Alleluya (Festal Postlude on the tune, 'Lasst uns erfreuen')

William Faulkes (1863-1933), composer, organist, pianist, arranger, recitalist, teacher, chamber musician, conductor, musical organizer. Remarkably, for a composer so fluent and prolific, Faulkes was consistently omitted from the major dictionaries of music. From time to time, he is found in smaller more specific dictionaries – or perhaps more correctly, directories from the late 19th and early 20th century. In these, Faulkes is sometimes described as a leader of the modern English school of organ playing; or a leading composer of the English romantic school of organ playing.

He was born in Liverpool, and at the age of 10 became a chorister at St. Margaret's Church, Anfield, which was the largest brick church in England, and had the largest organ in Liverpool. He began his studies with the organist, Henry Ditton-Newman. At the age of 18, he was appointed organist of St. John's, Tue Brook, and five years later returned to St. Margaret's. He had a fine all-male (all volunteer) choir, and the level of musical excellence at the church was significant. As an organist, he was a brilliant performer, and earned the admiration of the leading British organist of the, W. T. Best. His compositional output is wide and varied, but the bulk of his music is for the organ, and many of his works are finely crafted.

"Alleluya" was published by Novello in 1927, and is dedicated "To my friend Dr. Frederic H. Wood, Organist of the parish Church, Blackpool."

Frederic Herbert Wood (1883-1963), was born in India, the son of missionaries. He received degrees from the University of Durham and served in churches, most notably for 45 years at St John’s, Blackpool.

It's a grand piece, brilliant in all ways, and probably one of the most well-known of Faulkes' pieces. It's not an easy one to do, as there are quite a few "technical difficulties" to master in this one.

The score, and photos of Faulkes and Blackpool Parish Church are attached below.

MORE Faulkes Flood to come! :-)