Benedictus

Alec Rowley (1892–1958) was an English composer, teacher, pianist, and organist known for his substantial output of accessible, lyrical music across various genres. Educated at the Royal Academy of Music, Rowley’s musical voice was distinctly British—warm, pastoral, and often devotional. While much of his work was written for amateur musicians, Rowley was no mere miniaturist; his music reflects a strong command of form, sensitive harmonic language, and an ear for rich textures. As an organist, he contributed significantly to the repertoire for church and recital use, writing in a style that bridges the late Romantic idiom and 20th-century English modal lyricism.

Benedictus is a meditative work that embodies Rowley’s gift for expressive simplicity and melodic clarity. Reminiscent of John Ireland or Harold Darke’s more lyrical works, the Benedictus unfolds with a gentle cantabile line over warm, harmonies. After the theme appears in multiple key signatures, the piece builds to a climactic full organ section, before a gradual diminuendo resulting in the theme appearing in the original key signature. It evokes a mood of reverence and inner stillness, with subtle harmonic shifts adding emotional depth.

With its warm Diapasons, lyrical flutes, lush strings, and expressive Swell reeds, the Saint Mary Redcliffe sample set offers a rich tonal palette perfectly matched to this piece. Furthermore, this piece showcases the dynamic range of the Redcliffe Organ, specifically how seamlessly one can shift from ppp to fff and vice versa.

I hope you enjoy the piece.