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information Messyah 4 A Wreck Handel-Inspired Passacaglia | |
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Handel-Inspired
a new CD of music by, or inspired by, Georg Frideric Handel played on the Handel House chamber organ at St George’s Hanover Square by Paul Ayres Ayres is outstanding as composer, arranger, editor and skilful player... this CD is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable and original recordings I've heard. - from a review in The Gramophone, May 2008 
This CD features a varied collection of pieces, many recorded for the first time. There are examples of GFH’s music originally written for organ, and arrangements of well-known instrumental works. Complementing the genius of Handel (who regularly attended St George’s Hanover Square) are composers who have been ‘Handel-inspired’, including Samuel Wesley, Alexandre Guilmant and William Wolstenholme. Then there are eight brand new works selected from the 98 international entries to the Handel-Inspired Composition Competition, generously supported by the Hinrichsen Foundation and by the Kenneth Leighton Trust. Full track listing below. The music is played on the 1998 chamber organ (one manual, no pedals) by Goetze and Gwynn, a reproduction of a mid-eighteenth century instrument owned by Charles Jennens (‘librettist’ of Messiah), commissioned by the Handel House Museum. Specification below. Paul Ayres is Assistant Director of Music at St George’s Hanover Square, and he has given many recitals throughout the world. Reviews of his previous solo disc, Passacaglia, include: “a player of the highest calibre and I cannot recommend this disc too highly” (The Organ) “a fine player on a fine instrument... the playing is splendid!” (Organists’ Review) “excellent technique and stylistic awareness throughout” (Music and Vision) “an interesting programme, well played with great energy” (Church Music Quarterly). HANDEL-INSPIRED CD track list Handel’s keyboard music Overture to Esther Fugue in A minor Voluntary in C major Arrangements of Handel’s instrumental music Minuet & Bourrée, from Music for the Royal Fireworks Sinfonia from Solomon (“The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba”) Pieces for Musical Clock Handel-Inspired pieces from the nineteenth century Alexandre Guilmant - Paraphrase Samuel Wesley - Variations on Gavot from Handel’s Ottone William Wolstenholme - Introduction and Allegro, from Sonata for the Organ in the style of Handel Handel-Inspired pieces from the twenty-first century Paul Ayres, after Handel - The Departure of the Queen of Sheba John Ellis - Overture and Gigue, from Handel-Inspired Suite John Hawkins - Footnote Satoru Ikeda - Water Bubbling Krzysztof Aleksander Janczak - Le Tombeau d’Handel Jos Martens - Little Prelude Thomas Neal - Lednah Loblied Akmal Parwez - In Handel’s Name Alan Smith - Scherzo on “Gopsal” THE ORGAN was made for the Handel House Trust, which in 2001 opened a museum in the house where Handel lived for the last 36 years of his life: 25 Brook Street in Mayfair. The instrument is based on the chamber organs of Richard Bridge and Thomas Parker, who built the organ which belonged to Charles Jennens, which still exists close to its original condition. Stop Diapason [wood] Open Diapason (c#¹ - e³) [metal] Principal [metal] Flute [wood] Fifteenth [metal] Sesquialtera II (GG - c¹) [metal] Cornet II (c#¹ - e³) [metal] The key compass is 54 notes (GG AA C D - e³). The metal ranks are all divided into bass and treble halves at c¹/c#¹. There is a shifting movement pedal which removes the metal ranks (if drawn). The pitch is a¹=415Hz. The wind pressure is 51mm. The organ is 263cm high, 141cm wide and 75cm deep. It has a stained oak case, with gilded dummy metal front pipes, and a gilded cherub's head. The keys have ebony naturals and sandwich sharps. The stop knobs are ebony, next to engraved brass labels. WEBLINKS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Paul Ayres www.paulayres.co.uk St George’s Church www.stgeorgeshanoversquare.org Goetze and Gwynn www.goetzegwynn.co.uk Handel House Museum www.handelhouse.org 
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