Chorale Fantasie on 'Lasst uns enfreuen', Op 81, No. 2

Flor Peeters (1903-1986) needs no introduction to anyone here!

This work, "Chorale Fantasie on 'Lasst uns enfreuen'", Op. 81, No. 2, again comes from the group of "Festal Voluntaries" published by Novello.
This work by Peeter is based upon the well-known melody, often sung with the words: "Ye watchers and ye holy ones." The entire work gives the effect of big bells swinging, and these syncopated "bell-like" figures are combined into a sort of "toccata" with an "imitative" section in the middle.

I confess that the inclusion of both versions of this piece was sort of a LATE afterthought, as I was "fooling around" with it, thinking about a Postlude for the Easter Vigil. The Kampen version, the one I did first, is a little slower than the Hereford one. Probably because I was a little more comfortable when I did the Hereford one a few hours later... ;-) While I think I like the Kampen sound more for this piece, the fact that the manual compass doesn't go to the high E-flat is a bit disappointing - something I only REALLY felt after playing it on the Willis. Also, I'd like a bigger and heavier pedal at the end.

The real reason that I decided to take a try on Hereford is because the dedication inscription reads: "To my dear friend and esteemed colleague, Melville Cook". Mellville Cook (1912-1993) was appointed Organist of Hereford in 1956 - the year that this work was written! :-)

You can see which version you prefer, as they are QUITE different... ;-)