“I recall that when I was a music student in the 60s I asked a gentleman very much my senior who was a lover of classical music what his tastes were in organ music. His reply was that he didn’t much care for organ music as it was ‘too heavy’. To me as a young organ-mad student this response was truly astonishing. How any lover of classical music could dislike organ music was beyond my comprehension. The gentleman in question had a point, however, and I’m sure that he was by no means alone among music lovers in holding this view. Acquiring a taste for some organ repertoire is a process that may take some considerable time and require dedicated effort.
When, in 2017, I decided to turn my attention to composing organ music I determined that this should be of a nature that would appeal to a wide audience, not just to organ aficionados. (Prior to 2017 my chief interest as a composer was choral music and I produced only two original works for solo organ during a period of nearly fifty years.) Moreover, I decided that, as well as being easy on the ear, my music should not be too difficult, should be playable on an organ of just two manuals and pedals and be useful to church organists as voluntaries. (All the organ works I compose feature as voluntaries at the parish church in South Yorkshire where I am organist.) Though intended primarily for use before, during and after church services, my works can also serve as light recital pieces.
My Six Preludes and Postludes, Second Set consists of pieces founded on some of the best-loved hymn tunes and provides voluntaries for Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost, as well as for general use. The first and last of these, founded on ‘Divinum Mysteruim’ and ‘Easter Hymn’ are dedicated to Geoffrey Coffin. Geoffrey was Dr Francis Jackson’s deputy at York Minster in the 70s but later established his own organ building company. Two others, founded on ‘Heinlein’ and ‘Eventide’, are dedicated to the memory of my parents. All six pieces are unremittingly tuneful, none are difficult to play and all are playable on a two-manual organ. In Green Pastures is a gentle pastorale featuring a melody heard first in the treble register on a soft reed and later in the tenor register above a sustained tonic pedal. The piece is dedicated to Gabrielle Lewis who is organist at St Anne’s Church at Gunnislake in Cornwall. In Green Pastures is easy on the ear, easy to play and functions equally well as a quiet voluntary or as a light recital piece. ”
Six Preludes and Postludes Founded on Hymn Tunes, Set One
View the Music
Six Preludes and Postludes, Set Two
View the Music
In Green Pastures
View the Music
Vernon Hoyle was born in 1948 in Hatfield, South Yorkshire. Having received his first music lessons locally from John Hubert Piper, at the age of fifteen he became a student at the Huddersfield School of Music. After five years’ study at Huddersfield he continued his formal education at the City of Birmingham College of Education and the Open University.
From 1969 until his retirement he taught music and English (and for three years in the early 80s, photography) in secondary schools in West Yorkshire. In his sundry capacities as chorister, organist, choral director, composer, arranger and editor he has been active in church music since he was ten years of age. In the 80s and 90s, as Musical Director of the Danensian Choir, he directed the music at services in most of the cathedrals in England and at other foundations including Llandaff Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Beverley Minster and St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. In 2005 he succeeded the late Dr Roger Bullivant (University of Sheffield) as President of the Danensian Choir. His compositions and arrangements, a variety of which are published in the UK and USA, consist largely of sacred choral works, organ music and music for schools.
Outside music his interests include the English language, classic motor vehicles and photography. He also enjoys running, cycling and dog-walking. He is married to Margaret and they have a son, Matthew (b.1992) and a daughter, Alison (b.1995).
Special: Use Coupon Code Vernon Hoyle at checkout and receive 10% off on his Organ music. (good through April 30th)
www.paracletesheetmusic.com