Easter Alleluias

Both pieces [Easter Alleluias and Suite for Organ] show Maxim to be a composer of real inventiveness, with a strong and secure command of writing for the organ. His music shows a wide range of stylistic influences, including British composers of the later 20th century, such as Leighton and Mathias […]
Easter Alleluias is a shorter work [thank the Suite,] based on the plainsong melody Victimae Paschali Laudes. It gains much energy from the occasional rapid changes between 7/8 and 4/4 time, and the outer sections have a bold, fanfare-like quality, ideal for Easter Day. The middle section sets the plainsong melody simply above added-note chords and a performance direction advises the player to either silently or very quietly sing the words to help shape the right hand part.

Easter Alleluias is of moderate difficulty, requiring rhythmic security and a sound pedal technique. […]

Both [Easter Alleluias and Suite for Organ] will reward patient endeavour and offer something fresh for either recital or liturgical use.
Dr Martin Clarke (Organists’ Review)

At the centre of this piece is a complete setting of the Easter Sequence (‘Christians, to the Paschal Victim’) with Latin and English words overlaid to assist in interpreting and shaping the musical line. Either side of that, the music dances through fanfare-like passages in which fragments of the plainchant melody are tossed about. It is exciting and full of Easter joy – and not too difficult!
Duncan Watkins (Sunday by Sunday)