Organ Concerto
Written
in three short movements this concerto is scored for 2 oboes, 2 horns, timpani
and strings. As in many of my works, the
first movement opens with with a slow introduction in which some of the
important thematic material for the rest of the work is exposed. The main body of the movement is an agitated
allegro in which florid organ writing is contrasted with more lyrical and
generally more static writing for the orchestra. A shortened repetition of the introduction
leads directly into the slow movement.
This is immensely simple in design - a long chordal passage for strings
of ever-increasing density and volume accompanies a highly ornamented single
line melody on the organ. At its climax
the chordal element is repeated in quicker notes by the wind, before the first
section is repeated, but with the slow-moving chords on the organ and the
decorative melody on the strings. The
rondo-finale is a toccata, full of high spirits, in which soloist and orchestra
share the material more closely than in either of the previous movements.
The
concerto was commissioned by the 1979 St. Albans International Organ Festival,
with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain. The first performance was given in July 1979
by Allan Wicks and the Orchestra of St. John's, Smith Square, under its
conductor John Lubbock.
© Christopher Brown 1979