Description
Battison Haynes (Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in E flat)
Walter Battison Haynes received his early musical education from his uncle, William Haynes later studying with Franklin Taylor (piano), and Ebenezer Prout (harmony). He was one of several English musicians who travelled to study at the Leipzig Conservatorium (1878). After living in Boulogne for six months he returned to England and was ultimately appointed as the organist of St Philip’s Church, Upper Sydenham (1894), and to the Royal Academy of Music as Professor of Harmony and Composition (1890). In addition to his sacred choral works and organ music, including the Sonata (1883), he composed chamber works, songs, hymn tunes, and orchestral works. He was also considered an impressive improviser.
Performance Note
The practice of registration during this period involved use of the Great with and without manual couplers and also the occasional addition of a 16’ foundation stop on the manuals. Most registration changes would have occurred by hand or using toe levers with fixed combinations. Although some pieces in this era are written largely for the manuals only, it is understood that the pedals are employed throughout this work, except where noted.
The reference to a Solo [stop] at the beginning of the Nunc dimittis has been left in place and organists will have to determine where the solo line ends. If the alto voice in the organ part in bar 5 is considered part of this registration, then a Flute might be especially appropriate with the phrase ending in bar 8. If a gentle reed were to be used and the pedals employed for the lowest line, then the upper voice could remain a solo if the right hand played the last notes of the alto phrase leading into bar 8 on an adjacent lower manual.
Iain Quinn – Editor
Born in Cardiff, Wales, Iain Quinn grew up as a chorister at Llandaff Cathedral and began music studies at an early age. He later studied at The Juilliard School, The Hartt School, University of Hartford and Yale University before returning to the UK to earn his PhD at the University of Durham. He has been a visiting professor at the Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory in Saint Petersburg, Russia as a Fulbright Scholar and been awarded a research fellowship by the Newberry Library in Chicago. He has been an active church musician for many years and has recorded prolifically. Currently Dr. Quinn is Professor of Organ and Coordinator of
Sacred Music at Florida State University.
