Folk Tune from Five Short Pieces

Originally as a chorister and subsequently as assistant organist, Percy Whitlock was closely associated with Rochester Cathedral until the age of twenty-seven, when he became organist and choirmaster of St Stephen's Church in Bournemouth. Although he composed a number of larger scale pieces for organ, he is generally remembered for his smaller pieces, of which his 'Folk Tune' is a particularly famous and fine example. The piece essentially consists of three iterations of the lyrical melody, which perfectly invokes the folk song idiom.

The organ of St David's Cathedral in Wales has, like many cathedral organs, had a chequered history. The most recent work (and perhaps most successful) was carried out by Harrison & Harrison of Durham but a significant portion of the pipework dates from the 'Father' Willis organ of 1883. I have been fortunate to test the beta versions of this organ, which has been sampled for Hauptwerk by the talented Ivan Barritt. Having also played the original organ, I can honestly say that the digital version bears a remarkable likeness to the real instrument.

Apologies for the small slips in this recording, it's definitely a 'live' version!