Review

Reviewed Work(s):
The Esoteric Structure of Bach's Clavierübung III
by David Humphreys
Review by: Ann Bond
Source: The Musical Times, Vol. 125, No. 1699 (Sep., 1984), p. 530
Published by: Musical Times Publications Ltd.
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/962841
Accessed: 13-10-2024 10:55 UTC

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 enigmatic, may be musical illustrations of
BOOK REVIEWS Luther's four teaching precepts seemed to me
both convincing and delightful and sent me
scurrying off to play them again. (Luther's
,demonstrably expressed in his composition, other precepts, from the Preface to the Lesser
Church Music in a Changing World than
by in externals of ordering and structure, has Catechism, should incidentally be required
Lionel Dakers always offered plenty of scope for debate. David reading for all clergy and teachers of the young.)
Mowbray (Oxford, 1984); x, 113pp.; ?1.95 Humphreys's little book manages to add some I also warmed to the idea of the E flat Prelude
viable new points to the speculations already cur- and Fugue as parallels to the Lutheran morning
Lionel Dakers's latest book clearly sets out the rent. Moreover, he does this in so readable and and evening Invocation of the Trinity.
thoughts - and anxieties - of a man who has reasonable a manner that a pragmatic musician The occasional pages of figures in the book
now spent over ten years as director of the RSCM like myself can go along with them for quite a need deter no-one, provided they understand the
and has exchanged the cathedral organ loft (and lot of the way. Some of his conclusions admit- ratios of the natural harmonic series, which are
tedly spring from visual, rather than musical,
to a lesser extent the conductor's desk) for a place not given anywhere. Most of the maths is actual-
in the congregational pew. What a change perception:
of for instance, he is misled by the use ly very simplistic. In fact the best thing about
perspective! and how important it is that we thusof archaic key-signatures into thinking that all this little study is not its tables of figures - com-
have the many problems of church music so ably the Catechism preludes are actually modal. And mon to all such exercises - nor its sometimes
surveyed by a man of such varied experience. there are a few errors of fact, including an obvious shaky inferences, but its insights into that world
As expected, much helpful advice is given misprint
on in the time-signature table on p.35. On of scholastic thought in which Bach and his col-
the fresh musical approach necessitated by the the other hand, his suggestion that the four leagues were nurtured, and which is becoming
Alternative Service Book and new translations Duetti, whose significance has always been ever more remote from our own. ANN BOND
of the Psalter. In those places where congrega-
tional participation in psalm singing is encourag-
ed, Dr Dakers might have laid more stress on the
value of methods other than the Anglican chant
NEW ORGAN MUSIC
usage. More lively and varied results are obtain-
able from the responsorial approach, for example. Of the multitudinous organ composersmonia whoproducing a new edition of his music and
But it is very difficult to wean people from flourished at the turn of the century but nowhaveOdile Pierre is editing a reissue of many
unsatisfactory congregational use of the tradi- subsequently fallen into virtual oblivion, not of hisall
works. The second volume of this series
tional chant. were devoid of talent. Alfred Hollins, for exam-
(Bornemann/United, ?7.70) contains three varied
Many of the author's anxieties touch on the ple, possessed a rare gift for melodic inventionpieces which, while not among Guilmant's finest
sensitive area of the relationship between par- and his music invariably sought out a wide creations,
range show his extensive range of styles and
son and musician. This is examined in some of timbres from the instrument; so much moods,
so, in his vivid musical imagination and his skill
detail and the matter is certainly more com- fact, that he is often accused (though why in is
writing
it for the instrument. With hindsight
plicated than a superficial approach will reveal. an accusation?) of treating the organ as athe one-
musical picture of death and resurrection in-
All the well-tried and tested sources of tension man orchestra. Of his many organ workstended most in his Marchefunebre et chant sdraphique
are explored, but Dr Dakers does not mention, have long been out of print, but it is interesting
seems rather bland compared with such dramatic
and may possibly be unaware of, a more recent examples as Langlais's Mors et resurrectio and
to see a number of his smaller pieces appearing
hazard of our more conservative times, where in the catalogues of overseas publishers. A
Messiaen's Diptyque, but the piece still has its
a traditionally minded incumbent may demand Trumpet Minuet (Willemsen/Elkin, ?4.30) is a
attractions. Similarly the delightful Verset, with
the abandonment of such recent innovations as neat and restrained piece in the style of its the
strong associations with Saint-Sadns's more
the use of female voices in a cathedral choir. Purcell trumpet tunes (at least in the stylefamousin Fantaisie in E flat, seems a little dated
Agonizing situations readily arise and those in- which they customarily appear in organ trans- but is nevertheless a fine example of Guilmant's
volved need to be masters of psychological man- criptions); although for much of its length it morecon-light-hearted style. The third piece is the
management. Of course clergy baiting is one of centrates on extolling the virtues of a D major Introduction and Variations on an Old Polish
the oldest sports indulged in by musicians and chord, it makes a delightfully melodious minia- Noel, one of 28 such pieces he wrote following
Dr Dakers rightly warns against a blinkered view ture without the excesses of registration thatthearestyles of the 18th-century French nodls of
in our relationships with clerical colleagues. such a feature of Hollins's other organ pieces. Daquin and others. The Harmonia edition of
Nevertheless he might have condemned more Joseph Rheinberger was a remarkably prolific
Guilmant's works is based mostly on the original
strongly the inadequacy of clergy training today. composer but today only his organ music receives
manuscripts and first published editions whereas
Many ordinands, unless they have received the any attention and most of that has fallenOdile from Pierre has incorporated much of the work
inestimable benefit of education as a cathedral favour. It has been suggested that he intended
undertaken by Hull, Bonnet and Lemare in the
Schott editions of 1914 and for the most part
chorister or choral scholar, are woefully ignorant to write 24 full-scale organ sonatas; he completed
ofliturgiology and the historical place of music only 20, the second of which (op.65 in Aadded flat),only the occasional fingering to make the
in a 'worship situation', to quote the author's written in 1871 and sub-titled 'Fantasie-Sonate' music 'more suited to feminine hands of relatively
Americanese. This book is intended for clergy (like the 17th), has recently reappeared in print small morphology'. MARC ROCHESTER
and organists alike and one can only hope that (Universal, ?2.60). This sonata demonstrates
it will find an equal response froin both. Rheinberger's great skill in composition, parti- Williams School of Church Music Festival of
ARTHUR WILLS cularly in his use of harmony, but it also shows Flowers, Music and Crafts, 22-3 Sept. Details
only too clearly the lack of imagination and sheer from the Williams School of Church Music, 20
mundanity of his musical invention. It thereby Salisbury Avenue, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2QG.
The Esoteric Structure of Bach's Clavier- illustrates why, with so much more interesting The Reverend Canon Robert Western, headmaster
fibung III by David Humphreys and adventurous organ music around, good solid of the Cathedral School, Lincoln, is appointed chair-
University College Cardiff (Cardiff, 1983); ix,
composers like Rheinberger have lost their once man of the Choir Schools' Association; the association
99pp.; n.p. reports a significant increase in the number of boys
commanding place on recital programmes.
undergoing voice trials.
A French composer who has never really fallen
That Bach was deeply interested in the out of favour, although for a time it seemed likely, APPOINTMENT

philosophical mathematics of Mizler and his is Alexandre Guilmant. There seems to be some- MICHAEL HOWARD, Organist, St Michael's Abbey
circle is beyond doubt: that these interests are thing of a revival of interest in him with Har- Farnborough

530

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