In a Monastery Garden - Albert Ketèlbey [arranged for organ by Hugh Ware]

Pentecost 9, 2022
- 'Consider the birds of the air ... the lilies of the field...'

Albert William Ketèlbey (1875-1959) was a brilliant music student who, against expectations, decided on a career composing and conducting light music. He found great success in writing film music for the silent movies, and his early piano composition ‘In a Monastery Garden’ (1915) sold an astonishing one million copies (I inherited mine from my grandmother) and brought him widespread fame and fortune – he was said to be the first ever British millionaire composer.
From this sprang many other ‘character’ pieces – In a Persian Market, In a Chinese Temple Garden, Sanctuary of the Heart, and the still-popular Bells Across the Meadows.
His music fell out of fashion during the Second World War, and he died in relative obscurity in the Isle of Wight, with only eight mourners attending his funeral.
Ketèlbey wrote of his subsequent orchestral version of In a Monastery Garden: “The first theme represents a poet's reverie in the quietude of the monastery garden amidst beautiful surroundings—the calm serene atmosphere—the leafy trees and the singing birds. The second theme in the minor expresses the more 'personal' note of sadness, of appeal and contrition. Presently, the monks are heard chanting the "Kyrie Eleison" with the organ playing and the chapel bell ringing. The first theme is now heard in a quieter manner as if it had become more ethereal and distant; the singing of the monks is again heard—it becomes louder and more insistent, bringing the piece to a conclusion in a glow of exultation”. The version for organ played here was arranged by Hugh Ware.
There has been something of a revival in interest in his music over the past few decades. His style is undeniably sentimental and of its time, but he lavished a craftsman’s attention on his pieces.

Images: includes the original sheet music frontispiece, and paintings by Adams, Büchler, Corot, Turner and Villa: final photograph is mine.

Played by Peter Christie on the Viscount Envoy FV-350 digital organ as part of the online music programme for St John's Episcopal Church, Greenock, Scotland.