The Organ at Worship

Scott Lamlein on the1927 E.M. Skinner organ

Wesley United Methodist Church

Worcester, Massachusetts

Available from www.scottlamlein.com or www.cdbaby/com/cd/scottlamlein, also for digital download through all of the most popular download sites.

Kodály: Organoedia ad missam lectam (Mass for Organ)
Bach: We All Believe in One God
Brahms: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Brahms: Ah, Holy Jesus
Shearing: I Know that My Redeemer Lives
Shearing: Jerusalem, My Happy Home
Duruflé: Choral varie: Veni Creator Spiritus
Innes: The Old Rugged Cross

The Kodály is described in the notes as the centrepiece so it is perhaps odd that this set of seven pieces should start the CD. It was written as harmonium accompaniment to a said mass and Kodály later arranged it as the Missa Brevis. I had never heard of this work before and was pleasantly surprised - the harmonic language is that of his orchestral works with which I am more familiar.

The Brahms “Es ist ein Ros’” is a lovely surprise, every note so clear, and played on only one flute stop at a time, one with very non-1927 chiff and one without. All the flutes have very similar tone/vowel sound- apart from volume differences - on this instrument (1927 EM Skinner, with alterations in 1955 and 1972) and all the reeds sound like oboes on 25” pressure; there’s not a true trumpet anywhere to be heard, which reduces the impact that the Duruflé should have. (Incidentally, there is a misreading in the third variation, bar 5 beat 4½.)

Mr Lamlein omits the initial Prélude and Adagio movements which is a pity. I am not a great fan of the “bleeding chunk” Classic FM philosophy; if the composer wrote it, it should be played. In the Prélude, Adagio and Chorale Varié the statement of the chorale on full to mixtures loses its impact if you don’t hear the preceding 13½ minutes. I have four other recordings of this work:

• Duruflé himself at Soissons cathedral with plainsong verses between the variations on Erato Ultima Double CD 3984 24235 2 – but of course, no Toccata in the recording of the suite
• David M Patrick at Coventry Cathedral, ASV CD DCA 993
• Olivier Latry at the maître’s own organ at St Etienne-du-mont, Paris, before it was replaced, BNL Productions BNL 112508 (through Auvidis)
• Todd Wilson playing the Schudi organ at St Thomas Aquinas in Dallas, Texas, released by Delos D/CD 3047 - Wilson takes 15’ 10” to get to the Chorale, and this recording has the most presence and absolutely humongous impact.

The organs used for these other recordings (Soissons, Coventry, Paris and Dallas) all knock the Skinner over the boundary on this work. So I wonder why the work was programmed?

George Shearing’s two chorale improvisations are perhaps not going to set the world on fire, and the beginning of the Jerusalem piece is an almost direct quote from a Delius orchestral miniature, though which one it is will bother me until one morning I wake up at 2am with the answer.

The CD finishes with a version of The Old Rugged Cross by John Innes (who, in the UK, is a provider of peat and associated gardening requisites). This is played in true Virgil Fox/Carlo Curley style, with Vox Humana, strings and stuff all tremmed to Wurlitzer and back. Pure slush, well arranged and played with real feeling. I had the luck to meet a visiting recitalist at Salisbury Cathedral once and heard her play the Dupré Cortège and Litanie with the Solo Cello Celestes coupled even to full organ to get that same lush sound.

But – and this is pretty unforgivable – right in the middle of the last chord, the quietest moment on the CD, someone COUGHED! If this was a live recording it should have been mentioned in the notes. If not, a retake was in order. But how nice to hear an artist who has the confidence and imagination to end a programme quietly.

Incidentally, there is no picture or specification of the organ - which is something I would prefer to see if space is limited, than the admittedly very fine photograph of the organist.

Philip Bailey December 2007

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