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Organ Miniatures

A collection of 33 short organ works performed on the 1882 T.C. Lewis organ in St George's Uniting Church, East St. Kilda, Melbourne. The collection of pieces on this recording represents a small sample of works deliberately composed for small pipe organs and harmoniums.

In addition there are pieces which sound convincing on large or small organs. We have chosen a pipe organ which has a fairly standard stop specification, but a very resourceful tonal design. Not all of the compositions are dependent on specific tone colours, and can be musically enjoyable on other keyboard instruments.

Until the middle of the 19th century, the national organ playing mode in England, Italy and cultures influenced by the tastes of these countries revolved around music for modest one and two manual pipe organs, either without a pedal division or a pedal department with an octave of bass notes. Although France, Germany and Holland have had monumental liturgical organ pieces for approximately 500 years, quality miniatures have also been created in that time.

Complete collections of pieces for the harmonium were written by 19th and 20th century mainstream organ composers, notably from France and Germany. The Baroque revival in the 20th century resulted in a renewed interest in one manual chamber organs, inspiring contemporary composers to produce suitable pieces.

Organists:
Ingrid Austin
Merrowyn Deacon
Rhys Boak
Colin Jenkins
John Maynard

The Organ
Built in 1882 by T.C. Lewis, the organ in St George's Uniting Church East St Kilda represents Lewis at the height of his artistic achievement. He had already built large instruments for St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne, St Peter's, Eaton Square, London, Glasgow Public Hall and Ripon Cathedral. Later he completed major instruments for St Paul's Cathedral Melbourne, Southwark Cathedral and Glasgow Art Gallery.

In 1935 Frederick Taylor added a string division which he called Choir, and built a new console with tubular pneumatic action. George Fincham and Sons added the Choir Clarinet in 1948. Australian Pipe Organs changed the action to electro-pneumatic and partially restored the rest of the organ in 1996.

Artists

Rhys Boak

Rhys Boak is one of Australia's busiest organists. He is in constant demand locally and internationally as both a recitalist and accompanist. He is currently the organist and manager of music at St. Michael's Church, Melbourne.

Ingrid Austin

Merrowyn Deacon

Colin Jenkins

John Maynard


Audio previews

Track Listing

  1. Old English Organ Music, Volume III Flute Piece William Hine 1:40
  2. In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr Johann Christoph Bach 1:55
  3. Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein Johann Christoph Bach 1:36
  4. Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern Johann Christoph Bach 1:27
  5. Trumpet Voluntary Thomas Sanders Dupuis 1:51
  6. Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist, BuxWV 209 Dietrich Buxtehude 3:00
  7. O welt, ich muss dich lassen Johann Gottfried Walther 2:50
  8. Andante Tranquillo Christoph Willibald Gluck 1:38
  9. Ayre Arcangelo Corelli 1:37
  10. Premier livre d'orgue, Suite du premier ton, No. 1 Plein Jeu Pierre du Mage 2:25
  11. Fugue in C Major, BuxWV 174 Dietrich Buxtehude 3:03
  12. Sonatina, K.279/189d Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 7:18
  13. 52 Easy Chorale Preludes. Op. 67: No. 33 O welt, ich muss dich lassen Max Reger 1:20
  14. Herzlich thut mich erfreuen, Op. 122 Johannes Brahms 2:32
  15. O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen, Op. 122 Johannes Brahms 2:02
  16. Il est né le divin Enfant Leon Roques 1:12
  17. L'Organiste, FWV 41-42: III Andantino César Franck :56
  18. Pavane Emmanual Chabrier 3:22
  19. Le roi s'amuse Passepied Léo Delibes 2:22
  20. 12 Pieces pour orgue Offertoire Théodore Dubois 3:09
  21. Prelude 3 Carl Nielsen 1:01
  22. Prelude 5 Carl Nielsen 1:22
  23. Prelude 22 Carl Nielsen :33
  24. Church Prelude I Alfred Ernest Floyd 2:59
  25. Church Prelude III Alfred Ernest Floyd 2:12
  26. Trumpet Voluntary Gordon Young 1:40
  27. A Fragment Moneta Eagles 1:58
  28. The Silver Stars are in the Sky Robert Ampt 2:52
  29. Carol of the Birds Robert Ampt :49
  30. Paean – A Song of Triumph Soorjo Alexander William Langobard Oliphant Chuckerbutty 3:35
  31. Introit in D Minor Alan Ridout 1:43
  32. Merifield Janet Correll 2:38
  33. Christus Gordon Young 3:55

Performers

Composers

Johann Christoph Bach

Johann Christoph Bach (6 December 1642 – 31 March 1703) was a German composer and organist of the Baroque period. He was born at Arnstadt, the son of Heinrich Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach's great uncle, hence he was Johann Sebastian's first cousin once removed. He was also the uncle of Maria Barbara Bach, J.S. Bach's first wife. He is not to be confused with Johann Sebastian's Bach's son, Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach.

Dietrich Buxtehude

Dieterich Buxtehude was a German-Danish organist and composer of the Baroque period. His organ works represent a central part of the standard organ repertoire and are frequently performed at recitals and in church services.

Johann Gottfried Walther

Johann Gottfried Walther (18 September 1684 – 23 March 1748) was a German music theorist, organist, composer, and lexicographer of the Baroque era. Walther was born at Erfurt. Not only was his life almost exactly contemporaneous to that of Johann Sebastian Bach, he was the famous composer's cousin.

Arcangelo Corelli

Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713) was a great violinist and composer of music for the violin and other stringed instruments. His influence on violin playing was considerable, leading to the great Italian school of violinists, which included several of his pupils.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music. He is among the most enduringly popular of classical composers.

Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. In his lifetime, Brahms' popularity and influence were considerable; he is sometimes grouped with Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven as one of the Three Bs.

Théodore Dubois

François-Clément Théodore Dubois (1837 – 1924) was a French composer, organist and teacher. The music of Dubois includes ballets, operas, oratorios and symphonies. His best known work is the oratorio Les sept paroles du Christ which continues to be given an occasional airing; and his Toccata in G (1889), for the organ.

Robert Ampt

Robert Ampt is the Sydney City Organist and Organist/Choirmaster of Sydney's German Lutheran Church. An active recitalist and teacher, he composes and arranges music for the organ, has written two children's introductions to the organ, and has written an extensive history of the Sydney Town Hall organ.


Where to buy

Organ Miniatures is available for download from the iTunes Music Store.
It's available for streaming through Apple Music.

Organ Miniatures is available as as CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer secure online ordering.

Move CDs can be ordered through music retailers across Australia including Readings.

Product details

List price
$25.00 AUD
Total playing time
74 minutes 32 seconds
Engineer
Martin Wright
Editing
Vaughan McAlley
Venue
St. George's Uniting Church
Release date
2004
Copyright
© 2004 Move Records
Phonogram
℗ 2004 Move Records
Categories
Classical, Organ
Catalogue number
MD 3292
Alternate catalogue number
MD3292
Barcode
EAN 9314574329223