Fantasia in G minor (BWV 542i) by Bach (Draft)

Recorded at St John's Church, Ranmoor, Sheffield. Draft recording whilst trying out the organ. The recording level was set far too low (1/15 th) so there is some hiss in the background.

Fantasia in G minor (BWV 542i) by Bach (Draft) (Recorded 26th July 2011)

John Bladen.

Legal notice: Please note that these recordings and scores remain my own personal property and are licensed for use by individuals only. They may not be redistributed.

Prelude in E minor (BWV 548i) by Bach (Draft)

Recorded at St John's Church, Ranmoor, Sheffield. Draft recording whilst trying out the organ. The recording level was set far too low (1/15 th) so there is some hiss in the background.

Prelude in E minor (BWV 548i) by Bach (Draft) (Recorded 26th July 2011)

John Bladen.

Legal notice: Please note that these recordings and scores remain my own personal property and are licensed for use by individuals only. They may not be redistributed.

Toccata from Symphony V by Widor (From memory) (Draft)

This is a draft recording, taken during a rehearsal for a wedding and is played completely from memory in a single take. Anxious not to overload the digital recorder, and not having used the recorder for a long time, I inadvertently set the recording level so low that I had to amplify the recording no less than 9 times when converting to a mp3! Normally this would require a retake, but because the piece is consistently loud it is listenable, though hissy at the start.

Toccata from Symphony V by Widor (Recorded 18th June 2009)

When the organ tuning stabilizes after the recent erratic weather, I hope to record a "top copy" version, so please look back in a few weeks. In the meantime, please enjoy this offering!

John Bladen.

http://www.johnbladen.co.uk/ClassicalMusic/ClassicalMusic.htm

Legal notice: Please note that these recordings and scores remain my own personal property and are licensed for use by individuals only. They may not be redistributed.

Final from Symphony No 1 by Louis Vierne

This is a magnificent piece by the blind organist Louis Vierne. It is one of Vierne’s earlier works, and really shows off the energy of the organ. Best heard live – and on a better instrument!

Version 1 Vierne Final (Recorded 15th March 2002)

Version 2 Vierne Final (Live) (From memory) (Recorded 12th April 2009)
Inspired by my pianist friends, earlier this year I decided to learn how to memorize music. This is my first performance from memory of any piece of this sort of scale and complexity. I memorized it in 8 days with three sessions on the organ and the remainder on the piano. Unlike playing from a score, playing from memory is a step (or leap) of faith as when you start playing you cannot be sure that you will actually reach the end! It is however good to be free of the stress of page turners (which in my experience jiggle the music constantly for fear of missing the turn, and then when it comes to the turn still manage to miss it). It is a recording taken from the end of an Easter church service, so forgive the chatter in the background!

John Bladen.

http://www.johnbladen.co.uk/ClassicalMusic/ClassicalMusic.htm

Legal notice: Please note that these recordings and scores remain my own personal property and are licensed for use by individuals only. They may not be redistributed.

Sortie in Eb by Lefebure-Wely (1817-1870)

This can best be described as liturgical fairground music. Enjoy it!

Sortie in Eb by Lefebure-Wely (Recorded 31st March 2002)

John Bladen.

http://www.johnbladen.co.uk/ClassicalMusic/ClassicalMusic.htm

Legal notice: Please note that these recordings and scores remain my own personal property and are licensed for use by individuals only. They may not be redistributed.

Hornpipe by Noel Rawsthorne

Fantastically fun piece! Please note that, contrary to the reports of some listeners, to the best of my knowledge there are no performance errors in this recording, and all dischords were intended by the composer!

Hornpipe by Noel Rawsthorne (Recorded 4th September 2007)

John Bladen.

http://www.johnbladen.co.uk/ClassicalMusic/ClassicalMusic.htm

Legal notice: Please note that these recordings and scores remain my own personal property and are licensed for use by individuals only. They may not be redistributed.

Fugue in G minor by J S Bach (BWV 542ii)

There seems to be some uncertainty as to whether there should be a major or minor ending so I have included both versions. The switch occurs at the final pedal entry.

Fugue in G minor by J S Bach (BWV 542ii) (Major ending) (Recorded 8th January 2007)

Fugue in G minor by J S Bach (BWV 542ii) (Minor ending (Recorded 8th January 2007)

I had to make too many takes to avoid any clipped notes and page turn related issues, resulting in a laboured performance with a slightly erratic tempo. I've since learnt it from memory and should do a better job next time, so please check back soon.

John Bladen.

http://www.johnbladen.co.uk/ClassicalMusic/ClassicalMusic.htm

Legal notice: Please note that these recordings and scores remain my own personal property and are licensed for use by individuals only. They may not be redistributed.

Fugue a la gigue by J S Bach (BWV 577)

Performed by John Bladen.

A delightfully simple but nevertheless tricky fugue that was always my Dad’s favourite.

Fugue a la gigue by J S Bach (BWV 577) (Recorded 28th July 2004)

Annoyingly, I've slowed down slightly in the last section...

John Bladen.

http://www.johnbladen.co.uk/ClassicalMusic/ClassicalMusic.htm

Legal notice: Please note that these recordings and scores remain my own personal property and are licensed for use by individuals only. They may not be redistributed.