A Song of Thanksgiving

Arthur Blurton Plant (1853-1914) was a chorister at Litchfield Cathedral was organist of St. Paul's Church, Burton-on-Trent as well as municipal organist for over 40 years.

Dr. Arthur Blurton Plant, was organist of St. Paul's Church from 1874–1914. He was organist and choirmaster from the church's consecration in 1874 until his death. In forty years as organist of St Paul's, he only missed one Sunday!

"A Song of Thanksgiving" is found in Volume 5 of the famous series, "The Organ Loft," published by W. Paxton & Co. Ltd. in 1907.
The work is dedicated: "To C. W. Perkins, Esq." and is "No. 144" in the series.

The piece is quite heroic and grandiose. There are some unusual things about it, but it could be a very effective and well-received postlude of festal voluntary. There are a few technical issues to solve in a few spots.

You are hearing this on THE organ that the composer wrote it for!

Now, the problem is that this organ has had a difficult life, being abandoned and saved twice, and now installed at a Catholic church in Berlin.

This, however, is an exceptionally difficult sample set to use. In my opinion, it is recorded much too close, and the effect/attack is almost "percussive," despite the perspective that you use it at. The full Swell really has an almost "metallic ping" to it.

I've always thought that it was an excellent "exercise" to use a difficult organ without almost "unsolvable sound problems," and do your best to get good results from it.

I've done the best that I could here, although personally, I don't think the results are very satisfactory. I do NOT say that looking for compliments! I just can not get these pieces to hang together in a seamless manner, and there is a distinct lack of variety in the colors that you hear.

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of the Quire of Lichfield Cathedral, where Plant was a chorister, and several photos of St. Paul's Church, Burton-on-Trent where he served as organist.