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North of the Yarra - Organs of Melbourne
Gordon Atkinson plays 7 organs from the smallest to the largest
The River Yarra continues its major role in the development of Melbourne. The Wurundjeri people called it 'birrarung' - 'river of mists and shadows.' When asked the name of the small rapids in 1835 by members of an exploration party, the local Aborigines replied "Yarro Yarro" meaning that 'it flows.' This mishearing led to the name by which it is now known.
The city developed quickly on the north side of the river: commerce and business flourished. Homes, stables, stores, arcades proliferated. Churches, theatres, the town hall, all indicated sudden and continuing growth. Late in 2007, when driving through the north-western suburbs of Melbourne, I came upon the nave of what was planned to be a large church. It was never completed. On looking through a glass and steel structure filling the intended crossing arch, a small single manual organ was seen. With further enquiries, I found that this instrument is considered to be the oldest surviving organ built in the early days of the city, c. 1855. Certainly the wood pipes were made in Melbourne, and it can be assumed that the metal pipes came from England. That this organ should be recorded came to mind, so the chance viewing of St Linus' Church, Merlynston, led to thoughts that some of the city's organs should be included, from the oldest to the newest Audio previews:
Gerald Bales: Petite Suite, Finale (excerpt) download
Matthew Camidge: Gavotte (excerpt) download
Barrie Cabena: Sonata da Chiesa (excerpt) download Track Listing:
St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne
1 Gerald Bales: Petite Suite - Introduction, Intermezzo, Finale 2 Marcel Dupré: from Fifteen Pieces for Organ: I am black, but comely, O ye Daughters of Jerusalem St Linus' Church, Merlynston 3 Matthew Camidge: Gavotte (from a Concerto) 4 Georg Friderick Handel: Ten Tunes for Clay's Musical Clock - A Voluntary on a Flight of Angels 5 Georg Friderick Handel: Ten Tunes for Clay's Musical Clock - Sonata: (Allegro), (Allegro moderato), Menuet St Mary Star of the Sea, West Melbourne 6 Louis Vierne: Communion, Op 8 Christ Church, Brunswick 7 Johann Valentin Rathgeber: Pastorellen für die Weihnachtszeit, Nos 1 and 7 8 Benjamin Carr: Variations to the Sicilian Hymn The Scots' Church, Melbourne 9 Robert Schumann: B-A-C-H fugue No. 2 10 Olivier Messiaen: La Nativité du Seigneur, Desseins Éternels (Eternal Purposes) 11 Gordon Atkinson: Adoro Te St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne 12 Sigfrid Karg-Elert: from Trois Impressions, Harmonies du Soir Melbourne Town Hall 13 Nodrog Nosnikta: Fanfare 14 Fela Sowande: Pastourelle 15 Barrie Cabena: Sonata da Chiesa, Paean on "Lasst uns erfreuen" Catalogue Number: MD3333
Price: AU$26.00
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North of the Yarra - Organs of Melbourne can be purchased through Buywell Just Classical who offer secure on-line ordering. |
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Although born in Melbourne, Victoria and retiring there in 2005, Gordon Atkinson spent much of his life in England and North America. Following study in Melbourne with A.E.H. Nickson, he attended the Royal College of Music in London from 1950 to 1953, where Harold Darke, Patrick Hadley and William Lloyd Webber were among his teachers.
Composers:
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