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Track(s) taken from CDA66778

Ostinato – Introduction and Theme

composer
1932

Christopher Herrick (organ)
Recording details: March 1995
Wellington Town Hall, New Zealand
Produced by Paul Spicer
Engineered by Geoffrey Eyles
Release date: November 1995
Total duration: 7 minutes 46 seconds
 

Reviews

‘Christopher Herrick's runaway success as a recording artist can be explained not simply by his technical brilliance but also by his sympathetic and imaginative approach to individual venues and instruments … This disc will be eagerly added to existing Fireworks collections, and may be savoured by new converts as the musical equivalent of a vintage madeira’ (Classic CD)

‘Though this is a disc absolutely not to be missed by all lovers of the Edwardian organ and its music, I would say that it rises above this narrow musical bracket and is of great musical worth full stop!’ (Organists' Review)
It was in and around Gloucester Cathedral that Herbert Sumsion pursued his career in music, first as a chorister, then as organist—a post which involved him closely in the Three Choirs Festival. This Introduction and Theme was composed in 1932 and revised three years later. It takes a simple modal tune in English folk style and makes it the free ostinato basis for a fantasy in Romantic vein. The reiterated theme gradually emerges into the blazing sunlight of full organ before it blends back into the modal mists.

from notes by Ian Carson © 1995

La carrière musicale d' Herbert Sumsion gravite autour de la cathédrale de Gloucester, d'abord comme choriste puis comme organiste, un poste qui le mettait en étroite relation avec le Three Choirs Festival. Ce morceau intitulé 'Introduction and Theme', fut composé en 1932 puis révisé trois ans plus tard. Cette simple mélodie modale dans le style de la musique traditionnelle anglaise devient la base d'un ostinato libéré pour une fantaisie d'inspiration romantique. Ce thème réitéré émerge peu à peu avant d'éclater dans la lumière éblouissante de toute la superbe de l'orgue, puis disparaît à nouveau dans les brouillards du modal.

extrait des notes rédigées par Ian Carson © 1995

In und um die Gloucester Cathedral arbeitete Herbert Sumison an seiner Karriere, erst als Chorsänger, dann als Organist—eine Stellung, die ihn eng mit dem Three Choirs Festival verband. Dieses 'Introduction and Theme' war 1932 komponiert und drei Jahre später umgearbeitet worden. Es nimmt eine einfache modale Melodie im Stil englischer Volksmusik und wandelt sie in die freie Basis für das Ostinato einer Phantasie in romantischer Stimmung um. Das wiederholte Thema kommt allmählich an das leuchtende Sonnenlicht des vollen Werkes, ehe es wieder zurück in den modalen Nebel taucht.

aus dem Begleittext von Ian Carson © 1995

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