Phantasy on the Easter Plainsong "O Filii et Filiae"

Charles William Pearce (1856-1928) was born in Salisbury, and was a chorister at St. Martin's Church there. He was a pupil of W. S. Hoyte (All Saint's Church, Margaret St., London) and of the famous E. J. Hopkins (Temple Church, London), and received his doctorate from Cambridge in 1884.

He was organist of St. Clement's, Eastcheap, London. He was a professor of harmony, counterpoint and composition at Trinity College in London, and an active member of the Royal College of Organists. He later became Dean of Trinity College and Honorary Treasurer to the London Section of the Incorporated Guild of Church Musicians.

He was very active in the field of publishing as an editor, and worked closely with Charles Vincent.

Many of his organ pieces are small, and I "know" a few of these, which I thought were OK, but nothing special.

On Friday John Henderson sent me a group of pieces Friday, and among them was the "Phantasy on the Easter Plainsong "O Filii et Filiae.'" As those annoying TV commercials say, BOOM! It just stunned me, and left me thunderstruck.

I told John I would try to get it ready for Sunday, and despite the difficulty, it just fell together very "easily." I felt like I "knew it," and could almost anticipate what was coming next.

Published in 1920 by Winthrop Rogers, it is dedicated: "To his old friend John Warriner Mus. D. and the members of the London Society of Organists." The piece is too "involved" to try to describe it, but I will say that it knocked me flat, incorporating elements of plainsong, Elgar and the Verdi "Requiem."

Knowing what I knew of Pearce, I couldn't believe that this piece be so monumental, but, here it is for you to judge. At the end, this is at FULL organ. Listen for the Solo tuba opening up at the end.

Thanks to Dr. Henderson, I attach the score below, and I urge you to download, as you'll never find this elsewhere!

Also included are photos of Pearce and of St. Clement's Church, Eastcheap.

More rarities coming soon!