ecordings

It's a pity we can no longer hear Hunter's original organ at All Soul's Langham Place, as, if remaining Hunter organs are anything to go by, it must have been a supremely beautiful and thrilling instrument. I must confess that, although it was used a lot for broadcasts and recordings, I never liked Henry Willis III's rebuild at all. I played it many times and, to my ear, it had a forced, hectoring quality, which did not go well with the very dry acoustic - with every registration I chose, I quickly felt that I should have chosen something else! It is a credit to the church authorities and to Harrison & Harrison Ltd that the organ now sounds so fine in a still dry, but much improved, acoustic. There is brilliance and clarity, but it's a rich and warm sound which is much to be enjoyed.

Gerard Brooks' playing has authority, brilliance and sensitivity. For me, the highlight is York Bowen's Fantasia, while Easthope Martin's Evensong, is most subtly done. It sounds better than it did in Sandy Macpherson's day! This well-chosen programme is much to be recommended. It's good to hear Quentin Maclean and Eric Coates, too and the booklet is a mine of information about musical life in the mid 20th century

Nov 04 Roger Fisher Organists' Review

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