely etc). If you want some entertaining listening I recommend this!

 

If anyone has this Clegg piece would you consider letting me have a copy?

 

Thanks in advance - for a copy and some intersting comments,

 

Father-Willis.

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I can't help with the music you wanted (but it does sound like fun!) but you have raised an issue which I have touched on before in this forum

 

I am certainly in favour of intruducing "obscure" items into recital programmes (provided the music is good as well as obscure) and in fact propose to do this again soon when I shall be playing Philp Glass's Dance No 4 (although how onscure Glass is these days is debatable; oh, and I'll be playing an abridged version - the full one takes 20 mins on the CD!). But I shall also include a Buxtehude P+F, a JSB Chorale Prelude, a Peeters ditto, Langlais' Poem of Peace (my nerve having failed me with the Incantation which i messed up the last page of last Easter!) as well as a surprise item.....

 

What I have found is that I like to tailor the programme to the audience wile making them work a little bit too. Easy in my home church where I reckon I could name those who will turn up! But I try to fit in something that wll please all. I also like to alternate long and shorter pieces, "heavy" and "lighter" works.

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Ever been asked to give a recital and just not found inspiration in the "normal" recital stuff? I'm sure it must happen to others. There are times when I just want to play something which I can be fairly certain that no one in the potential audience has heard (unless there was a member of this forum present!).

 

Having now a fairly large organ CD collection, when I go looking among the racks for something new it's really the unusual repertoire that interests (apart from a stunning player in some equally stunning setting) but the usual bland selection and - if I may put it thus "parish" - recorded recital just receives a wide yawn and the CD goes back in its place on the shelf.

 

The topic concerning Mulet and out of print items started me thinking and I wonder if anyone out there in "console land" has a piece by David Clegg (1867-1923) called "A Church Service interrupted by a thunderstorm"? It's a real hoot but could be a very entertaining recital piece! It was recorded by Kevin Bowyer at Blackburn Cathedral in 2004 on a disc called "The Storm" (Regent), a collection ofstorm illustrative pieces (Lemmens, Neukomm, Lefebure-Wely etc). If you want some entertaining listening I recommend this!

 

If anyone has this Clegg piece would you consider letting me have a copy?

 

Thanks in advance - for a copy and some intersting comments,

 

Father-Willis.

 

===========================

 

 

You could always play something normal, and then hurl yourself across the keyboards for no apparent reason. I'm sure that would go down a storm!

 

More seriously, what about Marian Sawa "Bolero" for organ. I haven't a clue where you get the music, but I could possibly find out.

 

One of my favourites is the Bossi "Giga" in E major....tricky left-hand though. You need to set aside a bit of practise time.

 

MM

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On another thread there was some talk about Franck's 4th Choral. If you really, really want Franck's 4th Choral, I strongly recommend that you search out the Fantaisie by Samuel Rousseau. It's about the same length as the chorals and has a similar depth of utterance - there are hints of the Pièce Héroïque too. It's dedicated to Franck's memory and IMO completely worthy of him. Well worth looking out.

 

As it happens a pdf file of it somehow managed to stick to my hard drive before the IMSLP disappeared so, if you're interested, drop me a polite email via my profile and I'll forward a copy. Alternatively you can await IMSLP's resurrection on 1 July. :(

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I am sure Cynic is too modest to mention it himself, but he has just brought out a double CD of the music of Richard Francis (which I'm listening to as I write this). It is excellent, easily approachable music, in general, and I see has a good review in the latest O.R.

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Guest Cynic

snip

 

I wonder if anyone out there in "console land" has a piece by David Clegg (1867-1923) called "A Church Service interrupted by a thunderstorm"? It's a real hoot but could be a very entertaining recital piece! It was recorded by Kevin Bowyer at Blackburn Cathedral in 2004 on a disc called "The Storm" (Regent), a collection ofstorm illustrative pieces (Lemmens, Neukomm, Lefebure-Wely etc). If you want some entertaining listening I recommend this!

 

If anyone has this Clegg piece would you consider letting me have a copy?

 

Thanks in advance - for a copy and some intersting comments,

 

Father-Willis.

[/quote

 

 

I've got it!

.....somewhere.......

