Another of those organists who rose to fame and fortune in their lifetimes, but have since been virtually forgotten, Edwin Lemare will be remembered this weekend (NB article published 2015) in his birthplace, Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight. Frederick Hohman, Lemare specialist, will come over from the States for a lecture and concert at Holy Trinity Church, Ventnor, to mark the 150th anniversary of Lemare’s birth – full details below.
Lemare is mainly known to organists for his splendid transcriptions of symphonic pieces, written for the symphonic style of organ which was highly fashionable in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. He was the most highly paid and famous virtuoso organist of his day, and his Andantino – which became Moonlight and Roses in the hands of a pair of American songwriters – sold over a million copies by 1925. (Though Lemare had to fight for a percentage and the right to have his name on the sheet music.)
He was obviously a great showman, and a bit of a lad – he eloped with his first wife, the daughter of a wealthy Sheffield solicitor, divorced and married again 8 years later, then finally hot-footed it to the States to marry for the third time – to an organist 20 years his junior who he had met on one of his many US concert tours. His presumption and showmanship didn’t endear him to the clergy. Martin Cullingford, in his excellent feature on Lemare for the Gramophone magazine, tells of Lemare improvising a particularly dramatic storm scene between the last two verses of Eternal Father Strong to Save at St Margaret’s Westminster – and leaving his post shortly after.
I can recommend Martin Cullingford’s article for more on Lemare. Some of Lemare’s music is available on IMSLP, and Bardon Music sell a wide variety of Lemare transcriptions. Frederick Hohman has recorded several CDs of Lemare’s music – details here.
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, Trinity Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, PO38 1NS, England
Free lecture and concert on Saturday 12 September 2015
by US organist FREDERICK HOHMAN
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Lemare’s birth in Ventnor. Lecture starts at 5pm followed by concert at 7.30pm
Retiring collection in aid of organ refurbishment, buffet supper available £5 to include drinks between 6pm and 7pm (tickets on the door) with an opportunity to meet the artiste.
contact Helen Slade helenslade@btinternet.com for more information
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