Canterbury Interlude

Sidney S. Campbell, MVO (born 1909 in London and died on 4 June 1974 in Windsor) was initially self-taught, and worked as a bank clerk! He became a student of Ernest Bullock and Harold Darke, and held appointments at West Ham Parish Church, St. Peter's Croydon, St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton, Ely Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, and finally of St. George's Chapel, Windsor.

His compositions ranged through church and organ music, and his enthusiasm for French organ works is clearly reflected in the colorful style of his own compositions.

When you stop and think that a person such as Campbell wound up at Canterbury Cathedral and St. George's, Windsor, without the usual Oxford/Cambridge route, and beginning as an amateur, it really blows the mind, especially with the way the church music world is today...

"Canterbury Interlude" was published by Hinrichsen in 1962, the year after Campbell had left Canterbury and gone to Windsor.

It's an interesting piece with changing meters and the attractive harmonic palette of much mid-20th century English organ literature.

The opening material flows on, building and receding as it goes, before moving to the central section, which features the Orchestral Oboe of the Solo as the featured voice. This transitions nicely back into the opening material, but this time the two "themes" are combined, and the outcome is very fine.

I couldn't help but feel that there is something "Edwardian" about this, although the harmonic scheme and stylings are more modern.

I dedicate this upload to our member, "Bach 1978," who was kind enough to give me the score. THANK YOU, Joost!

A photo of Campbell at the organ of Canterbury Cathedral, as well as some of the cathedral itself are attached below.