Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Back in 2002 Adrian Lucas played the Great Organ of Worcester Cathedral in Volume I of the English Cathedral series. For Volume XVIII we return to Worcester but this time the featured instrument is the 2008 Kenneth Tickell Quire organ and the organist is Christopher Allsop. Christopher has been Assistant Director of Music at Worcester Cathedral since 2004 and this is his dèbut solo organ recording. As with the other volumes in this series the audio quality is first class allowing us to appreciate the instrument and the repertoire is chosen to allow it to fully express itself. And here, dear reader, is where I have a problem. The programme is wide-ranging and colourful but, for me, goes too far off the beaten track. For example, we open with "Improvisation sur le Te Deum" by Charles Tournemire (1870-1939). No doubt the fault is mine but I have never heard of M. Tournemire and so cannot judge as to how effective this improvisation is. Volume I gave us some well-known pieces but here in Volume XVIII everything is obscure - at least to me - and nothing grabbed my attention. The closest we get to anything that I may wish to hear again is Allsop's own transcription of Dimitri Shostakovich's riotous "Festive Overture", and a short piece by a former Director of Music at the Cathedral, Donald Hunt, "Tomkins' Trifle", in honour of his predecessor, Thomas Tomkins. I am sure that those who are following this series will not be put off by my faint praise but casual listeners who are looking for a good tune will find this far too specialised for them.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.