Fantasy On Christmas Carols

For this Organ concluding voluntary, Hugh Blair choose two carols that sound authentically old and one, A Virgin Unspotted, which dates from the 17th century. The short piece includes a delightful reworking of God Rest You Merry Gentlemen and a gently rocking Good King Wenceslas in 6/8.

Hugh Blair was an English Organist, conductor and composer of some perspicacity. Elgar’s cantata The Black Knight is dedicated to Blair, who conducted its first performance in 1893, during the time when Elgar was gradually building his reputation through the Midlands Choral festivals. He also asked the composer to write an Organ voluntary, to whichElgar responded with his first Organ Sonata. Blair is best known for his Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, which are still performed.