Festival Toccata

Percy Fletcher (1879-1932) is roughly a contemporary to Vierne and was a theatre director during most of his carrer. He composed much for brass and military bands (a tropism which can be guessed in the central part of this toccata).

The Festival Toccata was composed in 1915 and is dedicated to Edwin Lemare. I has three parts :
- a "railway" toccata with quick alternated chords ;
- a quieter central part which alternates fanfare motives and quasi-baroques interludes ;
- and back to the railway toccata after an agitated crescendo.

An English organ would have been the logical choice, but it was tempting to try how the big roaring Aristide dealt with this piece.

This toccata is a pleasure to learn because it's obvious that Fletcher took a great care to make things as comfortable as possible for the player (a scruple which never stifled guys like Tournemire or Duruflé :-)).