This piece is really quite an important landmark for me. I must have been 4 years old when I heard it. Apparently I talked so much about the organ and this piece that I was given my first instrument to play for my 5th birthday! 

Although written for an English, Romantic Church organ, this type of music almost certainly inspired the young Robert Hope Jones and would have informed the concept of his new unit orchestra. Perhaps thats why it works so well on the theatre organ too.

Evensong - Easthope Martin

Today, 8th May 2015, marks the 70th Anniversary liberation of Europe by the Allied troops.  The second world war was still very much in the collective memory of my own parents generation. My own peers grew up in a much safer world thanks to the brave men that sailed across the channel to liberate Europe, but the memory fades. It is remarkable today to see the youngsters of today connect with the few ex-service men still alive, listening to their stories and realising just how vital their work was - especially as we see war rear  its ugly head again in the modern world.

This is nothing fancy. Just a tune that sums it all up for me, played as I felt is should be today. This came to me as I heard its most famous performer, Dame Vera Lynn, tell her own story of D Day recently. She was returning to London after visiting the troops in Burma. Her plane was unexpectedly diverted to Gibraltar - the D Day offensive had started and it was no longer safe to fly the final stage to London. 

Curiously Bluebirds never have and never will fly over the White Cliff. They are not a native species, but often used as a metaphor for peace in popular song.

To these remarkable men - thank you !!

Bluebirds Over The White Cliffs Of Dover

Improvisation on "Kelvingrove" , here played on the Father Willis organ of Hereford Cathedral by Iain McGlinchey

Kelvingrove Improv

This wonderful organ in Armley, Leeds has inspired me to record some more music. Especially appropriate as the work of Edmund Schultze inspired the voicing of T C Lewis whose Kelvingrove organ I regularly play. What a delight this sample set is!!

The music is by Frederic Curzon 1899 - 1973, a renowned UK composer and organist. This piece was written in 1947 and translated means "good fortune". It is dedicated to "All who go down to the sea in ships". It is a typical British imperial march which I think suits this instrument rather well. 

The choir trumpet has been revoiced at little to make it more of an English tuba - so easily done in the settings page of this remarkable sample set.

Armley, Schulze Organ

Bonaventure - Frederic Curzon - Armley Schulze

For a change, I have recorded some music on a theatre organ sample set that I had nothing to do with production. A fine Robert Morton from Graham Goode and Melotone Productions. I last played a big Morton at the Saenger New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina damaged the organ. This set really does have the feel of the real thing. I've only had it a few days and it was crying out for the full Clark Wilson at The Ohio treatment - so here is the March from the 1934 RKO movie King Kong, written by the master of the genre - Max Steiner

Robert Morton 4/23

King_Kong March - 4/23 Robert Morton

My very first experience of the sound of a Robert Morton organ came from a 1970s album  "Paul Quarino heads the bill" from the Orpheum San Fransisco. A really delightful album which is still one of my favourites to this day. Paul chose a program which complemented the organ so well, and this was one of the tracks on the album. So here is my Robert Morton version of this Livingstone/Webster 1957, song based on an old English folk melody. I hope it shows off the organ as well as Paul did when I was just a wee lad. Look out for the Tibia Plena as the opening solo voice.

The Twelfth Of Never

Here is a 1955 Johnny Mercer song written for Fred Astaire in the movie Daddy Long Legs. It shows off the sharper side of this wonderful organ. Boy, do those colour reeds know how to exercise their second amendment rights !!

Something's gotta give

Quite simply, my favourite Eric Coates march given an outing on this big American Morton. I think it suits the boldness of the instrument rather well.

Coates(1886-1957) will always be associated with The British Broadcasting Corporation. His music epitomises an era of British History and his music was the sound track to that time. This piece was used as startup music to the new BBC TV channels from 1946-1958.

Television March,  Eric Coates

.......the streets of town were paved with stars......it was such a romantic affair.....
You can tell by the lyric this wasn't written today!!  As we approach Dame Vera Lynn's 100th birthday here is a little treat from 1939. Played on the Wonder Morton 4/23 VTPO for Hauptwerk.

A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square

On this beautiful sunny day, while the Robert Morton organ dresses herself in more formal attire, it's time to go to the wardrobe and get out those green tights and feathered bonnet and play at Robin Hood!

Here is Frederic Curzon's most famous march from his Robin Hood Suite played on a Morton organ - sounding almost as good as a British Compton!!  Ooooh, those reeds. The more gentle strings take the lead in the trio with hardly a tibia to be heard throughout.

RM423_MarchOfTheBowmen_IM_mp3

Here is a little tune written by American composer Jerome Kern and lyricist Otto Harbach for their 1933 musical Roberta. Rarely heard these days due to anti smoking legislation :-)  It fits the big 4/23 "Wonder Morton" organ rather well I think.

Smoke  Gets In Your Eyes

My own (rather indulgent) arrangement of the 1934 Oscar Levant song. Rarely played on the organ - I can only ever recall the late (and great) Larry Vannucci playing it - but a long time favourite of mine. Here played on the Paramount 332.  Enjoy!!

Blame It On My Youth

The master of the Compton 3/6 + Mel at Summerlee, May 1995

01 Westminster Waltz

Hayden Wood's classic song commemorating World War One.

Paramount 450

Roses Of Picardy - Hayden Wood

A Ray Noble classic played by Iain McGlinchey on the Paramount 450 VTPO

Cherokee_Paramount 450

Every organ should have a Compton Harmonic Flute!!
The Harold Arlen Classic on the Paramount 450 played by Iain McGlinchey
(Some Kimball strings help too!)

Over The Rainbow IM P450

A return to the Paramount 4/50 VTPO with my arrangement of this 1938 classic song by Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal.

I'll Be Seeing You IM P450 lo

A little Light Music - written in 1957 by Ernest Tomlinson for his Cinderella suite. Played on the Paramount 4/50 VTPO

Little Serenade

A slightly sharper version of this rousing Eric Coates march on our entry level instrument the Paramount 3/20. With a different approach to registration I think the 320 produces more "British" feel to the music than the big symphonic 4/50. MIDI file for Paramount customers available soon!!

Television March, Paramount 3/20

The title sums up my feelings about the organist that I have transcribed this arrangement from. Billy Nalle (1921-2005) was one of the most exciting and inventive musicians to grace the bench of a theatre organ. Although many other organists arrangements have been transcribed and played by modern organists - few by Nalle are heard. They are perhaps dissuaded by the complexity of his music. Here is my take on this piece from the operetta "The Chocolate Soldier" by Oscar Straus (1879-1954). The MIDI file will be available on  ParamountOrganWorks.com

My Hero, Straus-Nalle

One of the curious things about the BBC is that when combined with some of the traditional British institutions, you can get an insight into the past. They don't come more traditional than the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Every year we still hear this wonderful piece of music on TV to accompany the Wimbledon Tennis Grand Slam. Written by Arnold Steck (aka Leslie Statham) it open a window into a different era.

Iain McGlinchey

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