Rhapsody No. 2 in D Minor

Alec Rowley was born in London on 13 March 1892, teacher, composer, organist, pianist, lecturer and writer, who studied at the RAM with Frederick Corder and where he won sundry scholarships and prizes. He was an organist at several London churches including, during the Second World War, St Margaret's, Westminster. He died on 11 January 1958 while playing tennis.

The "Rhapsody No. 2" was published by Edwin Ashdown in 1921. It is dedicated: "To my friend Aidan Clarke."

As the title would indicate, it is indeed a "rhapsodic" work, which bears a lot of resemblance to the harmonic style of Ralph Vaughan Williams.

The opening "Allegro maestoso" passes into a more lyrical section, with Rowley's modulations in full evidence.

A new section, "Allegretto" is marked "misterioso" and begins like a soft march. The material transforms into a grandiose, but still lyrical section, which works up to a tremendous climax.

The piece ends with pedal points, flourishes, and a thunderous final unison. This is one of the few pieces that Rowley calls for "FFFF" in the dynamics, and this is just about as loud as Salisbury can go! ;-)

I'm not sure that I would include this one in my own personal Rowley favorites, but I'm glad that I did it, and am ready to move on to the next one. :-)

The score is attached below, as well as the single photo of Rowley that I have.

More ROWLEY RIOT to come!