Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Your reviewer was thrilled to be allowed to visit his local cinema part way through lockdown. Not for a special screening but because that was one of the sites chosen for vaccinations. All went well although I think someone missed a trick in not having popcorn for sale. Some in Salisbury had a much more exalted destination for their vaccination as the majestic medieval cathedral was in use and, what is more, instead of muzak playing, those waiting for their turn along with the NHS staff and volunteers hard at work were treated to Director of Music David Halls and Assistant Director of Music John Challenger playing the famous 1877 Father Willis Organ. Producer and engineer Andrew Mellor, a resident of Salisbury, approached John Challenger with the idea of recording some of the popular pieces played during the vaccination sessions and releasing them as a fundraiser for the NHS Charities Together. The digital-only release has 16 classical works for organ and a running time of over an hour. Some selections are perhaps predictable and seasoned collectors of organ music may well have versions already but this recital is aimed at those who went to the cathedral for a vaccination and were pleasantly surprised by what they heard and this target is hit. We open with J. S. Bach's "Air in D" followed by his "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and later hear his "Sheep May Safely Graze". Sir Edward Elgar also gets three selections with "Chanson de Matin", "Salut d'Amour" and "Chanson de Nuit" and G. F. Handel gets two mentions with a Minuet from 'Berenice' and Suite Number One from 'Water Music'. Two works and indeed composers that are new to me - and which I enjoyed hearing for the first time - are a Pastorale "To A Wild Rose" by Edward MacDowell (1860-1908) and "Prière à Notre-Dame (Suite Gothique)" by Léon Boëllmann (1862-1897). John Challenger rises to the challenge (sorry, couldn't help myself) and gives us a most enjoyable recital on a famous instrument and we can only hope that the project gets all the support it so rightly deserves.

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.

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