Choral Prelude on "Greensleeves" (1642 version)

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.

"Prelude on 'Greensleeves'" comes from Volume 3 of the composer's "Chorale Preludes Based on Famous Hymn Tunes," and was published by Edwin Ashdown Limited in 1952. It is dedicated: "To Arthur Hutchings".

Rowley gives us a unique and poignant setting of the famous tune. I recorded this one before on the Salisbury Willis, but the effect is quite different on the Schulze - more haunting and more "rustic" in terms of the colors.

The score is attached below as well as several photos of Alec Rowley.

Speaking of Rowley, I still have a number of significant pieces to do in order to complete my "Rowley Riot," so, look forward to those in the new year!