Reviews for
GMCD 7209 - Reflections
Played by the composer on the organ of the Brangwyn Hall Swansea
Methodist Recorder – May 2002
Reflections
– Organ Music by Jennifer Bate (Guild GMCD 7209) is a
disc in which this world-renowned English organist shows her composing skill in
a collection of eight short works spanning 25 years. Some were written in as
widely separated places as Norway and Italy while on tour. Most were composed at
the request of friends and colleagues. Each is enhanced in listening by the
excellent sleeve notes provided and the organ of the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, is
exploited to the full in a masterly fashion. These reflections, personal in
nature, give a fascinating insight into the mind of a great organist as she
gives us such a wide-ranging performance on the king of instruments.
David Hewitt
Organists August 2001
Reflections
Jennifer Bate plays Jennifer Bate on the organ in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea,
Wales
Toccata on a theme of Martin Shaw, Introduction and Variations on an Old French
Carol, Four Reflections, Homage to 1685, Il filatoio, Canone Inglese..., Lament,
Variations on a Gregorian theme
Recorded February 1998: TT 50’29’’ – Guild GMCD 7209
Jennifer Bate is best known as an organist (not least for her widely-acclaimed
complete Messiaen recordings). In this release, we see her as a composer performing her
own music. Her compositional style is notably eclectic, although predominantly French in
influence, ranging from the spontaneous, opening Toccata... to the Whitlock-esque
final movement of the Gregorian theme Variations. Her deft handling of form can be
seen throughout the works, most notably in the trios and canons on the Gregorian theme Variations,
the final fugue from the Introduction and Variations..., and the Pastoral
Palindrome (playable forwards or backwards) from the Four Reflections. Some
well-crafted miniatures, such as Il filatoio (‘The Spinning-wheel’) and
the Lament, complete the programme.
The Willis III/IV at the Brangwyn Hall does suffer a little from a dry acoustic
and under-winded tutti combinations. This should not deter the listener: here is a disc
reminding us that the organist-composer still flourishes on these shores.Daniel
Moult
Classics on the Web
Jennifer BATE
Reflections
Organ music of Jennifer Bate
 Jennifer Bate (organ)
GUILD GMCD 7209
Many members know Jennifer Bate as a remarkable organist whose
celebrated recordings of Messiaen's organ music are milestones in this composer's
discography. She has also recorded a lot of British organ music, most outstanding being
her six CDs, recorded some years ago for UNICORN.
Bate is also a composer of no mean achievement as the present release
demonstrates. Her organ music may not be as startlingly innovative as, say, Messiaen's but
it is superbly crafted, colourful, quite effective though it may not always be easy to
play. It is clearly the work of a composer who has a deep understanding of the instrument
and who knows how to bring the best out of it.
The short and brilliant Toccata on a Theme of Martin Shaw was
written in 1972 and was Jennifer Bate's first published work; a piece that should find a
permanent place in the organist's repertoire of short virtuoso works either as recital
opener or encore.
Introduction and Variations on an Old French Carol (1982)
is "a miniature demonstration of the tonal resources [of the organ]". The five,
concise and contrasted variations display the instrument's numerous resources and, as
such, the piece might have been titled "A Young Person's Guide to the Organ".
We are not told when the Four Reflections were written
nor if they were written as a set. However these four pieces (Reverie, Norwegian
Barcarolle, Cantilena and Pastoral Palindrome) are quite enjoyable and have
become a favourite of mine.
Homage to 1685 won the prize, sponsored by The Carnegie
Trust in 1985, for a composition to celebrate the tercentenary of Bach, Handel and
Domenico Scarlatti. Originally the suite had six movements and we are not told what
happened to the two movements dropped in the meantime. The first movement Moto Perpetuo
based on the well-known BACH motive is followed by a lively Gigue on a Theme of
Scarlatti. The slow movement, which does not seem to borrow any material from any of
the three composers, is just content to sing along and is then followed by a Postlude
on a Theme of Handel (in fact the so-called Harmonious Blacksmith) which brings
the work to a brilliant conclusion. This superb piece is by far the most ambitious work in
this collection and should be eagerly taken-up by organists willing to explore some new
repertoire. Many of Jennifer Bate's works were either written for or prompted by friends.
This is the case with Il Filatoio, An English Canon (or Canone Inglese
per la Festa di Garbagna to give it its full title) and the simple, yet deeply moving Lament.
This release closes with yet another example of that much favoured
organ genre, i.e. a set of variations. The Variations on a Gregorian Theme are
based on a plainsong for Vespers, first Sunday in Advent Conditor alme siderum.
