The original 14th century church of St. Michael - Coventry Cathedral
from 1918 onwards - was all but destroyed in World War II. Beside
its ruins was built a brand-new St Michael's, consecrated in
all its modernist glory in 1962. In tandem with many other organised
events, this deluxe recording celebrates the fiftieth anniversary
of this visionary cathedral and its massive Harrison & Harrison
organ, with a generous and varied programme of short works,
including many world premieres, from some of the UK's finest
living composers.
With an average track length of four-and-a-half minutes, the
listener could be forgiven for expecting no real depth to these
pieces. However, whilst some do indeed lean, appropriately enough,
towards the optimistic and lively, numerous others demonstrate
how just much atmosphere and interest can be packed into less
than five minutes on the king of instruments. Opening and closing
with the two longest works, respectively Jonathan Dove's Niagara,
cascading and secular, and John Casken's Sacrificium, dramatical
and quasi-mystical, the listener is treated to a five-star tour
of imaginative miniatures.
In their series 'Great European Organs', Priory Records devoted
volume 25 to Coventry's Harrison & Harrison (PRCD373). Despite
its almost futuristic design, its stupendous sound is in some
respects almost traditional. For sightseers there may not be
many reasons to travel to Coventry, but the Cathedral should
top any list, and no visitor should pass up a chance to hear
this marvellous instrument. For all those unable to make it,
the sound is superbly captured by Herald's engineer, David Wright:
this must be one of the finest organ recordings of the year.
Former student of the great improviser Pierre Cochereau, and
Cathedral Director of Music since 2006, Kerry Beaumont gives
a masterly performance, confident, expressive, technically brilliant,
and making the most of this particular organ's amazing capabilities,
not least through his choice of registers. The booklet provides
detailed notes on every piece, a biography of Beaumont and a
full description and specification of the organ, including even
a page of sketches! One small blemish aside - a typo which has
Grayston Ives still going strong at 164 years old! - this is
a rock-solid pleasure-thing for all organ fans.
Byzantion
Collected reviews and contact at artmusicreviews.co.uk
Track listing
Jonathan DOVE (b.1959)
Niagara [7:23]
Philip MOORE (b.1943)
Paean [3:01]
Bob CHILCOTT (b.1955)
Sun Dance [3:16]
James MacMILLAN (b.1959)
Meditation [6:04]
Offertorium [5:37]
Bryan KELLY (b.1934)
Exultate [4:00]
David BEDFORD (1937-2011)
Carillon [3:50]
Grayston IVES (b.1948)
Processional [4:16]
William MATHIAS (1934-1992)
Processional [3:22]
Judith BINGHAM (b.1952)
St Bride, Assisted by Angels [5:55]
Simon PRESTON (b.1938)
Alleluyas [4:39]
David MATTHEWS (b.1943)
Invocation [3:51]
John MADDEN (b.1956)
Tuba Magna [3:24]
Philip WILBY (b.1949)
Pensiero - Finale (from: For the Iron Voice) [5:54]
John CASKEN (b.1949)
Sacrificium [8:28]
Kerry Beaumont (organ) 