| Description: | John Arthur Meale (1880-1932) was born in Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, England, Dec. 18th, 1880, and died in Hendon, Dec. 9th, 1932. The name was spelt Meal in the register of births.
He was a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, and served as organist of Marsden Congregational Church, 1896-99, of Selby Wesleyan Church, 1899-1905, of The Queens Hall, Hull, 1905-12, and of Westminster Central Hall, London, beginning in 1912.
"Six Pieces in Diverse Styles" were published by A Hammond & Co. in 1922. These three uploads complete the first book. On the title page it says that "Each book is planned to contain complete voluntaries for one service - Introductory Voluntary, Offertory Voluntary, and Postlude." The style is simpler, and the pieces are more "churchy" than the previous Meale uploads.
"Finale Chorale" is the "Postlude" in the first book. It is dedicated: "To J. H. Reginald Dixon, Esq. Mus. B". James Hugh Reginald Dixon (1886-1975) was an organist in Lancaster, both of the City and of the Roman Catholic Cathedral for some 60 years!
In the key of C major, it a sturdy march in A-B-A form. There middle section begins with a "chorale-like" theme in G major, which is transformed above a continuously moving pedal part. The music is not "adventuresome," but would still make a fine postlude.
The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Arthur Meale, and one of the Westminster Central Hall in London.
Two photos of the dedicatee, Reginald Dixon, are included. The first shows a young man at the time of his cathedral appointment, and the second shows him many years, later, wearing his doctoral robes. A photo of his headstone in the cathedral cemetery is also included.
More Meale coming soon.
If I get my hands on the second book, I will do those as well. :-) |
Sign up today to download piece.
See what Agnus_Dei used to make this recording