Sebastian Thomson - Choral Director, Organist and Teacher: Recordings

Angels of Creation

The Angel of Creation CD is available from Sebastian in person for £7 or from this site.

Price £7.00

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1. Angels of Creation - Thomas Hewitt Jones

2. Berceuse - David Briggs

3. Toccata for St Matthew's Day - David Briggs

4. Festal Paean - Simon Whalley

5. Rhapsody - David Bednall

6. Variations: Noël Nouvelet - Philip Moore

7. Laudate - Neil Cox

The Fourteen Stations of the Cross - John Hosking

8. i. Jesus is condemned to death

9. ii. Jesus is given his cross

10. iii. Jesus falls the first time

11. iv. Jesus meets his mother

12. v. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross

13. vi Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

14. vii. Jesus falls the second time

15. viii. Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem

16. xi. Jesus falls the third time

17. x. Jesus is stripped of his garments

18. xi. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross

19. xii. Jesus dies on the cross

20. xiii. Jesus' body is removed from the cross

21. xiv. Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense

22. xv. Resurrection

CD Reviews

"There is a palpable freshness about this exciting and eclectic programme. Every composer brings his own harmonic and melodic palette to the table. Words alone cannot begin to describe the emotional and dramatic content of this outstanding programme. None of this, of course, would be possible without the breath-taking input of the stunning organist, Sebastian Thomson, about whom we should know and hear much more!"

(Editor's Choice in Organists' Review September 2017)

"It is rare that one hears such a gratifying combination of new music, new organ and young player. Sebastian Thomson impresses in not only performing this collection of pieces with great verve, but also being responsible for their commission. The Tickell organ sounds exotically French for the music of David Briggs and David Bednall, and robustly English for Philip Moore’s fine variations on Noël nouvelet or Thomas Hewitt Jones’s title track, Angels of Creation. All the works of this disc are fine contributions to the organ repertory, with half the disc devoted to John Hosking’s The Fourteen Stations of the Cross – a dramatic exploitation of moods, colours and emotions."

(Choir & Organ Magazine)

"Promoting contemporary organ music both "live" and on disc is far from easy. Sebastian Thomson is to be congratulated in commissioning works for this CD, a collection of new works for organ. Thomson's performances are exemplary, and the recording balance captures the space of the chapel admirably."

(Cathedral Music)

"Sebastian Thomson is to be whole–heartedly praised and admired for his vision in commissioning these new works, and for committing them to CD in performances of such intense musical intelligence and technical grasp. It has been a great privilege to have been asked to be part of this, and one can only hope that the pieces here will find new audiences and promote the creation of new music for the King of Instruments."

(Dr David Bednall, Composer and Organist)

"What a delight it was to meet you and hear your fine solo playing on Saturday with the stirring Angels of Creation and your sensitive accompanying of my choral works. Thank you! The high quality of your playing was immediately obvious and it is hard to see how Angels of Creation will not be a success. I very much admire what you are doing to bring about new creations and look forward to listening to the entire recording."

(Dan Locklair, Composer)

"Congratulations to Sebastian Thomson on a 5 star review in Choir & Organ. Truly stunning playing and the best organ disc I have heard recently without a doubt. It is always good to have your compositions performed by safe hands (and feet); when they're lifted off the page and utterly transformed, it is something else altogether."

(John Hosking, Organist and Composer)

A Theme of Vittoria

Recorded at St Matthew's Church, Northampton. Sebastian's debut CD was given a four star rating in Choir & Organ May 2009

Price £6.00

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1. Intrada - Grayston Ives (b.1948)

2. Elegy - George Thalben-Ball (1896 -1987)

3. Choral No. 3 in A Minor - César Franck (1822 - 1890)

4. Cantilène improvisée - Charles Tournemire (1870 - 1939)

5. Choral-Improvisation sur le "Victimae Paschali" - Charles Tournemire (1870 - 1939)

6. O Mensch bewein dein Sűnde gross - J.S.Bach (1685 - 1750)

Three pieces for musical clock - Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809)

7. Allegro

8. Menuett-Allegretto

9. Presto

Prelude and Fugue on a theme of Vittoria - Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)

10. Prelude

11. Fugue

12. Dankpsalm - Max Reger (1873 - 1916)

13. Turvey Tuba Tune - Paul Edwards (b. 1955)

Variations on Greensleeves - David Briggs (b 1962)

14. Théme

15. Intermezzo

16. Récit de Cromorne

17. Agité-Fonds 16' 8' 4'

18. Récit sur la Voix Humaine

19. Final

CD Reviews

"For me, the final work (Brigg's Greensleeves variations) is the highlight of a disc which is overall, a fine recording of both player and the justly celebrated instrument, captured with clarity - at times thrilling."

(Organists' Review February 2009)

"It's a tribute to the organ in St Matthew's and a demonstration of Sebastian Thomson's prowess as a recitalist."

(Northampton and District Organists' Association December 2008)

"Bravo on your St Matthew's CD - I listened and it's brilliant!"

(David Briggs, International Organ Recitalist October 2008)

"Sebastian Thomson's playing is energetic, expressive and secure. An enjoyable disc and very much worth hearing."

(Church Music Quarterly, March 2009)

"This is a thoughtful tribute to a monumental cathedral-sized organ: if the Britten seems insipid, then this says more about the work itself than about Sebastian Thomson's excellent playing."

(Choir & Organ, May 2009)

"Congratulations on your magnificent CD. I have listened to it several times and the playing is of the very highest calibre. I hope that you are proud of it because you most certainly should be."

(Anthony Hammond, Concert Organist and Director of Music, Cirencester Parish Church)

Bonus Recordings

As an exclusive special bonus for Sebastian's website visitors, included are additional tracks available for you to enjoy.

1. Adagio - David Bednall (b 1979)
(Played live at Blackburn Cathedral)

2. Toccata for St Matthew's Day - David Briggs (b 1962)
(St Matthew's commission 2008) (Played live at Blackburn Cathedral)

3. Incantation pour un Jour Saint - Jean Langlais (1907-1991)
(Played live at Exeter College, Oxford)

4. Solemn Melody - Henry Walford Davies (1820-1869)
(Played live at Coventry Cathedral)

5. Litanies - Jehan Alain (1911-1940)
(Played live at Coventry Cathedral)

6. Psalm Prelude: Set 2, No 1 - Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
(Played live at King's College, Cambridge)

7. Rhapsody - David Bednall (b 1979)
(Played live at St Paul's Cathedral)

8. Coronation March from "Le Prophète" - Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864)
(Played live at Truro Cathedral)

9. Incantation pour un Jour Saint - Jean Langlais (1907-1991)
(Played live at King's College, Cambridge)

10. Menagerie Musicale - Robert Jones
(Played live at St Bride's, Fleet Street)

11. Rhapsody - David Bednall (b 1979)
(Played live at Exeter College, Oxford)

12. Fanfare - John Cook (1918-1984)
(Played live at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol)

13. Solemn Melody - Henry Walford Davies (1820-1869)
(Played live at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol)

14. Dankpsalm - Max Reger (1873-1916)
(Played live at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol)

15. Rhapsody - David Bednall (b 1979)
(Played live at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol)

16. Festal Paean - Simon Whalley
(Recorded live on 3rd November at Keble College, Oxford)

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