Howells: Rhapsody for Organ No. 1 in D flat major, Op. 17 No. 1

A truly magnificent and stirring release of British Fantasies and Fanfares by John Cook, Herbert Howells, Percy Whitlock, York Bowen, Edward Bairstow, Paul Spicer, Edward Elgar and Willian Walton. Nigel Potts is currently Organist & Choirmaster of Christ & St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in New York City and Artist-in-Residence at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Bay Shore, NY. On this recording he plays the Schoenstein Organ of St Paul’s Parish, Washington DC.

In keeping with the historic nature of the Temple Church, London, the first mention of an organ there dates back to 1308 – although the organ on this recording, made by Harrison & Harrison, dates only from 1954 (the previous organ was destroyed during the blitz in 1941). The varied programme touches on a multitude of works for organ by English composers, all of which bring out different facets of this versatile instrument. The organist, James Vivian, has been part of the music department at the Temple Church since 1997, working first with the then director of music Stephen Layton, before taking on the role himself in 2006.

This disc is complemented by the release the Temple Church Choir’s The Majesty of Thy Glory: Choral Works by Britten, Elgar, Howells and Purcell, also released this month.