English Organ Sonatas 7

The first sonata of Bertram Luard-Selby and the sonata of Charles Harford Lloyd are examples of works that demonstrate the transitional nature of the maturing English organ sonata. The portfolio approach towards compositions under one title, a sonata, that included sometimes significantly contrasting movements was common during the second half of the nineteenth century. It allowed composers to demonstrate their own compositional skill as well as highlight the tonal capabilities of the developing symphonic organ in England.

The sonatas are playable on both small and large instruments and allow for creativity in registration. The technical difficulty varies between movements. As discussed in “The Genesis and Development of an English Organ Sonata” (2017), the English sonatas had an important pedagogical role jointly inherited from Mendelssohn’s very practical and popular approach to the instrument and the continued European legacy of the lesson-sonata tradition whereby in learning a piece you also learned the instrument and vice versa.