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Regent-Records

A Celebration

A Celebration

£12.77 £10.64 Ex vat

Thomas Trotter
A Celebration
40 years as Birmingham City Organist
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SKU: REGCD584 Categories: ,

Description

Gramophone Critics Choice 2024

‘Organ discs of the non-Bach variety receive relatively little coverage (and at Awards time) so it’s especially pleasing to make this exceptional recital from the doyen of British organists my album of the year. Not only is it a varied and technically breathtaking sonic spectacular but a celebration of Trotter’s 40th anniversary as Birmingham City Organist.’ Gramophone December 2024

Thomas Trotter was appointed Birmingham City Organist in 1983 in succession to Sir George Thalben-Ball. This album, recorded in Town Hall, Birmingham, is released to coincide with the 40th anniversary of that appointment. It complements ‘Symphony Hall Sorcery’ (released in 2022) in celebrating Trotter’s consummate artistry over four decades on these two iconic Birmingham instruments.

For this new recording Thomas dazzles in a personally-selected programme showing the dynamic and expressive range of the Town Hall organ with major established corner-stones of the Romantic organ repertoire by Parry and Willan, through to recent works by Kevin Volans and Rachel Laurin, and smaller-scale works by Wolstenholme and Karg-Elert. Central to the artistry of the town hall organist is the transcription, and the recording includes a virtuoso example by the master of the craft. W T Best, together with several ones by Thomas himself.

Track List

Fantasia and Fugue in G, Op 188 – Charles H H Parry
Fantasia
4:08
Fugue
5:50
The Question /The Answer – William Wolstenholme
The Question
4:15
The Answer
3:48
Jupiter from The Planets, Op 32 – Gustav Holst, arr Thomas Trotter
8:31
Walking Song – Kevin Volans
6:28
Overture to St Paul, Op 36 – Felix Mendelssohn, arr W T Best
8:00
Caribbean Dance – Madeleine Dring, arr Thomas Trotter
2:45
Knightsbridge March – Eric Coates, arr Thomas Trotter
4:41
Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue – Healey Willan
15:56
Introduction
3:18
Passacaglia
7:56
Fugue
4:42
Valse mignonne, Op 142 – Sigfrid Karg-Elert
5:18
Étude héroïque, Op 38 – Rachel Laurin
7:55

Total Playing time: 77:34

Production credits

Recorded on 25/26 May 2023 in Town Hall, Birmingham Recording producer and engineer: Gary Cole. Recording assistant: Pippa Cole Page turner: John Stormont

Sample audio extracts

Reviews

‘Wait until the neighbours are out, turn up the volume, give your speakers a thorough workout and yourself a tingle up the spine. Full organ. Blazing magnificence. No one plays this sort of repertoire better than Trotter… this expertly recorded recital is a fitting tribute to Britain’s greatest living organist.’ Gramophone January 2024

‘Trotter, who plays everything with his trademark faultless technique and sheer rhythmic élan. knows the Birmingham organ better than anyone – and he showcases it here in all its glorious colours, from its peal of bells (judiciously deployed throughout this recital), to its majestic choruses and noble reeds. It’s clearly a love affair which we can all enjoy sharing’ ★★★★★ Choir and Organ Jan/Feb 2024

‘Not only does he capture and project the panoply of dazzling orchestral sounds from the original score … but conveys as well the inherent jocund bounce of the music itself…it’s all here and performed with great panache by Thomas Trotter who is celebrating 40 years as Birmingham City Organist. ’ Classical Music sentinel October 2023

‘….delightful miniatures and transcriptions demonstrating the endless color available on this organ, the impassioned virtuosity of Rachel Laurin’s etude, and a magisterial performance of the Willan, demonstrating the organ’s full symphonic range…Another enjoyable recording from this superb organist.’ American Record Guide March/April 2024

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