Compositions

Fiesta! Suite for Organ

A suite in seven movements, in a bright, jazzy style. Immensely popular with audiences and organists, the suite has been performed all over the world.

Premiered April 2003 - Kingston Parish Church

Duration: 20 mins

Score Price: £6.99 - available to purchase from Banks Music Publications or at www.musicroom.com

1 - Celebration (1'50") Click here to view first page.

2 - Conversations (2'04") Click here to view first page.

3 - Stride Dance (1'48") Click here to view first page.

4 - Song (2'29") Click here to view first page.

5 - Fast Dance (2'38") Click here to view first page.

6 - Nocturne (3'35") Click here to view first page.

7 - Finale (2'37") Click here to view first page.

Live recording performed by Iain Farrington at Challow Park Recital Hall.

Programme note:

Fiesta is music about celebrations and merry-making. In seven short movements, the mood is unashamedly joyous, ranging from wild excitement to intimacy. Despite the title, there are no Spanish elements in the music. Celebration establishes the scene with its jumpy, knock-about rhythms, and champagne-popping spirit. Lively natterings and gossipings of individuals are heard in Conversations, arguing and laughing about life. To get people on their feet, the Stride Dance launches a lively, bouncing rhythm in a Hammond organ style. A gentle Song relaxes the atmosphere before the pounding, foot-stomping rhythms of Fast Dance. As the festivities draw on, a bluesy Nocturne slackens the pace, with an improvisatory solo at the heart of the movement. Renewed energy is found in the Finale, a carefree fugue that breaks into a frantic dance. The celebrations are nearly brought to a premature conclusion by protestations from the neighbours, but this is a party that could go on and on…

Performances have included:

USA, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Malaysia, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, Manchester Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, Wells Cathedral, Durham Cathedral, Truro Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral, Gloucester Cathedral, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester,St David's Hall, Cardiff

Recordings:

Organ Fireworks - XI

Christopher Herrick, Organ - Dallas Concert Hall, USA

includes Fast Dance from Fiesta! composed by Iain Farrington

Hyperion CDA67577

Organ Fireworks - X

Christopher Herrick, Organ - Edmonton Concert Hall, Canada

includes Celebration and Stride Dance from Fiesta! composed by Iain Farrington

Hyperion CDA67458

Live at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Fiesta!

Tristan Russcher, Organ

includes Stride Dance and Song from Fiesta! composed by Iain Farrington

Christ Church Cathedral Publications 2006

Live at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

Tristan Russcher, Organ

includes Finale from Fiesta! composed by Iain Farrington

Christ Church Cathedral Publications 2005

Organ Party!

Kevin Bowyer, Organ - Blackburn Cathedral

includes complete Fiesta! suite composed by Iain Farrington

Regent Records

Reviews:

"This exciting suite of seven short movements is aptly titled, and is just as thrilling as any party celebration, both for the player and listener. The opening movement Celebration sets the scene with bright harmonies and highly percussive rhythms that are a feature of the whole work. The second movement, titled Conversations is exactly that. The complicated dialogue between two manuals sounds, with eyes shut, exactly like a room full of chattering people. Stride Dance gets all in the mood for dancing, with a gentle Song preparing the way for the pulsating Fast Dance, where everyone is out of their seats once more. The improvisatory Nocturne prepares us for the end of the party, which comes in the form of a frantic fugue in the Finale, ending with an explosion into one last wild dance. This clear and easy to read edition is a vital part of any extravagant organist's repertoire, adding a substantial electrifying element to a recital, or using one movement as an encore." The Organ

"Two movements of this feisty, champagney piece were recorded by Christopher Herrick on Organ Fireworks X (Hyperion Records) and it's excellent to see the whole, harmonically free work. The whole is exciting, vivid, highly percussive, with a preference for using the pedals as pointing up rhythm rather than as having contrapuntal contributions to make. There's a pianistic element - improvisatory piano - in the whole though Stride Dance has more of an appealingly camp Hammond organ feel. Conversations, between two different manuals is an exceptionally fluent, witty dialogue; the Finale with the typical syncopations and cross rhythms of the whole, is astonishingly festive. You'll have to book some extra practice time before trying it in public but it is a thoroughly satisfying work." Organists' Review

"Above all, these rhythmically propelled pieces give hope to the future of the organ music tradition.(Diese vor allem rhythmisch eigenwilligen Stücke lassen für die Zukunft der Orgelmusik-Tradition hoffen.)" Klassik.com

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