It is safe to say that I am a fan of Rick Wakeman, and listen to his solo albums far more than I do of any of the bands or projects he has been involved with during his long career. Of course, even with his solo works there are many different versions, and I have seen him play live with a full-on rock band as well as seeing him just sat at a grand piano. This is far closer to the latter than the former, as in 2001 he was given the opportunity to spend a day at Lincoln Cathedral playing their organ, and this is the result. The music was written specifically for the instrument itself, and apparently “is based around a combination of fixed notation and improvisation fuelled by pure emotion”.
For anyone who was brought up in a traditional church as I was, there is just something about the sound and power of a pipe organ which is quite awe-inspiring. This is a long way removed from his New Age series of albums, yet is also very different from much of his canon as well, as he has brought into this quite a hymnal approach to the music. More Handel, than Mozart or Ravel. This isn’t an album that is going to appeal to many progheads, but for someone like me who was raised listening to religious organ and piano music, then this is wonderful. Rick isn’t a master of this type of instrument, and I can hear him struggling at times, especially when he trying to bring the pedals to bear, but that adds to the joy of this for me. I can see Rick in my mind, with his eyes closed, at one with the music he is performing, and this is an album to which I will often be returning.
