The two halves of this new CD on the American Alto label are drawn from recitals first published by NPC more than a decade ago, the garish artwork of their covers making Alto's look the height of chasteness. More recently the two originals reappeared on Regis, with the highly dubious titles "Organ X-plosion I: Danse Macabre" and "Dambusters!: Organ X-plosion II" (FRC 8013, 8104). The Regis discs are still available on the internet at around the same price as this Alto, although the latter is far easier to find in stock.
The two parts of English organist extraordinaire Kevin Bowyer's 'recital' add up to a hugely entertaining hour-and-a-quarter, with truly something for all tastes. There are the 'DickRead more Barton' and 'Housewives' Choice' themes for fans of the old BBC Light Programme, and Nigel Ogden's Penguins' Playtime for those with fond holiday memories of Blackpool Tower. For the higher-minded, in a surprisingly effective transcription by the great French organist Louis Vierne, there is Rachmaninov's famous Prelude in C sharp minor. How about Eric Coates's 'Dam Busters' march and Kenneth Alford's
Colonel Bogey for the military man, or even the - weirdly original-sounding - 'Postman Pat' theme for youngsters, composed by Edward Marsh, who elsewhere provides a number of appealing arrangements. There is music loud enough to rouse the dead (Danse Macabre) and gentle enough to relax them again (Chanson de Matin).
Finally there are some classy original items, from Norman Cocker's uplifting Tuba Tune ('Tuba' as in the powerful reed stop) to the virtuosic originality of Marco Bossi's Etude Symphonique. Bowyer rounds off in style with another original work, the barnstorming Toccata by the shamefully neglected Belgian composer-organist, Joseph Jongen.
Bowyer is in fine form, as he always seems to be, making light of countless bravura passages for hands and feet, and making the most of the many fun pieces without ever turning them into kitsch. The back cover describes Bowyer as "in a mood to amuse", but this is more than that - he is giving listeners the chance to appreciate some of the power and range of the "King of Instruments" whilst being thoroughly entertained by tuneful, rousing and evocative music.
Sound quality for both parts is about as good as it is possible to make an organ recording, and the tracks are beautifully edited. The two English organs are mighty beasts indeed, with very impressive dynamic ranges and the capacity to rock the foundations of the surrounding neighbourhood. The booklet thoughtfully provides a few lines about each work from John Henderson and James Murray, and a brief specification of the instruments.
Toccata Giubiloso, for organby Jeremy Nicholas Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Contemporary Written: 1986 Date of Recording: 1998 Venue: De Montfort Hall, Leicester Length: 3 Minutes 38 Secs.
2.
Danse macabre in G minor, Op. 40by Camille Saint-Saëns Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Romantic Written: 1874; France Date of Recording: 1998 Venue: De Montfort Hall, Leicester Length: 7 Minutes 49 Secs.
3.
Devil's Galopby Charles Williams Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1944; England Date of Recording: 1998 Venue: De Montfort Hall, Leicester Length: 1 Minutes 38 Secs.
4.
Peguins' Playtime, for organby Nigel Ogden Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Contemporary Date of Recording: 1998 Venue: De Montfort Hall, Leicester Length: 2 Minutes 29 Secs.
5.
In a Persian Marketby Albert William Ketčlbey Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1920; England Date of Recording: 1998 Venue: De Montfort Hall, Leicester Length: 6 Minutes 9 Secs.
6.
Etude Symphonique for Organ, Op. 78by Marco Enrico Bossi Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Romantic Written: Italy Date of Recording: 1998 Venue: De Montfort Hall, Leicester Length: 4 Minutes 36 Secs.
7.
Tuba Tune for Organby Norman Cocker Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: 20th Century Written: by 1922; England Date of Recording: 1998 Venue: De Montfort Hall, Leicester Length: 4 Minutes 36 Secs.
8.
The Dam Bustersby Eric Coates Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1955; England Date of Recording: 2000 Venue: The Hill, Royal Hospital School Chapel, Length: 4 Minutes 13 Secs.
9.
In Party Moodby Jack Strachey Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: 20th Century Written: England Date of Recording: 2000 Venue: The Hill, Royal Hospital School Chapel, Length: 4 Minutes 14 Secs.
10.
Marche aux Flambeauxby Frederick Scotson Clark Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Date of Recording: 2000 Venue: The Hill, Royal Hospital School Chapel, Length: 4 Minutes 15 Secs.
11.
Marche funčbre d'une marionetteby Charles Gounod Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Romantic Written: 1872/1879; France Date of Recording: 2000 Venue: The Hill, Royal Hospital School Chapel, Length: 4 Minutes 30 Secs.
12.
Colonel Bogeyby Kenneth Alford Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: 20th Century Written: by 1913; England Date of Recording: 2000 Venue: The Hill, Royal Hospital School Chapel, Length: 4 Minutes 36 Secs.
13.
Chanson de matin, Op. 15 no 2by Sir Edward Elgar Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Romantic Written: 1897; England Date of Recording: 2000 Venue: The Hill, Royal Hospital School Chapel, Length: 2 Minutes 54 Secs.
14.
Toccata for Organ in D flat major, Op. 104by Joseph Jongen Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1935; Belgium Date of Recording: 2000 Venue: The Hill, Royal Hospital School Chapel, Length: 4 Minutes 39 Secs.
15.
La vallée verte, toccata for organ, Op. 5/3by Edward Marsh Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Contemporary Written: 1996 Date of Recording: 1998 Venue: De Montfort Hall, Leicester Length: 5 Minutes 4 Secs.
16.
Stars and Stripes Foreverby John Philip Sousa Performer:
Kevin Bowyer (Organ)
Period: Romantic Written: 1897; USA Date of Recording: 2000 Venue: The Hill, Royal Hospital School Chapel, Length: 3 Minutes 46 Secs.
Great Fun April 16, 2015By E. O. P. (Fairfax, VA)See All My Reviews"The several other recordings of organ music by Bowyer are of serious works, including ones by contemporary composers. This altogether lighter collection includes some warhorses like the 'dance Macabre" some movie music, and in general fun pieces, which the British sometimes call light classics. Spirit lifting, the music is great for an afternoon listen after a dreary work day or on a gloomy winter day."Report Abuse