Prelude

I have no information whatsoever on the composer, Vladimir Pashloff.

The transcriber, James Lyon, was born in Manchester on 24 October 1872 and so far as music was concerned almost entirely self taught (he went however to Oxford and became a Mus Doc of that university in 1905). He himself later taught at Bantock's Birmingham and Midland Institute and also at St Michael's College Tenbury, King Edward's School, Warwick and Trinity College London. He examined and adjudicated widely. He wrote two books for students: "A Practical Guide to the Modern Orchestra") and "The Elements of Harmony" (Banks 1920). He died in Australia on 25 August 1949.

His music was described as "Neo-Romantic" in style and he certainly had a taste for writing dramatic music, his output including four operas, as well as numerous orchestral works.

The organ attracted him particularly and he wrote for it three sonatas, two suites and individual movements with titles like Alla Marcia, Berceuse, Dominus Regnavit, Festival March, a Minuet and Trio and a Prelude in D Flat. Of this repertoire, the first Sonata, in C minor, which Percy Whitlock included in his recitals, is the pick. Its expansiveness and chromatic idiom recalls Elgar; the second subject later combined
with the first, is of melting beauty. Lyon was attracted to the piano as well. Some of his output was purely instructional and doubtless the 24 books of genre pieces entitled Opuscula (Op 91) had a teaching purpose.

The score is found in "Selected Pieces by Russian Composers arranged for the Organ," and was published by Edwin Ashdown in 1914. "Prelude" by Vladimir Pashloff appears on page 21. It sounds very familiar to me... ;-)

This upload is intended to demonstrate the uniquely voiced Clarinet of the Choir, as well as the dark-toned Viol d' Orchestre, heard in the lower registers at the end. The large crescendo is managed with pistons, NOT the crescendo pedal!

More Hill demos & review coming soon!

The score is attached below.