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Divine Art

Expectations

$18.99

Details

Composer
Derek Bourgeois, David Bowie, Marcel Dupre, Alexandre Guilmant, Marcel Lanquetuit, William Mason, Fa
Artist
Alexander Ffinch
Format
CD
Label
Divine Art
Released
Jan 16, 2026
Catalog #
DDX21147
UPC
809730114724

About

Divine Art is delighted to present the 16 January 2026 release of Expectations from organist Alexander Ffinch, a musical journey of the seasons featuring original works and arrangements, recorded on the magnificent organ at Cheltenham College. Expectations takes the listener through a journey of the fall, winter feasts and festivals, and highlights the anticipation of opportunities and renewal in the new year. The various colours and choruses of the organ spark the imagination, making a wonderfully visceral listening experience which challenges the expectations of both the organ enthusiast and those new to the world of organ music. In this way, Expectations is a perfect follow-up and partner album to Ffinch's 2024 release Parallels, which featured original works and arrangements alongside music not usually associated with the organ. Ffinch begins our seasonal journey at Halloween with Saint-Saens' spine-chilling Danse Macabre in a transcription by E. H. Lemare. Alexandre Guilmant's powerful Marche Funebre et Chant Seraphique maintains the dark atmosphere, portraying the arrival of a solemn funeral procession. We then look ahead to the Christmas season in a refreshingly colourful new take on the Advent melody Non Komm der Heiden Heiland by the young composer William Mason, intermixed with the exquisitely crafted Air from Brook Green Suite by Gustav Holst and Derek Bourgeois' lighthearted Serenade, which provide a different kind of anticipation, both written for upcoming occasions. Christmas is in full swing with arrangements of the Overture, Russian Dance (Trepak), and Dance of the Reedpipes (des Mirlitons) from Tchaikovsky's festive ballet The Nutcracker, wrapped up together with the dazzlingly inventive Variations sur un Noel by Marcel Dupre, a towering figure of 20th-century organ music. This brings us finally towards the new year with the captivating Epilogue from Fanny Mendelssohn's Das Jahr, a stark yet optimistic depiction of the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. Two works by master organist Marcel Lanquetuit complete the album: the centenary of his famous Toccata comes up in 2027, giving the album an ongoing cyclical feel, and we also hear his lesser-known Intermezzo. Just as Ffinch offered an organ 'surprise' along the lines of Coldplay's "Paradise" on Parallels, he also extends the question of expectations with David Bowie's probing song, "Life on Mars?". The release will also mark the 10th anniversary of David Bowie's death and reminds us, 55 years after it's release, that the journey to find ourselves doesn't end with New Year's Resolutions. In "expectation" of the January release, Divine Art will release digital singles of the seasonal works throughout the end of the year. Alexander Ffinch has established himself as a renowned organist with performances spanning the UK, Europe, USA, and Asia. Notable for his role as the College Organist at Cheltenham College since 2004, Alexander oversees daily organ performances in the College Chapel and accompanies choirs while maintaining an active schedule as a recitalist. He has featured previously in the Cheltenham International Music Festival and on BBC Radio 3 live broadcasts. His recordings have also recently featured on Radio 3 programmes. There are forthcoming recitals at Notre Dame and La Madeleine in Paris as well as regular series appearances in Cheltenham and other concerts in both the UK and USA.

