‘Dolcezza’ (sweetness)

The third of ‘Three Quiet Pieces for Organ’ published in 1946 by the O.U.P. under the title ‘Reflections’. Whitlock dated his score 28 October 1942, yet the work appeared in 1927 as a piece for organ and strings and given the title ‘Rêverie’ (daydream) which it kept when incorporated as the third movement of the Suite, ‘Music for Orchestra’ in 1941. ‘Rêverie’ was dedicated to Rochester Cathedral's Head Chorister, Victor Yates whose nickname was 'Dreamy'...

Whitlock gives a timing at the end of each piece. ‘Dolcezza’ is given a duration of 2¾ mins. My recording is over three minutes, almost four! My crotchet = 52 is to blame, yet I felt this to be appropriate. (Whitlock wants cr=60).

The orchestral recording makes it 3¼ mins (Gavin Sutherland conducting the RTÉ Concert Orchestra with Malcolm Riley organ – Marco Polo 2000). ‘Dolcezza’ is a note-for-note version of ‘Rêverie’ which begins with solo organ, thereafter, interlaced with delicate string interludes; a thing of beauty!

The Suite ‘Music for Orchestra’ finishes with a rousing ‘Fanfare on the tune Song of Agincourt’. Listeners may be familiar with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ setting of this as the hymn tune DEO GRACIAS for the words ‘Forth in the peace of Christ we go’ (NEH 361).

The Lavender Audio sample set of Hereford Cathedral is a joy for these Whitlock pieces and I have also posted 'From an Old French Air' and 'Pazienza', the 1st and 2nd of the set.