At Nightfall (Nocturne)

Leonard Butler (1869-1943) was born in Dorking and died near St. Austell in Cornwall.

He was a pupil of Dr W. S. Hoyte (Organist of All Saint's Margaret Street, London), and of Dr. Ebenezer Prout, who was the uncle and organ teacher of the well-known John. E (beenezer) West.

He served as organist of St. Paul’s, Kilburn Square, London, and of St. Peter’s, Bayswater, London.

He was a professor of piano at the Guildhall School of Music, London.

"At Nightfall (Nocturne)" fits right into my "Summertime Dream Series". It is not an organ piece, but rather a piano work. I don't know if you should call this a transcription or arrangement, so, let's just say that I "made up as I went along" a few times, until I came up with something that I thought worked nicely enough.

"At Nightfall" was published by A. Lengnick and Co. in 1921. It is without dedication.

Apparently, Butler did compose a few organ works, but I did not find any of those.

This is another one of those "period pieces," which you'll either love or dislike. It's very atmospheric, and while it sounds very different on the organ than it does on the piano, I'm very pleased with the way this came out.

In the opening passages you'll hear the extraordinary Salisbury Solo division. First the Clarinet, then the Cor Anglais, then the Violoncello and Celeste, then the Flute Harmonique, all in close succession.

The score is attached below.

I found no photos of Leonard Butler, but did find photos of the two churches were he served, and these are attached, however, both have suffered sad fates.

St. Paul's Kilburn Square was demolished in the 1930s. You'll see a photo of the church as it was, and the new "improved" scenario as it is today.

St. Peter's Bayswater is a magnificent Anglo-Catholic building that proudly states has no organ or traditional choir. Rather, you can now rock and roll with their praise band and Gospel choir...

The piece has a wide dynamic range. You will need to adjust the volume.