Famously prickly, irascible, caring and encouraging, Dr Bernard Rose was a one-off, and for over five decades a living legend in the UK’s choirmaster world.

Composers of the French organ school of the Classical period were meticulous in writing out types of registration. Alexei Panov discusses evidence for the exact composition of Grand Jeu and Plein Jeu registrations, in the light of writings of the time.

By studying Western classical music at mission schools and at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos, Fela Sowande developed a keen interest in composing for the organ. Godwin Sadoh discusses the European, African-American and Nigerian/African influences on ten of Sowande’s most popular organ works.

Graham Barber makes an appraisal of the origins and characteristics of Henry Smart’s (1812-79) compositional style, and identifies his most compelling works, in this article from the RCO Journal of 2013. It includes an annotated catalogue of Smart’s organ output, from the generally difficult concert pieces to easier works designed for divine service or pedagogic […]

This article is a continuation of the Peter Horton’s article on Hopkins in RCO Journal 2009, on the composer, organist and organ historian Edward John Hopkins (1818–1901), who was a third-generation musician.  His close relations included three cathedral organists—his brother John (Rochester Cathedral) and cousins Edward (Armagh) and John Larkin (Rochester Cathedral and Trinity College, […]

Rather early in his life Robert Schumann developed the tendency to focus his compositional work on a specific genre for a certain period of time. Sometimes, for instance, he would compose almost nothing else but Lieder for a whole year. In 1845 it was the turn of the organ, an instrument that he might have […]

In comparison with Austria or Germany, England hardly competes in the musical dynasty stakes. But the focus of this two-part article by Peter Horton (part II appeared in 2010), is the composer, organist and organ historian Edward John Hopkins (1818–1901),who was a third-generation musician.  His close relations included three cathedral organists—his brother John (Rochester Cathedral) […]

There has been a tendency in recent years to view Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s organ playing and composition for the organ as an almost exclusive product of his musical education in the ‘Bach tradition’. Why this is the case is a topic for another study, but in this essay Johannes Geffert considers some aspects of performance in […]

This essay on the centenary of Murrill’s birth gives a brief outline of Murrill’s career and achievements and, given the context of the journal of a college of organists, concentrates on his church and organ music. Written by Relf Clark, it first appeared in the RCO Journal of 2009. RCO Journal 2009_Clark