Sketch in F

Alfred Ernest Floyd was born in Aston, Birmingham in 1877 and after attaining a Doctorate of Music and work in the UK came to Australia in 1915 to take up the position of organist and Choir Director at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne. It was Sir Walter Parrot who suggested the shy young Alfred apply for this position. This was achieved from a field of 200 applicants. He is an inheritor of the English Cathedral Tradition as he was for a number of years assistant at Winchester to Dr G. B. Arnold a pupil of S. S. Wesley. He was at St Pauls for 32 years resigning in 1947. He wrote a number of anthems, hymns and voluntaries. In 1948 he was the first musician to be awarded an OBE for services to music. As well as being a music critic for the Argus, he presented Music Lovers Hour on ABC radio for 24 years. He died in Melbourne in 1974.

"Sketch in F" is a compact "cathedral-style piece." The mood is quite grand for all it brevity. There is an agitation to the piece, yet that characteristic feel of the "English triplet," as we often hear in the works of Elgar. The score is marked "Deciso," and this is how I tried to play it.

This new Hill organ by SP, is the first set I've bought in awhile. It captures the "Hill sound" nicely, and will seem quite different than those who are accustomed to the "Willis sound." I've tried to use the organ in the "English manner" in order to show the grandeur it possesses.

I dedicate this to my good friend, and our member, Erzahler, who undertook the large and highly-successful task of recording ALL of Floyd's organ works, and you will certainly enjoy listening to these recordings!

I've attached below a portrait of A. E. Floyd, and photos of the exterior of St. Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne, and one of the organ as well.