In the current thread on the soon to be re-issued EMI Great Cathedral Organ series I remarked upon the Conrad Eden recording from Durham. My mention of Arthur Milner's Prelude included on this disc brought a couple of interesting responses, so I thought I might mention a few of his other pieces to tempt your appetites. I should own up to the fact I was a pupil of his so am obviously biased!

Arthur Milner (1894 to 1972) was a Newcastle based teacher, performer and composer. He was an FTCL (piano), ARCM (piano) and ARCO. He held a Durham D.Mus by examination. He had been Director of Music at Newcastle Royal Grammar School for 22 years, whilst in his younger years had been organist at St. George?s, Jesmond. (It houses a fine 4 manual Lewis organ) He was quietly spoken, a perfect gentleman and an excellent teacher.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s he had a goodly number of organ pieces, probably getting on for 20, published mainly by Novello and Ashdown. About 10 or 11 of the Novello pieces are fortunately still available through their archive system. Those pieces I treasure most (all Novello as it happens) are:

- Six Miniatures (manuals with pedal ad lib)
- Three Sketches
- Two Meditations on Psalms (Ps 122 and Ps 23)
- Galliard for a Festive Occasion
- Prelude, Siciliano and Ricercare

The first three of these are useful before the service whilst the Galliard (what an enjoyable piece) and the Prelude for after. In my opinion the Prelude, Siciliano and Ricercare ranks as perhaps Dr Milner's very best work, and it just so happens that it has been recently recorded by Daniel Cook on Great European Organs No 83. Daniel tells me he is planning to record some more of Arthur Milner's music next year from St George's Cullercoats, so that will be worth looking out for.

Our well known contributor here Vox Humana has previously enthused about the Prelude in e minor on a Theme of Palestrina. He describes the style of writing as almost Howellsian and, although I have never owned a copy of this particular piece, I would entirely agree with him in general regarding Dr Milner's style. The Palestrina piece is available through Peters Organ Archive, whilst the first 4 only of the pieces I have mentioned are available through the Novello Archive. If you are interested in a copy of the P, S and R send me a PM and I can point you in the right direction. A word of advice. It is probably unwise to attempt to sight read any of the aforesaid pieces in public - Arthur Milner's music repays careful preparation!

[quote name='oldromola' date='Oct 11 2011, 03:03 PM' post='1096346']
In the current thread on the soon to be re-issued EMI Great Cathedral Organ series I remarked upon the Conrad Eden recording from Durham. My mention of Arthur Milner's Prelude included on this disc brought a couple of interesting responses, so I thought I might mention a few of his other pieces to tempt your appetites. I should own up to the fact I was a pupil of his so am obviously biased!

Those pieces I treasure most (all Novello as it happens) are:

- Six Miniatures (manuals with pedal ad lib)
- Three Sketches
- Two Meditations on Psalms (Ps 122 and Ps 23)
- Galliard for a Festive Occasion
- Prelude, Siciliano and Ricercare


As one who started organ lessons as a teenager in the north east in the 1950s I read Arthur Milner's concert reports in the local paper, knew him by sight, and have at least a dozen of his organ pieces.

My own favourites are similar to oldromola's . . .
Prelude (of Prelude, Siciliano and Ricercare)
Nocturn, and Carillon (from Six Miniatures)
Pastorale (one of the Ashdown publications)
Galliard for a Festive Occasion

I see that Conrad Eden, one of my teachers was the dedicatee of Prelude, Siciliano and Ricercare, and that Colin Ross, another of my teachers, was the dedicatee of both Six Miniatures and Galliard for a Festive Occasion. Among the dedicatees of other pieces are Armstrong Gibbs, Arnold Richardson, Graham Steed and Allan Wicks.

RAC

Searching the internet for references to Arthur Milner led me to the recent discussion on the ABRSM Forum. I am building up a collection of Milner's music and have acquired copies of 25 pieces published between 1954 and 1967. Most are out of print now, but some are available through the publishers archive services. In recent years I have included works by Milner in my recitals, including: Introduction and Fugue (1957), Galliard for a Festive Occasion (1959), Musette and Carol (1961), Nocturn from Six Miniatures (1961), Prelude on a Theme of Palestrina (1962), and Meditation on Psalm 62 (1966).

Mention has been made of the EMI recording of Conrad Eden playing the Prelude from Prelude, Siciliano and Ricercare (1960) which Milner dedicated to him; I also have a vinyl recording of the whole suite played by John Robinson on the organ of St Andrew's Newgate Street in Newcastle. There is a recording of three of Milner's psalm meditations on the Meridian label; By the Waters of Babylon is a recording which contrasts psalm settings for choir, solo voice, and organ. Milner's Meditations on Psalms 122, 23, and 62 are played by Lee Ward on the organ of Hampstead Parish Church.

Can anyone help in my search please? I think I have all of the published organ works (although I would be delighted to be proved wrong), so I am particularly interested in acquiring copies of Milner's anthems, carols, and piano pieces.

pitcher54 thank you for your post - I have sent you a PM.

Also it was very good to receive a telephone call from RAC recently. We were at uni together in the late 50s/early60s and have only seen each other once since then!