York Bowen

Fantasia Op. 136 for Organ

The Fantasia for Organ has been described as both 'fleshy in its Romanticism' and also, by the composer, as 'quite severe in parts', an apt combination for the vast changes of the beginning of the post-War era. York Bowne was aBritish composer whose fifty-year career musical career spanned much of the 20th century. Bowen was not only a prolific composer, he was also a pianist, conductor, Organist, Violinist and Horn player. He premiered many importantworks and his own music was featured many times at the Proms, among other concert series. Sir Henry J Wood believed Bowen had never received proper recognition and Camille Saint-Saens regarded him as the 'finest ofEnglishcomposers' early in his career. His compositional style changed little throughout his life, so that his later oeuvre was less celebrated than his earlier works, as music fashion had moved on.