Twilight Melody

John Arthur Meale (1880-1932) was born in Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, England, Dec. 18th, 1880, and died in Hendon, Dec. 9th, 1932.

He was Musical Director at the Central Hall, Westminster from its opening in 1912 until his death in 1932, giving some six hundred Wednesday recitals and many Saturday Popular Concerts. A noted exponent of the "orchestral" school or organ playing, an FRCO and a recitalist much in demand all over the country (he recorded for HMV) he came to Doncaster on several occasions after the First World War and played among other things his own "tone pictures" The Mighty Andes, Fountain Melody, In Peril on the Sea, the Introduction, Variations and Fugue on The Vicar of Bray, the pedal study "The Magic Harp, At Sunrise, Impressions sur la Belgique, A Night at Sea and March Patrol. Other organ solos by him included Sunny, The Storm, composed as a feature for a church bazaar at Selby, Twilight, Canto Religioso and A Summer Idyll (1917); his output included also anthems and many songs. He prepared the specification for the organ in Hull City Hall and for many others.

"Twilight Melody" was published by Beal, Studdard and Co. in 1912. It is dedicated: "To my Wife."

It is of the highest, high romantic, a soaring melody and a chromatic accompaniment. The MANY technical difficulties entailed are hidden by the "simple sounding score." The independent movement of the Swell and Solo boxes is almost continuous, and there are many details hidden within.

I suppose this isn't far from "theater organ music," but I invite you to follow the score so you can see just how much is going on - and all at the same time!

I suppose it's yet another one of "those pieces" that you love or not...

Following the composer's lead, I dedicated this with love to my wife, Gale. :-)

The score, courtesy of Dr. John Henderson, is attached below, as well as a photo of Arthur Meale, one of the Methodist Central Hall in London.