Paean for Ian, Op. 60

John Henderson, probably Swindon's only full-time musicologist, acts as Honorary Librarian and Archivist to the Royal School of Church Music, a post he has held since 1995, and he serves as organist and choirmaster of Wroughton Parish Church.

He was trained at Magdalen College School, Oxford and is a medical graduate of St. John's College in Cambridge. He was formerly the senior partner of the NHS General Practice in Fairford, Gloucestershire. He retired from medicine in 1992 and lives in Old Town, Swindon. He describes himself as a 'train-spotter cum hoarder' of organ music and his personal library of 60,000 pieces of organ music supplies source material to many performers and recording companies world-wide.

Many of the fine and rare works that have I have uploaded recently were given to me by JH. THANK YOU, John! He is one of our members here "FRSCMJohn".

John was awarded the ARSCM (Associate of the Royal School of Church Music) in 1996 and named as an FRSCM (Fellow of the RSCM) in 2016.

He is the author/co-author of several books, his most famous being "The Dictionary of Organ Composers".

"Paean for Ian, Op. 60" is a VERY neat piece! The score is dated September 26, 1986, so, this can serve as 34th anniversary performance. :-)

Written in the "styles" of both Kenneth Leighton and William Mathias, it effectively drives along with sparkling figures and wonderful syncopations. The Solo tuba is featured quite a bit in a melody that has tremendous appeal, aiding even more so by the cool harmonies. The rhythms are tricky!

My wife loved this piece, and said that immediately made her think of some Mathias choral works.

See, here's John Henderson, looking like a proper Englishman, but writing these wild and crazy pieces! You just never know...

Well, just the same, BRAVO, Doc H!

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of John Henderson, and two pictures of Wroughton Parish Church where he is organist and director of music.