The early 20th-century in America saw the organ find a footing in the classical music concert scene, which had been dominated by the piano and symphony orchestra, not only in its own traditional repertoire but also with transcriptions tailored for increasingly evolved and perfected instruments.

This was possible thanks to Alexandre Guilmant and his many followers and pupils all of whom contributed to the creation of the highly prized American organ school.

Edwin Lemare, born in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight on 9 September 1865, is considered one of the most virtuosic and influential musicians of his time.

Lemare played a part in flourishing organist showmanship by contributing significantly to the evolution of hand and foot techniques and consolidating so-called ‘thumbing down’ (playing two separate melodic lines of different tone colour with the thumb of either hand on a separate manual).

Whilst still a student, Lemare first came into contact and fell in love with the music of Richard Wagner at the age of 16, so much so that he formed a partnership with the publisher Schott to publish transcriptions from Wagner’s operas. This initiated a prolific period as an arranger which together with his composing – in particular his Andantino in D flat Moonlight and Roses which became a cult hit – brought him to fame.

To record this anthology, which contains a number of world-premiere recordings, the choice of organ fell to the Mascioni at the Basilica of San Gaudenzio in Novara, because it was designed according to the American orchestral perspective. The 75th anniversary of its construction was celebrated in 2023.