Paean, the 5th of Five Short Pieces by Percy Whitlock, performed by Ben Bloor in a live concert on the 44 stop 1875/1912/2022 T.C. Lewis organ of the Church of the Most Precious Blood, Borough, London on Saturday 14th October 2023.

Percy Whitlock was a modest man but a fine composer. Born in Chatham, Kent, he was Assistant Organist at Rochester Cathedral and later Director of Music at St Stephen's Church in Bournemouth, where he also played the theatre organ on the local Pavilion Compton instrument. During his time studying at the Royal College of Music, where he studied with Stanford and Vaughan Williams, he struck up a friendship with former Oratory organist Ralph Downes.
The Five Pieces for Organ were written in Rochester in 1929, and their understated nature (extending even to the modest title) gives an insight into their composer - outwardly conservative, not wishing to rock the boat, but inwardly, a fiercely intelligent mind at work. The Paean acts as an exciting finale to the suite, showcasing the tuba stop with an energetically joyful melody.

Ben Bloor is Organist at the London Oratory Church and School Organist at Westminster School. For more information, please visit https://www.benbloor.com

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