Allegro marziale, Op. 71

Dr. Francis Edward Gladstone, was born at Summertown, near Oxford, March 2,1845. When 14 he was articled to Dr. S. S. Wesley, with whom he remained at Winchester for five years. After being organist for two years at Holy Trinity Church, Weston-super-Mare, in 1866 he obtained the post of organist at Llandaff Cathedral. In March 1870 he was appointed organist at Chichester Cathedral, but three years later he moved to Brighton, where he remained until 1876, when after a short residence in London he accepted the post of organist at Norwich Cathedral, which he resigned in 1881. Gladstone then became organist to Christ Church, Lancaster Gate, London, a post which ill health compelled him to resign in 1886.

He took the degree of Mus. B. Cantab, in 1876, and shortly after was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music. He took the degree of Mus. D. in 1879, and is also a Fellow of the College of Organists, a Member of the Board of Musical Studies at Cambridge, and a teacher of organ, etc., at the Royal College of Music.

He was received into the Roman Catholic Church, and was appointed director of the choir at St. Mary of the Angels, Bayswater. He composed a large number of organ solos, as well anthems and service settings.

Allegro marziale, Op. 71 was published by Novello @ 1875, so, I would guess this would have been written during Gladstone's time at Chichester Cathedral.

It is a fine and vigorous march in C major, making full use of the colors and dynamic ranges of the English cathedral organ.

I had hoped to work in our old friend, the Solo Tuba, but, there really was no place to get it in without forcing it, so, I let it go... :-(

However, you will hear the 16' Contra Tuba come on in the Pedal in the final two bars! This is an extension of the Solo Tuba, so, I guess I sort of got in after all!

The score is attached below as well as a photo of, and two of Chichester Cathedral, one of the exterior and one of the Quire and Hill organ above the stalls.