The Oxford Book of Lent and Easter Organ Music: Music for Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost
This is an essential book, a splendid collection of 34 pieces covering Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost. Well-known hymn tunes provide the basis of 29 of them. There are items written especially for this collection, as well as several earlier pieces that I have not seen elsewhere ... I particularly enjoyed Naji Hakim's Variations: O filii et filiae, well stocked with the hallmarks of his style and a welcome reappearance of the composer after an absence from new music lists. The eye-opener for me was Fanfare: Shine, Jesus, Shine by Christopher Tambling. This is a winner, a splendid working over of a good tune and an exhilarating piece of organ music. The collection has many uses beyond the period in the title, and every organ loft should have a copy. Trevor Webb, Church Music Quarterly, June 2013 This is a truly eclectic collection which will have wide appeal to organists seeking seasonal music for liturgical and recital purposes. The title of the volume does not do it full justice, however, since the music follows the church year beyond Lent and Easter through to Ascension-tide and Pentecost... This is a major publication. It owes much to the skills of its editor, Robert Gower, and at about fifty pence per piece it is more than worth its price. There is much to explore and enjoy and most of the music is well within reasonable technical limits. Very highly recommended. Alan Spedding, Organists' Review December 2012