Symphonia Eliensis

Symphonia Eliensis is a monumental, multi-movement organ masterpiece composed by Dr. Arthur Wills in 1976, specifically written to show off the dramatic tonal capabilities of the newly rebuilt Ely Cathedral organ.
Today, 30th October actually marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first performance.

“The Symphonia Eliensis has seven sections corresponding to these areas of the Cathedral: (1) Galilee Porch (2) Catherine’s Chapel (3) Lady Chapel (4) Nave (5) North Transept (6) South Transept (7) Octagon. The movements may be played in any order, just as there is more than one access to the building.”
This recording is actually of an eighth movement which I believe is a representation of the whole building, the glorious “Ship of the fens”.
The work is based on a plainchant Sequence melody of unknown origin, sung between the Epistle and Gospel to the following text: ‘Now our hymn to God upraising, Sing we of a Queen’s amazing lowliness of mind today.’”2
The title translates from Latin to "Symphony of Ely." It serves as both a musical portrait of the cathedral's sweeping history and a direct showcase of the fiery, French-influenced "neo-classical" reeds and upperwork that Wills had just added to the instrument during the controversial 1975 rebuild.