Auf Wiedersehen

Sir Alfred Herbert Brewer (1865-1928) was the great Victorian organist of Gloucester cathedral (1897-1928). A local musical monarch, he was a firm disciplinarian with choristers, lay clerks, and assistant organists. It was said to have been a "bad day" if he played a wrong note! His early musical training was as a chorister at Gloucester and then as a pupil of C. H. Lloyd. Apart from his music, he lead an active public life, being appointed City High Sheriff in 1922, and was knighted in 1926. As a composer, Brewer was fairly conservative. His output includes church music of all types, cantatas, songs, instrumental works, and orchestral music. His "Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in D major" is in the standard repertoire of Anglican church music. An organ work, "Marche Héroïque," is a grand piece, and one of the best of its type.

"Auf Wiedersehen" is originally for viola and piano, and was transcribed for organ by Brewer and publish by Novello in 1911. You will know INSTANTLY that this a string melody, and it's a wonderful one too.

This is yet another of those little miniatures that Brewer excelled in composing. It has definite touches of Elgar, but seems almost like a "moment musical" from the German romantic school. Certainly, this is chamber music, and NOT organ music - but it REALLY works on the instrument.

There is a LOT involved with playing this, as there are many registration changes. That being said, I have tried to never lose sight of the fact that it is chamber music, and so, I did not venture into anything "too full organish" or "too much big diapasons," etc.

The score is attached, as well as a photo of A. H. Brewer.

If you would like to compare, you can listen to Daniel Cook's performance on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOpyQKC283Y

It is also on the Salisbury Willis (the REAL) one, and, splendid as it is, it is too much "military march" for my taste, and ventures away from the chamber character of the music.