Berceuse in G

William Faulkes (1863-1933), composer, organist, pianist, arranger, recitalist, teacher, chamber musician, conductor, musical organizer. Remarkably, for a composer so fluent and prolific, Faulkes was consistently omitted from the major dictionaries of music. From time to time, he is found in smaller more specific dictionaries at times, and is sometimes described as a leader of the modern English school of organ playing; or a leading composer of the English romantic school of organ playing.

Born in Liverpool, at the age of 10 became a chorister at St. Margaret's Church, Anfield, which was the largest brick church in England, and had the largest organ in Liverpool. At the age of 18, he was appointed organist of St. John's, Tue Brook, and five years later returned to St. Margaret's. He had a fine all-male (all volunteer) choir, and the level of musical excellence at the church was significant. As an organist, he was a brilliant performer, and earned the admiration of the leading British organist of the time, W. T.
Best.

"Berceuse in G" was published by Schott around 1905. It is dedicated: "To W. Stevenson Hoyte, Esq."

William Stevenson Hoyte (1844-1917) was a well-known concert organist. In addition, he served as organist at the famous Anglo-Catholic parish of All Saint's, Margaret Street for over 40 years.

While this piece is certainly in the romantic idiom, there is still a sense of "modernity" about it, particularly in the introduction, with it use of an ostinato pattern, over a wide spread double pedal, using the Vox Humana coupled to the Pedal.

I've handled the dynamic differences, not only with the Swell pedal, but with a few, delicate addition and subtraction of stops. To play this only with Swell "Celeste" could become tedious and boring.

The score is attached below, as well as the now famous two photos of Faulkes, of St. Margaret's, Anfield, as photo of W. S. Hoyte, and one of All Saint's, Margaret Street.