Philip Scriven - Sounds of Cranleigh

Published Monday 17th June 2013
Philip Scriven - Sounds of Cranleigh
Philip Scriven - Sounds of Cranleigh

STYLE: Classical
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 141954-
LABEL: Regent REGCD398
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This review was almost not written as the album contains little that is explicitly Christian - which is true of any instrumental album - and is not even played on a church organ. We have met Philip Scriven before in his previous role as organist and director of music at Lichfield Cathedral and we are glad to hear him again as he plays very well indeed. The Music Department at Cranleigh School must be something special as it now has a new organ, designed for use in the services at the school chapel and also as a teaching instrument. Those with an interest in the technical side will appreciate John Mander's notes in the CD booklet and the rest of us will enjoy the music. We open with Bach's "Fantasia and Fugue in G minor" (BWV 542) followed by his "Chorale Prelude on O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sunde gross" (BWV 622), which Bach was later to recycle in his 'St Matthew Passion'. We then move further back in time to Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) and his "Voluntary in A minor" and part of "Suite du Premier Ton" by Louis-Nicolas Clerambault (1676-1749). The bridge from ancient to modern is provided by Peter Warlock's "Capriol Suite". As Philip Heseltine he was a scholarly expert on Elizabethan music and as Peter Warlock he was, ahem, quite a lively character. This suite shows both sides of the man, looking back to the glories of the past but with a modern feel. Warlock lived from 1894 to 1930 and we wonder what else he might have produced had he lived longer. The 20th century is also represented by Elsa Barraine (1910-1999), Knut Nystedt (born 1915), and Cor Kint (1880-1944). However it is the finale that next grabbed and kept my attention: "Rubrics" by Dan Locklair (born 1949). If you have yet to hear "Rubrics" you are in for a treat. He has used the Book of Common Prayer of the American Church but not the prayers themselves but instead the headings for the conduct of the services. So we get ". . . 'Hallelujah,' has been restored. . . ", "Silence may be kept", ". . . and thanksgivings may follow. . . ", "The Peace may be exchanged", and "The people respond - Amen!" These titles sound stranger than the music so if you have any interest in contemporary organ playing and enjoy contrasting styles this is worth hearing.

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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