Recordings

MARCEL DUPRE (1886-1971). The most famous organist of his time.A native of Rouen and pupil of Charles-Marie Widor, he succeeded his master as organist of Saint-Sulpice in Paris in 1934.

GEORGE DORRINGTON CUNNINGHAM (1878-1948). London-born, G.D. Cunningham was appointed as Alexandra Palace Organist in 1901. The best-known English organ recitalist of his day, he became City and University Organist of Birmingham in 1924.

WALTER GALPIN ALCOCK (1861-1947). Sir Walter Alcock was the doyen of English organists at the time of his death. Born in Edenbridge, he studied under Sullivan and Stainer, became assistant to Bridge at Westminster Abbey before his appointment to Salisbury Cathedral in 1916. He played the organ at the Abbey for three Coronations.

REGINALD GOSS-CUSTARD (1877-1956). A native of St. Leonards and largely selftaught, Reginald Goss-Custard was successively organist of St. Margaret's Westminster and St. Michael's Chester Square. He was also organist for many years at the Bishopsgate Institute, where his two weekly recitals formed the basis of his reputation as a concert organist rather than as a church musician. On the advice of Cunningham, Goss-Custard was appointed as Organist of the Alexandra Palace after the 1929 restoration of the organ.

HERBERT FREDERICK ELLINGFORD (1876-1966). A pupil of Sir Walter Parratt, he was for some years organist at Holy Trinity, Southport. On the death of Albert Lister Peace he was appointed as Organist of St George's Hall, Liverpool from 1913 to 1940: he gave over 1500 recitals on the great Willis organ.

GEORGE THALBEN-BALL (1896-1987). After Cunningham's death in 1948, Thalben - Ball was the most famous English organist of the time. Australian-born (he was a native of Sydney) he succeeded Walford Davies as organist of the Temple Church in 1919. He succeeded Cunningham as Birmingham City Organist in 1949.

Total Playing Time: 78mins : 33secs

Total Playing Time: 78mins : 00secs

The APOA are proud to present "From a North London Hilltop".

This CD contains a selection of live concert recordings from the recital series we have organised since the re-installation of part of the restored organ in 1990. These concerts have showcased the talents of many gifted musicians as they bring the Alexandra Palace Organ to life. The programme is a wide variety of music from many schools, styles, periods and moods and includes a work which was created live by Donald MacKenzie in the Alexandra Palace, as an improvised soundtrack for a silent film about the Alexandra Palace.

The programme also demonstrates the many distinctive tonal features of the Alexandra Palace Organ. For example, Stephen Disley's wonderful Bach performances show just how well suited is the crisp Great diapason chorus to this peerless baroque music, and John Pryer's haunting rendition of the Grieg contains more than a few echoes of the 1929 organ as shown in the historic recordings.

The quieter works showcase the delightful flutes, strings and mutations, but also making a number of appearances is the powerful tutti, sometimes with 32' Bombarde and heavy pressure tubas! The organ is very much at home in an accompanimental role, in the hands of Richard Moore and the Trumpet of Ellie Lovegrove. We have included the complete First Sonata of Basil Harwood, beautifully played by David Dunnett, whose spirited Coates performance is a favourite of all who have heard it. We hope you will agree with us that no other recording could have concluded this disc!

We are deeply grateful to the artists for their support of this production, and to Alan Hodgetts for creating clear and natural-sounding recordings which preserve the tonality of the instrument and the resonant acoustics of the hall.

This CD is available for purchase at any of our concerts, with 100% of the purchase price being added to the charity's funds.

Alternatively, you can contact us to purchase a copy by post.

Alexandra Palace tracks

Contact details
Pavilion Records Ltd
Sparrows Green
Wadhurst
East Sussex
England

British Concert Organists of the 1920s

Alexandra Palace tracks

British Concert Organists of the 1920s Volume Four

Alexandra Palace tracks

Contact details
Internet : www.amphion-recordings.com