Prelude on "Londonderry Air"

The famous Irish tune "Londonderry Air" is arranged here by the legendary English organist, Noel Rawsthorne who sadly died last year, 2019. The origin of the tune was for a long time somewhat mysterious, as no other collector of folk tunes encountered it until in 1855, when it was first published by the Society for the Preservation and Publication of the Melodies of Ireland in the book "The Ancient Music of Ireland".

Noel Rawshthorne was organist of Liverpool's marvellous Anglican Cathedral from 1955 until 1980 as well as being the City Organist until 1984. He arranged and composed many organ and choral works as well as a book of 400 last verse hymn arrangements which are loved throughout the world for both being harmonically pleasing and relatively easy to play for organists of all abilities.

I've once again used the Salisbury Cathedral Hauptwerk sample set which demonstrates some of the lovely gentler stops that are available, including the lovely solo Clarinet and Open Diapason No. 1.