Organ music from WORCESTER, GLOUCESTER & HEREFORD

ORGAN MUSIC FROM THE CATHEDRALS OF THE THREE CHOIRS FESTIVAL THE ORGAN OF WORCESTER CATHEDRAL Donald Hunt Gabriel Pierné (1863-1937) : TROIS PIECES, 00:00 Prélude 03:14 Cantilène 07:18 Scherzando 12:28 Herbert Howells () : MASTER TALLIS’S TESTAMENT THE ORGAN OF GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL John Sanders 19:11 François Couperin (1668-1733) : PLEIN JEU & TIERCE EN TAILLE 23:09 Georgi Mushel () : TOCCATA 27:40 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) : “Wir glauben all’ an einen Gott” BWV 680 31:30 William Hine (1687-1730) : A FLUTE PIECE 33:23 Louis-Claude Daquin (1694-1772) : NOËL SUISSE THE ORGAN OF HEREFORD CATHEDRAL Roy Massey 37:36 Gabriel Verschraegen (b. 1919) : PARTITA OCTAVI TONI SUPER VENI CREATOR 43:34 Charles-Marie Widor (1845-1937) : ALLEGRO IN G MINOR (SYMPHONY VI) A Vista Recordings Production VPS 1060 Recorded and Produced by Michael Smythe Recording first published 1977 Producer’s Note The recordings were made in the six months between October, 1976, and March, 1977, especially for this record, and were not left-overs from other recording schedules, as were the contents of my Six Famous Organs series (Vol. I: VPS 1010 and Vol. II: VPS 1033). The Worcester recording was made on the evening of February 13, 1977, during the session for VPS 1037 (The Organ in Worcester Cathedral) of Donald Hunt playing French organ music, including Boëllmann’s Suite Gothique. The microphones were placed forty foot high at the top of the steps leading to the Choir beside the screen. The organ was in a very bad condition, with excess wind leakage and mechanical faults. It is due for a rebuilding by Wood, Wordsworth of Leeds during 1977. The Gloucester music was recorded on the evening of March 26, 1977, and is the first solo commercial release of this instrument as rebuilt by Messrs. Hill, Norman & Beard. The music on Side One was recorded with the microphone placed forty foot high in the Nave, and that on Side Two at a similar height in the Choir. This enables the listener to hear the Choir Organ when featured in the Hine Flute Piece, as well as the Positive Division which is in the west of the case facing the Nave. In order to make this composite record complete, the organ in Hereford Cathedral was recorded rather hurriedly on the eve of its dismantling in October, 1976, prior to the rebuilding by Messrs. Harrison & Harrison of Durham. Roy Massey and I must apologise for the background of excessive wind noise due to leakage, and for the consequent unsteadiness of tuning and regulation. Nonetheless, we hope the listener will enjoy the noble sound of this masterpiece of ‘Father’ Willis, which should be heard again in all its glory when the rebuild is completed early in 1978. The first solo organ recording by Roy Massey on the Hereford instrument was made and released in 1976 by Vista (VPS 1033) and widely acclaimed. MICHAEL SMYTHE Listen to more music Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to this music, so any request from the rights holders will be met by me taking the video down. Thank you. @