Heads Up
​for Organ Solo

Heads Up was commissioned by the American Guild of Organists for the Biennial National Convention in San Francisco, California, 2024. It is a short suite in three movements, filled with jazz harmonies, lively rhythms and plenty of good humour. Swing Around is an upbeat swing piece, with an energetic wit. There are hints of big band choruses as well as the walking bass of a jazz ensemble. One of the requests from the commission was for some elements of ragtime in the music. The second movement Swag Rag uses the traditional rag style, but with unpredictable time signature changes, and numerous key changes. Sweep Steak closes the suite in a fast and furious fashion, hinting at Latin rhythms and a party mood. 

It was first performed by James Kealey as part of the American Guild of Organists Convention in San Francisco, California, on 3rd July 2024.

Duration: c.10 mins

1 - Swing Around (c.4'20)
2 - Swag Rag (c.2'50)
​3 - Sweep Steak (c.3'00)

Heads Up is available from Aria Editions here

Listen to the first performance by James Kealey here:

1 - Swing Around (4'46)
2 - Swag Rag (2'46)
3 - Sweep Steak (3'34)