Basil HARWOOD (1859-1949)
Sonata No 1 in C Sharp Minor, Opus 5; Dithyramb, Opus 7; Six Pieces, Opus 15; Capriccio, Opus 16
Adrian Partington (organ)
Rec 2000?
PRIORY PRCD 683 [65.00?]

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This is billed as Volume 1 of The Complete Organ Works of Basil Harwood. Three volumes are to follow. Harwood (1859-1949), organist successively at Ely Cathedral and at Christ Church Oxford, was a distinguished musician. His 1^st Sonata can still be encountered in recitals. It is tempting to compare it with Elgar’s (as I did when I first heard it many years ago), but Harwood’s predates Elgar’s by almost a decade. It is more chromatic and, like so much Harwood, is based on a hymn tune. He wrote many hymns himself.

Dithyramb and two of the Opus 15 Pieces (which are varied in length and mood) were originally intended to form another Sonata. This would have been an impressive one, but the movements were published separately. A "real" 2^nd Sonata came later and will appear in a subsequent volume. The turbulent Capriccio, which makes much use of arpeggios, is more secular in feel, though a hymn tune comes in at the end even here.

Adrian Partington’s advocacy for Harwood, on the organ of Bristol Cathedral, whose specification is reproduced in the informative booklet, is excellent. This well recorded disc has given me much pleasure and I strongly recommend it.

Philip L Scowcroft

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