Music for a Saint's Day

Colin Mawby (born 1936) is an English organist, choral conductor and composer. From 1961 he was Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, then from 1981 he was the choral director at Radio Telefís Éireann. He was awarded Knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory in 2006. He received his earliest musical education at Westminster Cathedral choir school, where he acted as assistant to George Malcolm at the organ from the age of 12. He subsequently studied at the Royal College of Music with Gordon Jacob and John Churchill. He became Assistant and then in 1961 Master of the Music at Westminster Cathedral. He performed for the Queen of England at St Paul's Cathedral, for President John F. Kennedy at Westminster Cathedral, and at St. Peter's Basilica for Pope John Paul II.In 1976 he moved to Dublin where he became choral director at Radio Telefís Éireann in 1981. He founded the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and a children's choir in 1985, the smaller group was renamed National Chamber Choir of Ireland then. Mawby retired to East Anglia in 2001 but returned to County Dublin in Ireland briefly but moved to London, then Dublin again and now is living in London. In 2006, Mawby was awarded by Pope Benedict XVI the Knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory, "in gratitude for past and continuing services to church music". He is a prolific composer of music for the English Catholic liturgy. He composed 24 Masses, motets, antiphons and hymn settings. He has many organ works, all of the "tuneful" and appealing.

This one, "Music for a Saint's Day" was published by Mayhew in 1996, and is part of the "Pageant for Pipes" collection. It has the combined feel of a solemn procession and bells ringing in ever increasing volume and majesty. It is one of those piece that is ALMOST as easy as it sounds... ;-)

I posted this today, as it is the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, so they can "share" in the title honors!