Solemn Adagio

Today, November 2nd, is All Souls Day. Today the Church commemorates all the faithful departed. That is to say, those who die in God's grace and friendship.

Alec Rowley was born in London on 13 March 1892, teacher, composer, organist, pianist, lecturer and writer, who studied at the RAM with Frederick Corder and where he won sundry scholarships and prizes. He was an organist at several London churches including, during the Second World War, St Margaret's, Westminster. As a pianist he often broadcast duets with Edgar Moy. He died on 11 January 1958.

Many of his organ solos are brief and simple: chorale preludes, genre pieces, toccatas, marches and voluntaries suitable for the small organ and less experienced player. Sometimes he brought out more ambitious recital pieces, like the Heroic Suite of 1921, the Sonata in A minor and two symphonies in B minor and F major published late in his life, but we do not encounter these nowadays.

I hope that these uploads are helping to make his music more well-known. Certainly, MUCH of it is worth taking a good look at!

I have no idea when this eloquent "Solemn Adagio" was composed, nor do I know the publisher, BUT, the score is attached below!

The piece has no connection with All Souls Day, but it certainly does seem to be a work designed for a "solemn occasion or commemoration," so, I think it is very appropriate. Starting softly, the piece really has three major climaxes, which are quite a few, considering the entire piece is only three pages in length. A number of stops from the Solo are heard, and the tuba is used twice, but not in a "fanfare" or jubilant manner. The ending has a hushed reverance about it, and the fact that the low pedal is released with the high-lying Swell strings remain is magical.

The score is attached below, with a photo of Alec Rowley, as well as Michelangelo's monumental, "Last Judgment."