Prelude on 'O little town of Bethlehem'

Gordon Phillips (1908-1991) is best known for having been Organist at London's ancient church, All Hallows by the Tower from 1956 until his death in 1991.

He had been a tutor in organ and harmony at the Royal School of Church Music, and was active as an organ recitalist.

As a composer, he was quite prolific, and published a significant number of organ works, including: "Tower Suite", "Sonata in C Minor", "Partita on a Plainsong Hymn", "Toccata in C", to name a few.

He is certainly remembered by many as having been the editor of the well-known series of early English organ works "Tallis to Wesley", which served to introduce many organists to these "unknown" treasures.

The 'Prelude on O little town of Bethlehem" is from a group of "Six Carol Preludes", all of which are small, attractive, and relatively simple to play.

This performance uses the 8' & 4' flutes of the Swell, and the Solo Harmonic Flute 4' with tremulant, played an octave lower, that appears as a brief solo at the end.

I included this little "trifle" to "balance" the far more substantial work on the same tune by Philip Marshall.