A Carol

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 only know two works by O'Connor-Morris, and both of them are, as I said in my previous upload, captivating and haunting.

Both pieces remind me of some of the works by Percy Whitlock, particularly of his "Folk Tune".

"A Carol was published by Novello in 1935, as part of "Selected Pieces for the Organ (Vol.5)" It is dedicated: "To my friend Geoffrey Shaw."

I don't think this is an "actual" carol melody. Rather, it is in the "style" of a carol, and reminds me of some of the penitential carols of Advent. Perhaps something like an "Adam lay ybounden" or similar thing.

In saying that I do not meant this was intended to be sung or that it is a choral piece.

The tune is captivating, with it's rocking, "Quasi pastorale" 12/8 in the key of A minor. A sudden shift to an "Allegro" in A major should be handle seamlessly. It falls back to a variation of the opening minor section, before ending in a hushed major.

The piece is very "moodful" and very rich, despite its brevity.

You can here my other O'Connor-Morris upload, "Celtic Melody" here: http://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/30013

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Geoffrey O'Connor-Morris (THANK YOU, John Henderson!), is attached below, as well as several photos of Carlisle Cathedral, where he was Assistant Organist back in 1903, and one of Geoffrey (& Martin) Shaw, to whom "A Carol" is dedicated.