by G. D. CUNNINGHAM
Relayed from The Town Hall, Birmingham
Samuel Sebastian Wesley was looked up to for years as the leading English organist, and held in turn several of the most important posts in the country, including Hereford, 'Winchester and Gloucester Cathedrals. In the last: of these he had a big share in the conduct of the Three Choirs Festivals, and there, too, left the mark of his high ideals on the work of future generations Almost all his own music is for the Church, and much of it is still in regular use. He died in 1876. Widor succeeded Cesar Franck as Professor of the organ at the Paris Conservatoire, and worthily upheld the fine tradition of French organ music which began a new lease of life with Franck's advent. But, although it is his organ music which is much better known in this country than any of the rest of his work, takin-g as it does, a really important place, in the organist's repertoire, there is a good deal of symphonic and even operatic music from his pen. At least one of his Symphonic poems has been heard in London-' A Walpurgis Night. ' ; Widor conducted it himself at a Philharmonic
Concert here in 1888. One of the most distinguished of present-day organists, Louis Vierne, was also a pupil of Cesar Franck and of Widor. After being Widor's assistant at Saint Sulpice for some years, he became organist, of Notre Dame in Paris, and has been tirelessly active not only as a player, but as a composer. He first played in this country in the beginning of 1924. Known to us almost solely by his organ music, earnest and solid and with those poetic qualities for which one looks in Cesar Franck's disciples, he has written chamber music and for orchestra, too, and in France is regarded as taking an important place among present-day composers.