There are six contrasted variations of which the last is a homage to Percy Whitlock
"deliberately imitating the way he wrote". A quite effective piece.
I believe that Jennifer Bate's music should appeal to organists willing
to investigate some new, accessible repertoire but the quality of the music is such that
it should also appeal to anyone simply enjoying well-crafted, colourful and tuneful music.
This is not only for organ buffs! Needless to say Jennifer Bate's performances are superb
and receive a beautiful recording. Well worth investigating.
Hubert Culot
Classics on the Web - 28.02 2001
Jennifer BATE (b. 1944)
Reflections - Organ Music
Toccata on a Theme of Martin Shaw
Introduction and Variations on an Old French Carol
Four Reflections: Reverie; Norwegian Barcarole; Cantilena; Pastoral
Palindrome
Homage to 1685: Moto perpetuo; Gigue on a theme of Scarlatti; Largo;
Postlude on a Theme of Handel
Il filatoio (The Spinning-wheel)
Canone Inglese per la festa di Garbagna (An English Canon)
Lament
Variations on a Gregorian Theme
Jennifer Bate at the organ of
the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea.
GUILD GMCD 7209 [50:29]
If the name Jennifer Bate has not rung any bells until now it will do
so after hearing this riveting music of hers recorded at the organ of Brangwyn Hall,
Swansea. Jennifer Bate has a busy schedule that takes her all over the world performing in
festivals, giving recitals, and lecturing etc. She is a Vice-President of the British
Music Society. The music on this album covers 25 years of composition.
The 'Hills of the North' well rejoice to Bate's Toccata on a
Theme of Martin Shaw. Martin Shaw (1875-1958) was an English composer and
organist; and he was a great campaigner for better church music. Following Shaw's theme,
the Toccata builds in a series of canons to a commanding and majestic finale. [Shaw's
well-known tune Little Conrad was written for the hymn Hills of the North,
rejoice.]
The Introduction and Variations on an Old French Carol.
The carol known in England as Picardy is sung to Let all mortal flesh keep
silence. The Five Variations embrace a variety of moods from the serene to the
capricious and dramatic; and include Gregorian plainchant, a quirky march, and fugal
treatment.
The Four Reflections are nicely evocative. Gentle ripples
haunt Reverie that has two themes; the first stated on delicate flutes, while the
second has rich string chords and is seraphic and dream-like. The melodious Norwegian
Barcarole seems to imply falling snow but it is a comforting landscape. Cantilena
is a romantic conversation piece between soprano and tenor pipes accompanied by flutes. Pastoral
Palindrome is dedicated to Bates's mother who enjoyed its effect and logic. It is fun
because this musical palindrome can literally be played forwards or backwards.
Homage to 1685, as the name implies, is an imaginative,
intricate and colourful and majestic technical tour-de-force homage to the music of
Bach, Scarlatti (treating his famous 'Cat Fugue'), and Handel.
Commissioned by Italian friends and composed whilst in South America,
the versatility of the organ is well demonstrated in Il Filatoio.
Repetitive, whirling notes, softly played, are strongly evocative of the spinning wheel.
Canone Inglese per la festa di Garbagna written for an
Italian church is an endearing little piece combining the peal of the church's bells with
a light-hearted reference to the British national anthem.
The spare transparent textures of Lament written in 1997,
lead from a stark opening through intense mourning through to a more optimistic melody
before ending in a mood of resignation.
The Variations on a Gregorian Theme are based on a
beautiful plainsong for Vespers for the first Sunday in Advent. These five variations on a
Gregorian theme include a canon over a drone bass, a fast trio with central tune, and an
Amen accompanied by the theme in cannon. Then follows ethereal chords uniting the tune,
and a bold trio, with the tune in pedals, forms the final variation.
For the lover of organ music, this album is a treasure. Jennifer Bate
demonstrates her command of the instrument; her technique ranging from loud and bold to
soft and delicate, showing immense variety, colour and style. Fifty minutes of sheer
pleasure.
Grace Barber
[The organ at Brangwyn Hall was built by Willis & Son in 1919 and
moved to its present home 15 years later. The instrument was restored and additions made
by the same firm in 1980 and 1994. The booklet gives a full specification of this
magnificent instrument and we are told that "a generous array of playing aids are
available at the console including adjustable manual and toe pistons controlled by a solid
state 24 channel capture system and a general crescendo pedal"]
Page revised 19.06.02
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