Hexham Abbey: The Lawrence Phelps Organ presents a richly conceived recital performed by Michael Haynes on the celebrated Lawrence Phelps organ at Hexham Abbey — an instrument admired for its tonal clarity, responsive mechanical action, and commanding presence within the Abbey’s historic space. Built by Lawrence Phelps in Pennsylvania, USA, the instrument occupies a unique position in Europe, bringing an American organ-building voice into a British ecclesiastical setting. The programme unfolds naturally from Bach’s architectural clarity toward the harmonic richness of later Romantic writing, allowing colour, resonance, and long musical lines to be shaped by the Abbey’s acoustic character.

Recorded in high-resolution DXD using a nine-microphone surround-sound array, the production is designed to accurately capture the acoustics of the space, from the immediacy of the organ’s speech to the spatial relationships within the building itself. Rather than emphasising reverberant effect, the microphone layout preserves clarity, scale, and perspective, presenting the organ as it is heard in the Abbey. This is a recording best approached as focused, immersive listening rather than background play — one that rewards patience, attention, and curiosity.

1.Fantasia in C minor: BWV 562 J.S Bach..................... 3:54

2.Master Tallis’s Testament: H.Howells...................... 5:33

3.Trio Sonata No. 6 in G major: I. Vivace BWV 530 J.S Bach.. 4:21

4.Trio Sonata No. 6 in G major: II. Lento................... 3:48

5.Trio Sonata No. 6 in G major: III. Allegro................ 4:08

6.Choral Prelude Liebster Jesu: BWV 731 J.S Bach............ 2:54

7.Suite du deuxième ton: I. Plein jeu L-N Clérambault....... 2:14

8.Suite du deuxième ton: II. Duo............................ 1:34

9.Suite du deuxième ton: III. Trio.......................... 2:15

10.Suite du deuxième ton: IV. Basse de Cromorne.............. 1:33

11.Suite du deuxième ton: V. Flûtes.......................... 2:43

12.Suite du deuxième ton: VI. Récit de Nazard................ 2:40

13.Suite du deuxième ton: VII. Caprice sur les grands jeux... 2:02

14.Adagio in E major: F.Bridge .............................. 5:22

15.Trio Sonata No. 2 in C minor: I. Vivace BWV 526 J.S Bach.. 4:01

16.Trio Sonata No. 2 in C minor: II. Largo................... 3:10

17.Trio Sonata No. 2 in C minor: III. Allegro................ 4:00

18.Variations on a Theme: H.Andriessen....................... 5:26

19.24 pièces en style libre: No. 15, Arabesque L.Vierne...... 4:59

Total Duration: 66:43