Harold Darke was born in 1888, studied organ with Walter Parratt and Standford, served as organist at St. Michael's Cornhill from 1916 to 1966 and his numerous compositions show the contrapuntal influence of Bach. This recording was made in 1989 by Roger Fisher and recording engineer David Lane and licensed to JAV Recordings. It contains many of Darke's manuscripts. The organ at Chester Cathedral was originally built by Whiteley of Chester and was rebuilt under the direction of Roger Fisher by Rushworth and Dreaper of Liverpool in 1969/70. Roger Fisher was Organist and Master of the Choristers at Chester from 1967 to 1996. Today he concentrates on his career as a recitalist, teacher and advisor on organ construction. Darke's music on this disc is symphonic, romantic and contrapuntal by nature. The recording quality reproduces the organ with great clarity but also vividly captures the ambiances of this great room. Click the below link to listen to a short mp3 from this CD.
Meditation on Brother James’ Air Roger Fisher playing Rushworth and Dreaper at Chester Cathedral, England Suite in D Minor Prelude and Fugue on “Heinlein” A Rhapsody, Op. 4, Prelude on “Windsor” Prelude in Memory of Parry Three Hymn Preludes: St. Peter, Darwall’s 148th On a Theme of Tallis A Fantasy Meditation on Brother James’ Air Retrospection |