Search - Alfred Hollins, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, William Thomas Best :: Thomas Heywood's Grand Organ Gala!

Phenomenal! In technique and sound ...

E. Worth | Provo, UT, USA | 12/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thomas Heywood is a tremendous organist, from his technical style to interpretation. This is one phenomenal recording. Played on the 1876 Centennial Organ at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Buffalo, New York, Thomas Heywood uses "all the stops!"



The fully restored E&GG Hook organ is allowed to speak throughout the entire program. One of the things that makes Heywood a great organist is his ability to showcase the instrument and not just his technical virtuousity. That said, the first piece on the work is the rarely recorded Alfred Hollins, Concert Overture in C major. This work has to be one of my all time favorite pieces! There isn't a technical flaw in the entire piece, and every stop on the organ is used in one way or another in the piece. Concluding this piece, one hears the Stenterphon and Tuba Mirabilis shining through.



After this piece comes symphonic arrangements of Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Thomas Heywood. He is a superb transcriber as well as musician.



While we could address every track on the disc, you'd think we were embellishing. Far from it. This disc just makes an organist's mouth water. Two other pieces deserve mention. Heywood wrote a Humoresqe for Pedal Trombone. The piece could have well been written specifically for this organ, as it has a 16' pedal trombone stop and continues as a 32' Contra Bombarde. What a delight to hear this neoclassical composition.



Finally, an Aussie playing a spirited rendition of the Star Spangled Banner? When you hear this, you will stand up in honor of the piece and how well it is played.



5 stars? Not enough to do this album justice. You've simply got to hear it to believe it."