I've got about twenty Clegg items so far - another major one is The Organ Trumpets, dedicated to Henry Willis [? 3]

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Guest Hector5
===========================

You could always play something normal, and then hurl yourself across the keyboards for no apparent reason. I'm sure that would go down a storm!

 

More seriously, what about Marian Sawa "Bolero" for organ. I haven't a clue where you get the music, but I could possibly find out.

 

One of my favourites is the Bossi "Giga" in E major....tricky left-hand though. You need to set aside a bit of practise time.

 

MM

 

 

There is a Marian Sawa society who were kind enough to send me a pile opf his compositions free of charge - mainly copies of hand-written scores. I'm currently setting the Bolero in Sibelius as the hand-written version is impossible read while playing. On the other hand I sort of got to view it in depth when inputting the dots, and it's very cleverly written - really economical.

 

Hector

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Guest Hector5
On another thread there was some talk about Franck's 4th Choral. If you really, really want Franck's 4th Choral, I strongly recommend that you search out the Fantaisie by Samuel Rousseau. It's about the same length as the chorals and has a similar depth of utterance - there are hints of the Pièce Héroïque too. It's dedicated to Franck's memory and IMO completely worthy of him. Well worth looking out.

 

As it happens a pdf file of it somehow managed to stick to my hard drive before the IMSLP disappeared so, if you're interested, drop me a polite email via my profile and I'll forward a copy. Alternatively you can await IMSLP's resurrection on 1 July. :)

 

 

It's also available from the Sibley Music Library (they have a www). Alternatively you could order a more robust copy from Peters Edition (the supplier) - although the actual publisher is Rob. Forberg-Jensen Musikverlag. Also available from the same publisher is Les Maitres Parisiens fr l'orgue au 19eme Siecle - in three volumes with some real gems.

 

Hector

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It's also available from the Sibley Music Library (they have a www).

Is it? I did look and, although they do have some Rousseau (all of which is well worth investigating), I couldn't find that one.

Nice to know it's still in print.

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Guest Hector5
Is it? I did look and, although they do have some Rousseau (all of which is well worth investigating), I couldn't find that one.

Nice to know it's still in print.

 

 

Apologies - you're right, it not there yet, BUT it is also published by FORGBERG-JENSEN (via Peters Ed.) and also comes with the Double Theme Varie. There's also and excellent Aeolus Disc of Rousseaus works recorded by Kurt Leuders.

 

Hector

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What is happenning on that day?

It's coming back online - so they say. http://imslp.wikidot.com/

 

Many a slip and all that, but I hope it happens. Not all the stuff on it will be copyright free in the EU and I would much rather work from proper printed copies any day, but there was a wealth of useful stuff on that site and sometimes it's nice just browsing.

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Has anyone heard Peter Lawons's "Song of the broad helleborine"? Written originally I believe for Nicolas Kynaston, it's one of a series he wrote based on the different species of orchids in the British Isles. It's jazzy, absolutely hilarious, and sold in the Good Music catelogue.

http://www.goodmusicpublishing.co.uk/PUBLI...lassCat2007.pdf

 

Funnily enough I've only ever heard it played once before.

 

Contrabombarde

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  • 1 month later...

On one of the topics somewhere on this Board it mentions that a recital programme includes Suite Romantique by Denis Bedard. I had never previously heard of him but the website says he is Canadian. It seems that he has written a number of organ works which are published by Editions Cheldar. Is he a composer whose organ works are worth investigating, spending money on and learning? Are there any recordings, perhaps?

 

Either membership of this Board becomes very expensive and addictive or I'm seriously lacking in self control and discipline; I've just ordered three volumes of pieces by Samuel Rousseau from Allegro!!!! Do I need counselling and therapy???

 

Malcolm Kemp

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Guest Cynic
On one of the topics somewhere on this Board it mentions that a recital programme includes Suite Romantique by Denis Bedard. I had never previously heard of him but the website says he is Canadian. It seems that he has written a number of organ works which are published by Editions Cheldar. Is he a composer whose organ works are worth investigating, spending money on and learning? Are there any recordings, perhaps?

