Concerto for Organ and Orchestra

Abstract

Concerto fozr Organ and Orchestra. By Horatio Parker (Op. 55). [Novello and Company, Limited.] The literature of the organ is not very extensive in regard to concertos for this instrument. Composers do not seem to favour the combination of organ and orchestra, therefore when one of the moderns like Professor Parker-an able organist himself-puts pen to paper organically, so to speak, the result is looked for with interest not unmixed with high expectation. The work before us is scored for brass, harp and strings, that is to say in detail, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, drums, harp and strings. The first movement-an Allegro zmoderato in triple time and in the key of E flat minor-opens with solemn sustained chords on the organ, while the strings have broad and dignified unison passages. After a due course of 'development' this concise movement leads into a charming Andante, the gem of the work perhaps, in which a solo violin, a solo horn, the harp, with the organ are most happily combined. The only drawback to this