Judith Weir

Judith Weir's The Wild Reeds for Organ.'The Wild Reeds is a ten-minute partita made up of an original theme followed by six variations which are played continuously. The theme was partlyinspired by folk music for outdoor wind instruments from eastern Europe rugged yet delicate at the same time. Another important inspiration has been the Organ sonorities which result from unusual divisions of the octave producing strange chords and ghostly harmonisations of melodies. Above all The Wild Reeds has been written for Thomas Trotter (who personally commissioned this music and gave much valuable advice during its composition) in honourof his remarkable thirty years as Birmingham City Organist.' - Judith Weir

Judith Weir's The Tree Of Peace was composed in 2016 for Organ. Commissioned in loving memory of Richard Axtell (1952-2015) talented and much-loved organist at the Parish of St. Andrew West Tarring. 'It'senormously inspiring to see the Master of the Queen's Music turning her attention to the organ once again. Judith Weir's The Tree Of Peace is a short piece commissioned in memory of the organist Richard Axtell... Despite thesimplicity of the music it carries all the hallmarks of Weir's unmistakeably refined idiom.' - Stephen Farr Choir and Organ Jan 2018 From the Master of the Queen's Music Judith Weir comes The Tree ofPeace which was commissioned in memory of Richard Axtell organist of the parish church in West Tarring West Sussex. It was given its first performance there by Charles Harrison on the 17 June 2017. It lasts some 4 minutes andproves to be a thoroughly engaging piece in her customary refined idiom. It is in three main sections with a graded increase of tempo throughout. Thematic material is presented at the start cantabile. The central sectionprovides an energetic development marked animato leading to the conclusion molto mosso which gives the theme as in the opening but in augmentation. Throughout I feel an orchestral sense of colour and interrelationships inthe music - and have found it delightful to play. A modest two manual and pedal instrument with some contrasted quiet colours available will suffice and the technical demands are by no means severe. A delightful addition to therepertoire of short self-contained delightful pieces. - Organists' Review Duration: Approx 4 minutes.