St Mary’s Welwyn Recital. Sat 7 August, 11.15am Michelle Boylan (Sop) & Linden Innes-Hopkins (Organ)

Festive March, Henry Smart (1813 -1879)
In a follow-up piece of programming, after the Postlude in E flat in a previous recital, today’s Festive March is in the key of D major. D major was traditionally (going back to the 17th century) the key for celebration because it was really the only key in which trumpets and drums could be used before the invention of valves for trumpets. Between the various appearances of the main march theme (sometimes in full and sometimes truncated) there are three varied interludes which explore the different colours of the organ.
A Song of Sunshine , Alfred Hollins (1865 - 1942)
Hollins was born completely blind but, despite this handicap, he became a renowned pianist and organist, touring many countries when he was a young man. His portfolio of compositions is huge (it would be interesting to know who wrote them down for him - no Sibelius computer programme in the Victorian era!) and many pieces are still popular among organists. The Song of Sunshine is just that - a sunny piece in E major. There are 2 main sections which are then cleverly combined towards the end.
2 Folksong arrangements, Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)
1. Sweet Polly Oliver (Old English)
2. O Waly Waly (Somerset)
Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 541, J S Bach (1685 - 1750)
This Prelude and Fugue, often referred to as the ‘Great’, was probably composed around 1714. It is full of bright energy and vitality and is mature in style. The Prelude opens with cheerful, unaccompanied arpeggios before the rest of the ‘band’ and the pedals enter in Bar 12. The Fugue subject is characterised by repeated notes and the outworking of the Fugue itself keeps the footwork of the player very busy throughout - only one section in the middle has no pedal involvement.
3 short pieces in lighter vein…
(i) English Country Gardens, Malcolm Archer (b. 1952)
A ‘frilly’ (as Mr Archer himself has described it) right hand with some detached pedal notes
frames the well-known tune, which is presented in the left hand
(ii) Med Jesus vil eg fara (With Jesus I will travel - Norwegian folk tune), Mons Leidvin Takle (b. 1942)
Takle is a Norwegian composer who works in several fields within music: soloist, composer, producer. I was given a collection of his organ works as a birthday present in 2019 in the hope that I might ‘have fun discovering music that may be new to [me]’.
(iii) Bagatelle for Organ, Ena Baga (1906 - 2004) arr. John Norris
Ena Baga (‘Miss Baga’) was the daughter of a popular Edwardian composer and conductor. She travelled the world with her sister, Florence de Jong (also a talented pianist and organist), after WW2. Ena Baga began her career in the 1920s, accompanying silent movies and became something of a celebrity when she switched to Wurlitzers. The main theme of this composition (a bagatelle is billed as ‘a mere trifle’) cleverly uses her name: the opening four notes of the first theme are BAGA, also part of ‘Baga’ and ‘bagatelle’!
2 Songs
1. Linden Lea (A Dorset Song) by Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958) - words by W Barnes
2. Sleepy Lagoon by Eric Coates (1886 - 1957) - words by Jack Lawrence
Final from Symphonie No 1, Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937)
This last movement of Vierne’s Symphony No 1 is probably his most well-known composition for organ. A Symphony in the French Romantic repertoire is a collection of varied movements. Vierne was, like Hollins, blind from birth. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire under Franck and Widor, and became organist of Notre Dame at the age of 30. The Final is in typical French Toccata style, in which the manuals provide a busy accompaniment to the tune in the pedals.
A message from Linden:
I am delighted to be joined today by my friend and colleague, Michelle Boylan, who has been such a support throughout my years as Director of Music at St Mary’s.
This series of Saturday morning organ recitals was started rather speculatively last September and certainly seems to have provided enjoyment even in the months when the recital had to be recorded and posted on CZcams. I am grateful to Nikki Lewis for her time and expertise in enabling the ‘closed’ recitals to be posted for an audience unable to attend in person.
Unable to employ the services of a page-turner, I have had to devise new ways of being able to get through the longer pieces - enter the photocopier (permitted for difficult page-turns), Blue-tak and the skill of memorising!
Today’s recital is the last; if you have enjoyed them (whether in person or via your computer), you might like to consider making a donation to St Mary’s Church. You can do this via the church’s website, where there is a ‘donate’ button.
Finally, on a personal note thank you so much to you all for watching/listening/attending through this extraordinary time - your presence, actual or remote, has been very much appreciated.
Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A​ -737334.​ All rights reserved.

[@RichardLee-mi3gf]

Great again! 🎶