Variations on a Theme of Mozart "La Dove Prende" from "The Magic Flute"

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 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.

"Variations on a Theme of Mozart 'La Dove Prende' from 'The Magic Flute'" was published by Paxton in 1926. The dedication reads: "To my friend, E. Stanley Roper." Stanley Roper was organist of the Chapel Royal, and was known for his work as an editor for OUP, and as the composer of several fine arrangements.

This is a very nice little set of variations. The theme is colorfully and attractively set, and keeps nicely "in the spirit" of Mozart. :-)

The translation of "La Dove Prende" is, "Where it takes", at least according to Google. Please correct me if this is not accurate!

MANY THANKS to Dr. John Henderson for the score, which is attached below.

Also below is a photo of Arthur Meale and an ABSOLUTELY GREAT one of E. Stanley Roper.

To hear a 1926 recording of the Chapel Royal Choir: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKXsTzp0Ew8

Music and pictures - a view of a world far away, & barely remembered.