 

Either membership of this Board becomes very expensive and addictive or I'm seriously lacking in self control and discipline; I've just ordered three volumes of pieces by Samuel Rousseau from Allegro!!!! Do I need counselling and therapy???

 

Malcolm Kemp

 

 

I've heard several works by Denis Bedard now and own one, somewhere! It's all well-written, and 'borderline original' if that's not condemning it with faint praise. Put it this way, it'll not offend anyone except the avant garde brigade. I went to a duet recital some months ago and the only piece that held any entertainment or musical worth on the programme IMHO was the one by DB.

 

As to whether you prefer a healthy library to a healthy bank balance, as a gentleman of taste and discretion you already know the answer! The pragmatist in me says, buy it while you can. In a further twelve months, the piece will either have gone up in price or gone out of print.

 

Are you still searching for some David Clegg? I have some free time and could dig it out for you....

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I've heard several works by Denis Bedard now and own one, somewhere! It's all well-written, and 'borderline original' if that's not condemning it with faint praise. Put it this way, it'll not offend anyone except the avant garde brigade. I went to a duet recital some months ago and the only piece that held any entertainment or musical worth on the programme IMHO was the one by DB.

 

I play quite a lot of Bedard - the RSCM stocks quite a bit - Maureen McAllister & Robin Jackson (husband and wife team of FRCOs) introduced him to me via their concerts and repertoire sessions with the local Organists' Association. More 'spicey' and also from Canada is Rachel Laurin - Allegro Music can get her pieces - listen here examples.

 

AJJ

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Are you still searching for some David Clegg? I have some free time and could dig it out for you....

 

Surely I am! I think it might have been me not Malcolm who requested Clegg. And "if" you were looking out something of his it was the "Church service interrupted by a thunderstorm" in particular I would like-which I think you mentioned owning. Having said that, anything else worthwhile (relatively speaking) would always be welcome!!

 

F-W

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Guest Cynic
Are you still searching for some David Clegg? I have some free time and could dig it out for you....

Surely I am! I think it might have been me not Malcolm who requested Clegg. And "if" you were looking out something of his it was the "Church service interrupted by a thunderstorm" in particular I would like-which I think you mentioned owning. Having said that, anything else worthwhile (relatively speaking) would always be welcome!!

 

F-W

 

 

OK folks, if I'm digging this choice morsel out, who else would like a copy by the usual method? Please PM me if so.

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I play quite a lot of Bedard - the RSCM stocks quite a bit - Maureen McAllister & Robin Jackson (husband and wife team of FRCOs) introduced him to me via their concerts and repertoire sessions with the local Organists' Association. More 'spicey' and also from Canada is Rachel Laurin - Allegro Music can get her pieces - listen here examples.

 

AJJ

 

I also play quite a lot of Bédard - the Toccata from the Suite is exciting. A lot of his music is, to my mind, fairly harmless. I have twice done the "Duet Suite" for piano and organ which is very well written, works very well for the instruments and is enjoyed by an audience. No great depth to any of it, admittedly.

 

Stephen Barber

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The Bédard Toccata sur Il est né Le Divin Enfant (pub. Cheldar) is firmly in the French style and goes down well at the end of 9 Lessons and Carols...

 

Is this from a set or is it published alone?

 

Thanks

AJJ

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I play quite a lot of Bedard - the RSCM stocks quite a bit - Maureen McAllister & Robin Jackson (husband and wife team of FRCOs) introduced him to me via their concerts and repertoire sessions with the local Organists' Association. More 'spicey' and also from Canada is Rachel Laurin - Allegro Music can get her pieces - listen here examples.

 

AJJ

 

 

I just heard Rachel Laurin at the American Guild of Organists convention last week (and met her).

 

She has just released her 1st Organ Symphonie with Wayne Leopold Editions, I got my copy there :rolleyes:

 

She's written some stunning stuff, IMHO, and is working steadfastly on more (and she's a fine performer to boot!)

 

Best, G

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Heres another one, my assistant played it in a recital a few weeks ago: Le Moulin d’Alphonse Daudet, à Fontvielle: Eugène Reuchsel

 

Jonathan

 

 

There is a superb CD of Simon Nieminski playing Reuchsel here - well worth getting for some really quite interesting pieces really well played.

 

AJJ

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