Holst: The Planets & St. Paul's Suite (Arr. for Organ) Simon Johnson

• Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934): The Planets, Op. 32 (Arr. P. Sykes):
• 1 I. Mars, the Bringer of War 07:34
• 2 II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace 08:46
• 3 III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger 04:50
• 4 IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity 08:27
• 5 V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age 08:57
• 6 VI. Uranus, the Magician 06:17
• 7 VII. Neptune, the Mystic 07:17
• St Paul's Suite, Op. 29 No. 2 (Arr. S. Johnson):
• 8 I. Jig 03:44
• 9 II. Ostinato 02:02
• 10 III. Intermezzo 04:19
• 11 IV. Finale "The Dargason" 04:28
• Total Runtime 01:06:41

Info for Holst: The Planets & St. Paul's Suite (Arr. for Organ)

This is one of the most staggering organ recordings to have ever been made! Simon Johnson was originally sceptical about Priory’s Callum Ross suggesting to him that it would make an ideal recording in the vast acoustics of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The discovery of Peter Sykes brilliant arrangement answered all the doubts that Simon Johnson had and he set about learning this incredible score. The organ was of course a willing partner and the notorious acoustic – so often the cause of debate in relation to musical performances – seems to help project the scale and metaphysical properties of Holst’s original conception in a positive and dramatic way.

This is an organ recording not to be missed and captured sensationally by Paul Crichton.

"This is a thrilling album!“ (Lark Reviews)

"the organ of St,Paul's Cathedral is notoriously difficult to record, so hats off tp Paul Crichton for effectively taming the beast in Simon Johnson's spectacular as he journeys from Mars to Neptune. Johnson has impressive technique, colouring and characterisation." (Jeremy Nicholas, Gramophone)

"The cavernous acoustics of St.Paul's Cathedral provide a perfect arena for Simon Johnson's barnstorming performance....there is beauty and brawn aplenty here in Johnson's now suble, now stirring accounts. The disc benefits from Priory's characteristically well framed sound and informative notes." (Michael Quinn, Choir and Organ)

“Peter Sykes's organ arrangement, rather like Holst's two-piano version, effectively highlights the work's dissonant harmonies. As performed by Simon Johnson on the Grand Organ of St Paul's Cathedral, with its generous acoustic, 'Mars' sounds exceptionally ferocious. Almost as impressive are 'Saturn', its climax even more inexorable than the orchestral original…and 'Uranus', sounding especially sinister…yet much of the work does not fall naturally into the organ's style, or suffers from poor approcimation of particular instrumental colours.” (BBC Music Magazine)

Simon Johnson, organ
The Chorister's of St.Paul's Cathedral, London
Andrew Carwood, direction

Simon Johnson
is one of the most versatile musicians of his generation, successfully combining life as a virtuoso organist with extensive work in choral direction, composition and arrangement.

As the Organist and Assistant Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral, he has been involved in all the national occasions that have taken place there since his appointment in 2008, including the funeral service of Baroness Thatcher, the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen and Her Majesty's 90th Birthday celebrations, for which he also arranged some of the music. Recitals have taken him all over Europe and the USA, as well as to many of the premier venues in the UK. He has performed with groups such as the LSO, RPO, and The Sixteen and worked with Wes Anderson on the Oscar, Bafta and Grammy award-winning soundtrack for The Grand Budapest Hotel.

As a director he became well-known through his work with the St Albans Abbey Girls' Choir. He has led the St Paul's choirs in many full-scale orchestral performances.

This album contains no booklet.