Malcolm Williamson - Organ Concerto

Malcolm Williamson has appeared here once before with his Sinfonia Concertante of 1961. An Australian, he spent a large part of his life in Britain and was appointed Master of the Queen's Music in 1975. One of those who supported this appointment was conductor Sir Adrian Boult. Boult had been a champion of Williamson's music and the composer repaid him by dedicating his Organ Concerto to Boult. 

Written as a commission for the 1961 BBC Proms season, Boult conducted the premiere in the Royal Albert Hall with Williamson himself as the soloist. Boult's initials - ACB - were used as keys for the three movements, and as a thematic motif. As Williamson comments in the sleeve notes to this Lyrita record, the first performance was received with "enthusiastic abuse" from the British organ world. But "it recovered".

 

Cartridge: Shelter 5000 MC

Phono amp: Graham Slee Accession MC

Turntable: CTC Classic 301 with SME M2-12R

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