'Picardy'

The fourth prelude in the book is 'Picardy,' set by Alec Rowley (1892-1958), well-known composer and Organist of St. Alban's, Teddington.

Like most settings of this tune, there is an element of the mystical here. Most of the solo stops get a chance in this piece, which begins softly, and builds up before the hushed ending. The first "solo stop" to appear is the 'Cor Anglais' in the tenor register, followed by a crescendo through the Great Diapsons, capped off by first the Swell Oboe, than with the Double Trumpet and Trumpet soon joining in. I wanted an almost "orchestral brass effect," so I used the reeds without any upper work. As the piece quiets down, the Solo Harmonic Flute appears in the upper register, soon followed by the Viola da Gamba, played in the tenor. The piece ends with the breathy feel of the 32' Open Wood in the pedal.