The Excellent Art of Voluntary

Jeremiah CLARKE (1674-1797) The Prince of Denmark’s March; Trumpet Tune
Orlando GIBBONS (1583-1625) Fantasia of Four Parts (Parthenia XVII)
Christopher GIBBONS (1615-1676) Voluntary in A minor for Double Organ
John BLOW (1649-1708) Voluntary in C; Cornet Voluntary in A minor
Matthew LOCKE (c.1622-1677) Voluntaries in A minor
Henry PURCELL (1659-1695) 4 Voluntaies
John STANLEY (1712-1786) Trumpet Voluntary in D minor and major op.6/5; Voluntary in G minor op.5/9
William CROFT (1678-1727) Voluntary in A minor for Double Organ
William BOYCE (1711-1779) Trumpet Voluntary in D major
William WALOND (1719-1768) Voluntary in G major (Set III/2)
George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759) Overture to “Samson”

Robert Costin (organ) rec. Pembroke College, Cambridge UK

ATOLL ACD241

LISZT & REUBKE

Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Fantasia and Fugue on Ad nos, ad salutarem undam, S.259 (1850) [30:24]
Julius REUBKE (1834-1858) Sonata on the 94th Psalm

Robert Costin (organ), Wellington Town Hall auditorium, New Zealand

ATOLL ACD307

An excellent survey of 17th and 18thC British organ music, the earlier pieces built on the the severe contrapuntal style of inheritance of Elizabethan/Jacobean fantasy. There are also famous, popular miniatures by Jeremiah Clarke, long thought to be by Purcell. The Pembroke instrument is entirely suitable and is well played and recorded.

Whilst this disc of Voluntaries is entirely companionable at home, the other of two 19th C war-horses is strictly for those who relish the "truly remarkable power and sonority" of Wellington's fine and rare 1906 example of an English symphonic style organ.

I remember being overwhelmed and deafened by the Reubke in an inorguration recital for the new Klais organ at St John's Smith Square in London, where the climaxes were so loud that I had to cover my ears for relief...

Perfect though for showing off your latest hi-fi equipment.

Peter Grahame Woolf

See full, musicological reviews of these two discs on Music Web, both recommended to organists and organ enthusiasts.