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Thomas Trotter
A Celebration
40 years as Birmingham City Organist
Description
Thomas Trotter was appointed Birmingham City Organist in 1983 in succession to Sir George Thalben-Ball. This album, recorded in Town Hall, Birmingham, is released to coincide with the 40th anniversary of that appointment. It complements ‘Symphony Hall Sorcery’ (released in 2022) in celebrating Trotter’s consummate artistry over four decades on these two iconic Birmingham instruments.
For this new recording Thomas dazzles in a personally-selected programme showing the dynamic and expressive range of the Town Hall organ with major established corner-stones of the Romantic organ repertoire by Parry and Willan, through to recent works by Kevin Volans and Rachel Laurin, and smaller-scale works by Wolstenholme and Karg-Elert. Central to the artistry of the town hall organist is the transcription, and the recording includes a virtuoso example by the master of the craft. W T Best, together with several ones by Thomas himself.
Track List
Fantasia and Fugue in G, Op 188 – Charles H H Parry
Fantasia
4:08Fugue
5:50The Question /The Answer – William Wolstenholme
The Question
4:15The Answer
3:48Jupiter from The Planets, Op 32 – Gustav Holst, arr Thomas Trotter
8:31Walking Song – Kevin Volans
6:28Overture to St Paul, Op 36 – Felix Mendelssohn, arr W T Best
8:00Caribbean Dance – Madeleine Dring, arr Thomas Trotter
2:45Knightsbridge March – Eric Coates, arr Thomas Trotter
4:41Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue – Healey Willan
15:56Introduction
3:18Passacaglia
7:56Fugue
4:42Valse mignonne, Op 142 – Sigfrid Karg-Elert
5:18Étude héroïque, Op 38 – Rachel Laurin
7:55Total Playing time: 77:34
Production credits
Recorded on 25/26 May 2023 in Town Hall, Birmingham Recording producer and engineer: Gary Cole. Recording assistant: Pippa Cole Page turner: John Stormont
Sample audio extracts
Reviews
‘Wait until the neighbours are out, turn up the volume, give your speakers a thorough workout and yourself a tingle up the spine. Full organ. Blazing magnificence. No one plays this sort of repertoire better than Trotter… this expertly recorded recital is a fitting tribute to Britain’s greatest living organist.’ Gramophone January 2024
‘Trotter, who plays everything with his trademark faultless technique and sheer rhythmic élan. knows the Birmingham organ better than anyone – and he showcases it here in all its glorious colours, from its peal of bells (judiciously deployed throughout this recital), to its majestic choruses and noble reeds. It’s clearly a love affair which we can all enjoy sharing’ ★★★★★ Choir and Organ Jan/Feb 2024
‘Not only does he capture and project the panoply of dazzling orchestral sounds from the original score … but conveys as well the inherent jocund bounce of the music itself…it’s all here and performed with great panache by Thomas Trotter who is celebrating 40 years as Birmingham City Organist. ’ Classical Music sentinel October 2023
‘….delightful miniatures and transcriptions demonstrating the endless color available on this organ, the impassioned virtuosity of Rachel Laurin’s etude, and a magisterial performance of the Willan, demonstrating the organ’s full symphonic range…Another enjoyable recording from this superb organist.’ American Record Guide March/April 2024
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