Versus - The Garnier Organ,Elgar Concert Hall, Birmingham

The Guardian 80

Henry Fairs (organ)
(Regent)

The University of Birmingham has a fine new organ, splendidly displayed in this recording by Henry Fairs, university organist and head of organ studies at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Naturally bookending his recital with Bach, Fairs programmes some unusual items to show off the versatility of the Garnier, which is actually two instruments: a three-manual recital organ and a smaller example to accompany choral work. Some of his choices are more successful than others. In Versus, a new piece from Franz Danksagmüller, he disturbs the wind supply to make an unsteady solo line to frankly unpleasant effect, but Via Crucis, by Jon Laukvik, is a deeply impressive eight-movement meditation, massive in scale and full of Messiaen-like colour and imagination.