Tracklist 24 tracks

  1. 1 Danse macabre in G Minor, Op. 40 (arr. E.H. Lemare for organ) 08:04
    Track
    1
    Title
    Danse macabre in G Minor, Op. 40 (arr. E.H. Lemare for organ)
    Duration
    08:04
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  2. 2 No. 2. Marche Funèbre et Chant Séraphique: Marche 08:38
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 2. Marche Funèbre et Chant Séraphique: Marche
    Duration
    08:38
    Composer
    Alexandre Guilmant
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  3. 3 No. 2. Marche Funèbre et Chant Séraphique: Chant 04:01
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 2. Marche Funèbre et Chant Séraphique: Chant
    Duration
    04:01
    Composer
    Alexandre Guilmant
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  4. 4 Serenade, Op. 22 03:06
    Track
    4
    Title
    Serenade, Op. 22
    Duration
    03:06
    Composer
    Derek Bourgeois
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  5. 5 Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland 02:45
    Track
    5
    Title
    Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland
    Duration
    02:45
    Composer
    William Mason
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  6. 6 The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: I. Miniature Overture (arr. R. Goss-Custard for organ) 03:49
    Track
    6
    Title
    The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: I. Miniature Overture (arr. R. Goss-Custard for organ)
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  7. 7 The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: II. Danses caractéristiques: Russian Dance, "Trepak" (arr. A. Ffinch for organ) 01:18
    Track
    7
    Title
    The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: II. Danses caractéristiques: Russian Dance, "Trepak" (arr. A. Ffinch for organ)
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  8. 8 The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: II. Danses caractéristiques: Dance of the Reeds (arr. 02:54
    Track
    8
    Title
    The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: II. Danses caractéristiques: Dance of the Reeds (arr.
    Duration
    02:54
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  9. 9 Brook Green Suite: II. Air (arr. A. Ffinch for organ) 02:30
    Track
    9
    Title
    Brook Green Suite: II. Air (arr. A. Ffinch for organ)
    Duration
    02:30
    Composer
    Gustav Holst
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  10. 10 Theme 00:51
    Track
    10
    Title
    Theme
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Marcel Dupré
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  11. 11 Variation 1: Larghetto 00:48
    Track
    11
    Title
    Variation 1: Larghetto
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Marcel Dupré
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  12. 12 Variation 2: Poco animato 00:38
    Track
    12
    Title
    Variation 2: Poco animato
    Duration
    00:38
    Composer
    Marcel Dupré
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  13. 13 Variation 3: Cantabile 01:20
    Track
    13
    Title
    Variation 3: Cantabile
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Marcel Dupré
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  14. 14 Variation 4: Vif 00:29
    Track
    14
    Title
    Variation 4: Vif
    Duration
    00:29
    Composer
    Marcel Dupré
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  15. 15 Variation 5: Vivace 00:52
    Track
    15
    Title
    Variation 5: Vivace
    Duration
    00:52
    Composer
    Marcel Dupré
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  16. 16 Variation 6: Plus modéré 00:47
    Track
    16
    Title
    Variation 6: Plus modéré
    Duration
    00:47
    Composer
    Marcel Dupré
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  17. 17 Variation 7: Vivace 00:52
    Track
    17
    Title
    Variation 7: Vivace
    Duration
    00:52
    Composer
    Marcel Dupré
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  18. 18 Variation 8: Cantabile 01:46
    Track
    18
    Title
    Variation 8: Cantabile
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Marcel Dupré
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  19. 19 Variation 9: Anime 00:47
    Track
    19
    Title
    Variation 9: Anime
    Duration
    00:47
    Composer
    Marcel Dupré
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  20. 20 Variation 10: Fugato: Non troppo vivace - Presto 03:01
    Track
    20
    Title
    Variation 10: Fugato: Non troppo vivace - Presto
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Marcel Dupré
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  21. 21 Das Jahr: 12 Characterstücke: Postlude (arr. A. Ffinch for organ) 02:36
    Track
    21
    Title
    Das Jahr: 12 Characterstücke: Postlude (arr. A. Ffinch for organ)
    Duration
    02:36
    Composer
    Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  22. 22 Life on Mars? (arr. A. Ffinch for organ) 03:45
    Track
    22
    Title
    Life on Mars? (arr. A. Ffinch for organ)
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    David Bowie
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  23. 23 Intermezzo 04:10
    Track
    23
    Title
    Intermezzo
    Duration
    04:10
    Composer
    Marcel Lanquetuit
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch
  24. 24 Toccata in D Major 06:04
    Track
    24
    Title
    Toccata in D Major
    Duration
    06:04
    Composer
    Marcel Lanquetuit
    Performer
    Alexander Ffinch