Peter Racine FRICKER: Organ Music
The London-born Peter Racine Fricker was once a prominent figure on the British musical landscape but slipped from view after he took up a teaching post in California in 1964. This first-ever survey of his organ music reveals a vigorously contrapuntal style, one which reconciles a taste for crunchy dissonance with a strong sense of melodic direction, its moods ranging from angular elegance to fierce climaxes swirling with energy and glittering with light. The organist here is Tom Winpenny, Assistant Master of the Music at St. Albans Cathedral and one of Britain’s brightest young stars in the organ firmament. He was formerly Sub-Organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral, and during this time he performed with the Cathedral Choir at the American Guild of Organists National Convention, performed in Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with Valery Gergiev and the London Symphony Orchestra, and played for many major state occasions. He has also broadcast regularly on BBC Radio and been featured on American Public Media’s ‘Pipedreams.’
Tom Winpenny
Organ of Bridlington Priory
Listen To This Recording:
- Intrada, Op. 64 (1971)
- No. 1 Little Toccata
- No. 2 Meditation
- No. 3 Scherzino
- No. 4 Varied Ostinato
- No. 5 Ceremony
- Pastorale (1959)
- Toccata Gladius Domini, Op. 55 (1968, rev.69)
- Choral (1956)
- Praeludium, Op. 60 (1969)
- Trio (1968)
- Recitative, Impromptu and Procession, Op. 92 (1985)
- Ricercare, Op. 40 (1965)
Five Short Pieces, Op. 83 (1980)
First Recordings
MusicWeb International :
‘The value of this release lies in the fact that it’s the first ever survey of the composer’s organ oeuvre, and all of the music, with the exception of the Pastorale (1959), is a first recording. Tom Winpenny plays on the magnificent organ of Bridlington Priory, recently refurbished in 2005-6. It’s a glorious sounding instrument, with a wide dynamic range, housed in an agreeable acoustic which offers clarity, definition and perspective fully in sympathy with the contrapuntal cast of Fricker’s music. Winpenny’s musicianship is to be commended, as are his imaginative registration choices. His detailed and informative liner contribution is a welcome addition. Full organ specifications are listed. As organ releases go, this one is outstanding and has my full-hearted recommendation.’
—Stephen Greenbank, MusicWeb International
British Music Society :
‘You could say this is a disc for people who do not like modern organ music, as it is quite superb and might make a few converts. […]
I use the word ‘superb’ above with considerable emphasis. Firstly, there is exceptionally able playing from Tom Winpenny, which is dazzlingly clear and accurate. Then there is the very fine 75 stop monster organ in Bridlington Priory, said to be the biggest in a parish church in England, and an organ which boasts a gargantuan 32 foot Contra Tuba (which certainly rattled the foundations of this house).
Finally, there is the helpful acoustic, sensitively recorded. Too often in discs of organ music the sound comes over as mushy and indistinct obscuring details of the music. Given the importance of counterpoint in PRF’s oeuvre this is a most important consideration.’
—Geoffrey Atkinson, British Music Society