Fanfare (Five Pieces, No. 1)

I received these and some other excellent works from our good friend giwro. (THANKS, Jonathan!) They are a set of Five Pieces by the English/Canadian composer, Healey Willan.

Willan (1880-1968) was born in England. He was admitted to the Royal College of Organists in 1897 (Associate) and in 1899 was made Fellow. In 1903 he became the organist and choirmaster of St. John the Baptist Church on Holland Road in London. He became a member of the London Gregorian Association in 1910. He continued at St. John the Baptist Church until 1913, when he emigrated to Canada.

In 1920 Willan assumed the title of Head of the Theory Department of the Toronto Conservatory of Music (now the Royal Conservatory of Music). In addition to his duties at the Toronto Conservatory, Willan became organist and choirmaster at the church of St. Paul's, Bloor Street. In 1914 he was named Lecturer and Examiner at the University of Toronto. In 1921 he was named as Precentor of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Toronto), which became a mecca for church musicians (he retained that title until his death). In 1937 he was appointed Professor of Music at the University of Toronto, which post he retained until his 1950 retirement; he also served as organist for the University.

In 1956 Willan received the Lambeth Doctorate, Mus. D Cantaur from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Willan was made a Companion of the Order of Canada at its inception in 1967. He is frequently called "the Dean of Canadian composers."

His early works, such as the monumental "Introduction, Passacaglia, and Fugue" (1916) are high-romantic, and sound almost like Wagner. He later became known for many, smaller, "liturgically styled" compositions.

The "Five Pieces" date from 1959 and were written "To Gerald Wheeler for the dedication of the new organ in St. Matthew's Church, Ottawa.

"Fanfare" is what you'd expect, but it reminds me of some the royal fanfares of Arthur Bliss.