“Composers we know and those we don’t”

The pipe organ was originally built by Andrew Watt and Son of Glasgow in 1921 for

the Elim Pentecostal Church in Greenock. It was then rebuilt at St Andrew’s (again by

Andrew Watt and Son) as part of the Church’s restoration in 1963. Both the Great and

Swell pipework are to be found in the gallery at the rear of the Church. A number of

the Watt and Son organs are still to found in the Glasgow area – the company, which

was founded in 1898, ceased trading in 1968.

The programme chosen for the recital combines a selection from composers who are

perhaps more widely known - both for the organ (Bach and Handel) and for the piano

(Beethoven and Debussy). However, the programme will also include works by two

19th - 20th century composers who were both prolific in their output and were once

much better known.

This will include works by Thomas Mee Pattinson (1845-1936) who held organ posts

at Warrington and Ealing and Alec Rowley (1892-1958). Alec Rowley produced a great

deal of music for both piano and pipe organ, some of which will be in the

programme.

Alex Rowley was one of the senior lecturers at the Royal Academy of Music (London)

who numbered among his pupils in the 1950s Reginald Mobley (1908-2004). Reginald

was himself (from 1973-1985) the teacher of the organist of St Andrew’s, Christopher

Powell, who is giving the recital. In some small way then, the work of Alec Rowley has

continued through the legacy of his pupils and it is hoped that his music might again

become better known.

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