Roger Sayer - The English Cathedral Series Vol XIII: Roger Sayer Plays Organ Music From Rochester
STYLE: Classical RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 18202- LABEL: Regent REGCD227 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Steven Whitehead
We have said it before but it remains true: this is becoming an excellent series with top organists playing on important instruments and with an expanding repertoire now spread across 13 volumes. Roger Sayer is an excellent musician and brings the very best out of his instrument. The pieces selected are interesting. For this reviewer Percy Whitlock's "Plymouth Suite" was a highlight and to hear it played on his own organ is a bonus. Peter Beavan's informative sleevenotes set the suite into its context and identifies the individuals whom the composer had in mind. Another highlight is the world première recording of the brilliant jazz-inspired postlude on "Adeste Fideles", "Exite Fideles" by the British composer Paul Ayres. I am no prophet but I predict you will be hearing much more of this piece. The other works that make up the rest of the 73 minutes are Continental: "Deuxième Symphonie, Op 26" and "Prelude and Fugue in A flat major, Op 36, No 2" by Marcel Dupré, "Tanz Toccata" by Anton Heiller, and "Suite, Op 5" by Maurice Duruflé. As a whole they sit together very comfortably and this is an extremely enjoyable collection.
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