Celtic Melody, Op. 43, No. 3

I've had a book called "Wedding Miscellany" (published by Novello in 1959) laying around for years. I think I must have bought it used some years ago.

I've played a few of the arrangements in it, and one or two pieces, as well. I always "look at" this piece, and say, "I'll have to try that sometime..." Well, yesterday, the book fell on the floor 3 times, so, I figured that the time had come!

Geoffrey O'Connor-Morris (1886-1964) was born in Switzerland of Irish decent. He studied in Dublin and became Assistant Organist of Carlisle Cathedral at the age of 17. He was subsequently organist in London for the Christian Scientists, examiner at Trinity College, London and a professor at the Guildhall School. He wrote several organ works, all published in the early 1930s. I'm sure that the only way this one "survived" is because it's in this book, but I don't see what it has to with a wedding!

In truth, it's a very nice piece. It's captivating and haunting, and reminded me more than a little of some of the works by Percy Whitlock, particularly of his "Folk Tune," which also happens to be in the same key of F# Minor.

The melody, which I imagine is something "traditional" is not identified, but O'Connor-Morris gives an excellent treatment, not without a few little "technical" things that need to be solved.

One of the biggest attractions of the piece is also the hardest to bring off - the fact that almost each "phrase" gets a different registration. You don't want to make it sound disjointed, or it will miss the mark.

He's quite specific about the stops he wants, and while you have to use the Solo for the Choir, I think this came out nicely. All-in-all, I guess I'm glad the book fell on the floor yesterday... ;-)

Can anyone identify the tune?!?

The score is attached below. I could find no photos of Geoffrey O'Connor-Morris, but I did attach several photos of Carlisle Cathedral, where he was Assistant Organist back in 1903.

I hope you find this piece useful!