Trio No. 1 (Two Trios)

Maurice Greene (12 August 1696 – 1 December 1755) was an English composer and organist. Born in London, the son of a clergyman, Greene became a choirboy at St Paul's Cathedral under Jeremiah Clarke and Charles King. He studied the organ under Richard Brind, and after Brind died, Greene became organist at St Paul's.

With the death of William Croft in 1727, Greene became organist at the Chapel Royal, and in 1730 he became Professor of Music at Cambridge University. In 1735 he was appointed Master of the King's Musick. At his death, Greene was working on the compilation Cathedral Music, which his student and successor as Master of the King's Musick, William Boyce, was to complete. Many items from that collection are still used in Anglican services today.

He wrote in the Georgian style, particularly long Verse Anthems. His acknowledged masterpiece, "Lord, let me know mine end," is a superb representative example. Greene sets a text full of pathos using a polyphonic texture over a continuous instrumental walking bass, with a particularly effective treble duet in the middle of the work.

These "Two Trios" come from his "A Collection of Lessons for the Harpsichord," published around 1750. In these performances, arranged as organ trios
done by English organist, Harry E. Wall.
Published by Novello in 1937, they are dedicated "To J. (John) Dykes-Bower.", who been appointed as organist of St. Paul's Cathedral London in 1936.

Wall was born in London, and was a student of Dr. E. H. Turpin. He was a teacher, composer, and served as organist of several churches, culminating at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden.

In these performances, my attempt was to make the pieces "sound period," meaning "1930's English," and not attempting to make them sound 18th century-like. I think the results are effective, and hope that listeners will enjoy and find these pieces useful.

The score is attached, as well as photos of M. Greene, J. Dykes Bower, & of St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden.