Description
A suite for organ in three movements: 1. A Hike to Red Lake 2. A Stroll through Meavy Woods 3. A Canter over Hameldown
On Dartmoor was composed to help Plymouth & District Organists’ Association publicise the ongoing restoration of a wonderful organ. The instrument at St Simon’s church, Mount Gould, Plymouth, is one of the oldest and most musical organs in the south-west peninsula. It was set up in Plymouth in 1910 by the famous local organ builder, Hele, who transplanted it from St Peter Mancroft, Norwich. Original 1707 pipework by Renatus Harris survives, and further ranks are by later 18th-Century organ builders. The instrument as it now stands is largely the work of the London organ builder William Hedgeland who rebuilt the organ in 1866. Its new home at St Simon’s Church provides an ideal acoustic.
After being closed since 2015, the church re-opened in 2021 – a ‘church-plant’ spearheaded by neighbouring St Matthias, North Hill, Plymouth, and backed by enthusiastic support from the diocese. Refurbishment is still a work in progress but regular services are now held there.
Suggested registrations for On Dartmoor are by Richard Line, curator of the organ at St Andrew’s Minster in Plymouth, and are intended as guidelines; simpler registrations on a two-manual organ work equally well. I am most grateful for his expertise and helpful comments during the writing of this work. Clive Jenkins
Duration 12½ minutes
