COMPOSERS: Hollins
LABELS: Priory
WORKS: The Organ Music of Alfred Hollins
PERFORMER: David Liddle (organ)
CATALOGUE NO: PRCD 398 DDD
For an example of two newly restored organs at either end of the spectrum, one could choose no better than those at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and Hull City Hall. Piet Kee’s judicious programme of mainly Romantic music is well suited to the Concertgebouw’s dark-hued, eclectic instrument and the concert hall acoustic is well captured by the engineers.
Alfred Hollins could well be described as the Eric Coates of the organ world. His music is invariably tuneful but also rather insubstantial. However, David Liddle’s sense of delight with this music serves him well on the Hull organ, a Rolls Royce of instruments.