Novello’s Organ Music Club Sheet Music: Listings

Just a listing of the ‘Novello Organ Music Club’ pieces published between 1956 and 1963. When I was a young, aspiring organist (it never really came to pass), I found several of these pieces in Cuthbertson’s and Biggar’s music shop in Glasgow. I confess to buying a number of these volumes, with little hope of ever being able to play them. Since those days in the early 1970s, precious few have been recorded. Yet a rough-and-ready play-through on the piano/organ suggest that these are often works of considerable value that ought to be played in ‘choirs and places where they sing’ and, I believe ought to be committed to CD as a group.

A few of these composers are probably now forgotten, except amongst organ enthusiasts: fewer have carried their achievement into the 21^st century. Some of these pieces may occasionally be heard at organ recitals. A handful have been recorded on YouTube or commercial CD. Fortunately, Arthur Wills, Derek Holman, Peter Hurford and Francis Jackson remain part of the music scene.   

I owe thanks to the Cumbrian Society of Organists, where these listings were originally published in .pdf format. I have used this list as a cross check against WorldCat and the published lists by Novello on the rear covers of their organ music publications.

1 Alec Rowley (1892-1958) Triptych for organ (1955)

2 Eric Thiman (1900-75) Three Pieces for organ (1955)

3 George Dyson (1883-1964) Prelude and Postlude for organ (1956)

4 Francis Jackson (b. 1917) Three Pieces for organ (1956)

5 Flor Peeters (1903-86) Preludium, Canzona e Ciacona, op.83 for organ (1956)

6 John Cook (1918-84) Invocation and Allegro giojoso for organ (1956)

7 Healey Willan (1880-1968) Rondino, Elegy and Chaconne for organ (1957)

8 Heathcote Statham (1889-1973) Four Diversions for organ (1957)

9 William H. Harris. (1883-1973) Miniature Suite for organ (1957)

10 Jean Langlais (1907-91) Three Characteristic Pieces for organ (1957)

11 William Lloyd Webber (1914-82) Chorale, Cantilena and Finale for organ (1958)

12 Henry Coleman (1888-1965) Two Pieces for organ (1958)

13 Gordon Jacob (1895-1984) Prelude, Meditation and Fanfare for organ (1958)

14 Camil Van Hulse (1897-1988) Biblical Sketches for organ (1958)

15 Charles Hutchings (1910-64) Ostinato, Elegy and Paean for organ (1959)

16 Guy H. Eldridge (1904-76) Four Impressions for organ (1959)

17 Norman Gilbert (1912-75) Pieces for four seasons for organ (1959)

18 Vernon Griffiths (1894-1985) Short Suite for organ (1959)

19 Herbert Sumsion (1899-1995) Air, Berceuse and Procession for organ (1960)

20 Gordon Slater (1896-1979) Prelude, Intermezzo and Epilogue for organ (1960)

21 Arthur Milner (1894-1972) Prelude, Siciliano and Ricercare for organ (1960)

22 Desmond Ratcliffe (1917-2001) Preamble, Contrast and Hosanna for organ (1960)

23 Clifford Harker (1912-99) Pastoral Suite for organ (1961)

24 Sidney Campbell (1909-74) Canterbury Improvisations for organ (1961)

25 Arthur J. Pritchard (1908-97) Procession, Interlude and Sortie for organ (1961)

26 Arthur Wills (b. 1926) Eucharistic Suite for organ (1961)

27 Philip Cranmer (1918-2006) Prelude, Ground Bass and Finale for organ (1962)

28 C.S. Lang, C.S (1891-1971) Prelude, Pastorale and Fugue for organ (1962)

29 Arnold Cooke (1906-2005) Prelude, Intermezzo and Finale for organ (1962)

30 Robert Ashfield (1911-2006) Carillon, Plaint and Paean for organ (1962)

31 Derek Holman (b. 1931) Prelude, Air and Fugue (1963)

32 Peter Hurford (b.1930) Two Dialogues for organ (1963)