Simon Passmore - Passacaglia on a theme of Benjamin Britten and other organ works (2022) Hi-Res

With the exception of the Two Short Pieces for Organ which closes disc 2, the works presented here are all more recent works of Richard Pantcheff. It is therefore not difficult to see them somewhat as a summation of the composer’s stylistic development to date. Thus, the rather modal musical language of the earlier organ works (e.g. the Four Communion Preludes of 1994) has here developed into something more linear, direct, and economical. There are occasional uses of serial technique. A similar trend is evident also in the significant amount of chamber music that the composer has written in recent years.

Given the advice and encouragement that Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) had given to Richard Pantcheff in the formative years of the younger composer’s life, it was not altogether surprising that the prospect of Britten’s centenary celebrations in 2013 would lead to Richard Pantcheff being commissioned to write a new work in tribute.

Two extraordinary and unconnected events conspired to enable the composition and premiere of the resultant Passacaglia on a Theme of Benjamin Britten (Opus 87).