The Oxford Book of Ceremonial Music for Organ, Book 1

On retirement from a teaching career spent successively at St Paul's Boys' School, Barnes, Radley College, Oxfordshire, and Glenalmond College, Perthshire, (where he was also a Housemaster and Senior Tutor), Robert Gower worked as Organist at St Barnabas Catholic Cathedral, Nottingham, before moving briefly to the most northerly parish in the Church of England at Berwick-upon-Tweed. Returning to Scotland so as to be nearer to family, he is now Director of Music at Dundee Parish Church. Robert's commitment to English 20th-century repertoire is reflected through his founding and leadership of the Percy Whitlock Trust between 1981 and 2016 and in his longstanding Chairmanship of the Gerald Finzi Charitable Trust, from which he retired in 2022. He enjoys transcribing music for organ (with a wide range recently embracing both Leroy Anderson and Maxwell Davies) and in liturgical composition, completing a three-year cycle of responsorial psalms for the Church Music Society.

This is a useful collection of 33 pieces of varying styles and character . . . As with all Oxford publications, the quality of production is superb. The music is well annotated, with editorial markings in brackets. Heavyweight paper ensures the book will last for many years. Altogether, for many organists this is a collection that will be used and reused for many years. It contains a wealth of new compositions, useful arrangments, and old favourites. It contains some challenges for the organist, but also has pieces that could be read at sight. A highly recommended investment.

• Chorale from Suite Gothique ; Menuet gothique from Suite Gothique ; Allegro from Symphony in D ; Sun Dance from Organ Dances ; Fanfare from La peri ; Nimrod from Enigma Variations ; Toccata ; Grand choeur dialoguee ; Two pieces from Judas Maccabeus (See, the conqu'ring hero come!; March) ; La Rejouissance from Fireworks Music ; Minuet from Fireworks Music ; Interlude from Water Music ; Processional ; March ; Tuba tune ; Tuba Magna ; Recessional ; Fanfare ; War march of the priests ; Les Gendarmes ; Gavotte ; Carillon ; Elegy ; Festival voluntary ; Rondo from Abdelazar ; Three Pieces from Dioclesian (Dance of the Bacchanais) ; First Act Tune ; Second Music ; Grand Choeur ; Ceremonial March ; Siciliene ; Solemn Melody ; Introduction and March from the Battle of Britain