Festal Finale

Desmond Ratcliffe’s (1917-2001) first music teacher was his father William Ratcliffe who was a composer and organist at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge, London. The young boy used to go to the church with his father to hear him practise and sometimes Queen Mary would wander into the back of the church to listen. He learnt the piano and organ and after the early death of his father became a young chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, where he started to compose. He went on to be educated at Kingston Grammar School and was organist at a local church in Twickenham. He gained entrance to the Royal Academy of Music to study composition. Unfortunately the Second World War interrupted his studies when he had to go into the Army. When the war ended he took up his studies again at the Academy gaining many prizes. He went to work at Novello & Co Ltd in the Reader’s Room under the eye of Walter Emery the leading Bach scholar of his time. He was trained by Emery to become an excellent proof reader and music editor while he continued to compose choral and organ music and make many arrangements.

Those unfamiliar with Ratcliffe's organ works should look into them, although they can be hard to find. Places like Ebay are a great source! There is a clear link in his music with the works of Herbert Howells and Ralph Vaughan Williams and it would suit those organists keen on this period of English music.

"Festal Finale" was published by Novello in 1953. It is marked "Allegro vivace," and bears the "sound" of British organ music of the 50's. It is quite "spikey" in nature, and this is maintained even through the more quiet, but not slower, middle section. The opening material, with a few alterations, returns, and the piece reaches a rousing conclusion, with the Tuba appearing in the last few bars. "Tame" to our 21st century ears, it is still definitely MODERN organ music, and a real winner!