Organ Sonata No. 1

SKU: CA.4600800

ISBN 9790007222031.

SKU: UT.HS-335

ISBN 9790215328532. 9 x 12 inches.

Walte r Battison Haynes (1859-1900): Sonata in D minor
Hugh Blair (1864-1932): Short Sonata in G major

The organ sonatas of Walter Battison Haynes and Hugh Blair demonstrate a notable peak in the development of the English organ sonata as a work that is musically cohesive. As discussed in The Genesis and Development of an English Organ Sonata (2017), the portfolio approach towards compositions under one title, a sonata, that included sometimes significantly contrasting movements of varying technical difficulty was common during the second half of the nineteenth century not least as a published example of the compositional skill of composers. Whereas these two sonatas join the tradition of works that could be convincingly played on both medium and large instruments and allow for creativity in registration they are also cohesive pieces that could serve in a concert programme. These works join the legacy of English organ sonatas that had an important pedagogical role jointly inherited from Mendelssohn’s very practical and popular approach to the instrument and the continued European legacy of the lesson-sonata tradition whereby in learning a piece you also learned the instrument and vice versa. They are both idiomatically written and musically rewarding pieces that are imbued with the undeniably English harmonic language of the era that was to remain popular for several decades to come.

SKU: UT.HS-334

ISBN 9790215328525. 9 x 12 inches.

Bertr am Luard-Selby (1853-1918): First Sonata
Charles Harford Lloyd (1849-1919): Sonata in D minor

The first sonata of Bertram Luard-Selby and the sonata of Charles Harford Lloyd are examples of works that demonstrate the transitional nature of the maturing English organ sonata. The portfolio approach towards compositions under one title, a sonata, that included sometimes significantly contrasting movements was common during the second half of the nineteenth century. It allowed composers to demonstrate their own compositional skill as well as highlight the tonal capabilities of the developing symphonic organ in England. The sonatas are playable on both small and large instruments and allow for creativity in registration. The technical difficulty varies between movements. As discussed in The Genesis and Development of an English Organ Sonata (2017), the English sonatas had an important pedagogical role jointly inherited from Mendelssohn’s very practical and popular approach to the instrument and the continued European legacy of the lesson-sonata tradition whereby in learning a piece you also learned the instrument and vice versa.