1. Trumpet Tune
2. Aria
3. St Wilfrid's Suite - Procession, Gospel Fanfare, Offertory, Communion, Finale
4. A Christmas Canon on "Forest Green"
5. Toccata on "Veni Emmanuel"
"Trumpet Tune" was written for The Oxford Book of Wedding Music. Dedicated to Geoffrey Coffin, for some time assistant organist at York Minster, it was first performed by his successor, John Scott Whiteley, at a wedding in nearby St Wilfrid's church.
"Aria" was penned for Irene Ator and inspired by the vpn Beckerath organ she played at Fort Wayne United Methodist Church, Indiana. The opening melody and its subsequent appearance in the tenor register reflect two particular stops of this instrument—the sesquialtera and the English horn. This is the instrument whose case is pictured on the cover of this book.
"Saint Wilfrid's Suite" refers to the seventh-century Northumbrian bishop, patron saint of many churches in northern England. For the three-manual Harrison instrument at St Wilfrid's in Harrogate, organist Timothy Gray commissioned an organ mass to be played at the centenary service. Of the five movements, the first is a chorale prelude on Sydney Nicholson's hymn tune Crucifer, sung in the opening procession. For Communion, the melody of Veni Creator is treated in canon, first at the octave and then the fifth.
"Christmas Canon" is on the tune Forest Green, associated in Britain with the text 'O little town of Bethlehem'. It is a reworking of an early handbell score.Dedicated to a long-standing friend and accomplished organist, Michael Phipps, Toccata on Veni Emmanuel' was first performed at a recital given by John Scott in York Minster.
Andrew Carter
November 2003
