Once in a while, a composer's setting of a hymn or carol becomes fused - indeed, synonymous - with the tune on which it's based. I'm thinking of Sir David Willcocks's timeless settings of such carols as "O come, all ye faithful' or 'Hark the herald' which include harmonic moments of such perfection that they'll never be bettered. Or Ralph Vaughan Williams's fabulous setting of the hymn tune 'Rhosymedre' which springs organically - and seemingly inevitably - from the original Welsh melody. Well, right from the gorgeous descending harmonies at the start of this setting of 'Still, still, still', I believe this arrangement will forever be *the* organ setting for this lovely Austrian carol.
Freshly composed in time for Christmas 2024, this festive confection is infused with Graham's delicious chromaticism and utter musicality. In this performance I couple the mellifluous Great and Choir 8-foot flutes to accompany the carol melody on the Swell Trumpet, falling away at the end to just the Choir Flute, with one final note played high up on the Great Clarabella.
Graham will very generously provide you with a free copy of the sheet music if you message him on his TH-cam channel: www.youtube.com/@grahamtwist
This is the Internet operating at its altruistic best!
Played by Paul Broadhurst on the vintage Father Willis organ of Christ Church, Birkenhead.
Recorded 23/11/2024
Thumbnail: It's too early to send Christmas greetings but we can celebrate Twistmas every single day of the year!