Two Voluntaries (D Minor & C Major)

Benjamin Rogers (1614–1698) was an English organist and composer, widely known in Europe in his time. Modern taste prefers his consort music, where his reputation in the 18th century was for liturgical music and anthems. His "Hymnus Eucharisticus" beginning "Te O Patrem colimus" is sung annually on Magdalen Tower on May day morning.

Born at Windsor, and baptised at the church of New Windsor on 2 June 1614, he was son of George Rogers of Windsor. He was a chorister of St. George's Chapel under Nathaniel Giles, and then a lay clerk.

In 1639 Rogers succeeded Randolph Jewett as organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. The outbreak of the Irish rebellion of 1641 drove him back to England, and he returned as singingman to Windsor; the choral services there were discontinued around 1644. Occupied with composition and teaching, Rogers maintained himself, with the help of a small government allowance, in the neighbourhod of Windsor.

Rogers obtained the degree of Bac. Mus. at Cambridge, and in 1660 was reappointed lay clerk of St. George's Chapel, was substitute at the organ for William Child, and played the cornett.

Rogers won high reputation in England by his music for the Church of England and by his reorganisation of major choirs. In 1662 he was also appointed organist to Eton College. Invited by Thomas Pierce to Magdalen College, Oxford, he took over the organ and choir there in 1665, with a salary and college rooms. On 8 July 1669 he proceeded Mus. Doc. at Oxford.

The "Voluntary in D Minor" is a stately piece, played upon the 8' & 4' flutes of the Swell.

The "Voluntary in C Major" is more bravura, and played upon the 8' & 4' flutes of the Great, with the addition of the 2 Fifteenth.

The scores are attached below, as well as a number of photos of Magdalen College, Oxford, where Rogers served as organist.

Including in the attachments are two depicting May morning on the Magdalen tower. One is a painting, and the other a photo showing the crowd below.