Description

We try out a new format for a ‘debate article’ here where, to start off, David Briggs and Stephen Farr put concisely the case for and against orchestral transcriptions for the organ … see what you think. Another pair of shorter articles is also included: Peter King and Richard Gowers write on two major works in the repertoire, one well-known and one less so: Reubke’s Sonata on the 94th Psalm and Guridi’s Triptico del Buen Pastor. Anthony Hammond asks why we don’t hear much of Widor outside Symphonies 5 and 6 and places him in his Parisian context while Janette Fishell gives an overview of the organ music of Petr Eben.

We introduce to OR readers Lukas Hasler whom The Diapason in January 2024 has just celebrated for his fine musicianship.

Elsewhere Jeremiah Stephenson gives some hints about posture and mental preparation for practising and performance while our ‘In conversation …’ piece this quarter is with the great June Nixon from Melbourne. We mark the centenary of the death of C.V. Stanford (1852-1924), whose Cambridge house, by chance, is almost visible from where I am writing this. Peter Morris looks at any early version of Henry Willis’s journal The Rotunda (second part in June). There are many more fascinating contributions and we end with Gary Cole of Regent Records looking back over his extensive contribution to the recording of choral and organ music.