Divine Art Records

Artist: Alexander Ffinch

  • Expectations

    Expectations

    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-Saëns’ spine-chilling Danse Macabre in a transcription by E. H. Lemare. Alexandre Guilmant’s powerful Marche Funèbre et Chant Séraphique 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 (Trépak), and Dance of the Reedpipes (des Mirlitons) from Tchaikovsky’s festive ballet The Nutcracker, wrapped up together with the dazzlingly inventive Variations sur un Noël by Marcel Dupré, 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 its release, that the journey to find ourselves doesn’t end with New Year’s Resolutions.

    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.

  • Parallels – music for organ

    Parallels – music for organ

    Parallels is meticulously curated album that explores the organ’s remarkable breadth and sonority. Featuring three monumental organ works and delightful arrangements of English classics, the collection is a testament to the grandeur and versatility of the instrument.

    Florence Price’s Suite No. 1, makes its debut commercial recording. This substantial and captivating composition draws inspiration from spirituals, hymns, and pentatonic themes, showcasing a harmonious fusion of jazz influences. The rhythmic drive and themes in the final Toccato pay homage to the engaging Rubrics by Dan Locklair, creating a seamless connection between the featured works.

    The album’s title, Parallels, reflects Florence Price’s artistic vision, aiming to convey a heritage through the past while being influenced by contemporary contacts. This intention is beautifully realised in Suite No. 1, where the chromatic harmony reminiscent of Suite Gothique meets the rhythmic vitality of Rubrics. As a nod to the present day, the album includes Alexander’s own arrangement of Coldplay’s hit single Paradise, seamlessly blending modernity with Price’s timeless compositions. Parallels is not just an album; it’s a transformative auditory experience that invites listeners to explore the intersections of tradition and innovation on the Harrison and Harrison organ. The past converges with the present in perfect harmony.

    The surprise appearances of music not typically associated with the organ successfully adds an element of excitement and discovery. The album also features splendid organ arrangements of English staples like Elgar’s Chanson de Matin and Pomp and Circumstance, further showcasing the instrument’s versatility. “Parallels” is an invitation to discover the intersections of tradition and innovation, a celebration of timeless compositions, and a showcase of the capabilities of Cheltenham College Chapel’s Harrison and Harrison organ. This album also celebrates the 150th anniversary of Gustav Holst’s birth with the inclusion of Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity fromThe Planets Op. 32 arranged by Thomas Trotter.

    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, featuring prominently in events like the Cheltenham International Music Festival and BBC Radio 3 broadcasts. His 2019 album, Transformations (DDA 25193), received critical acclaim.

  • Transformations – music for organ

    Transformations – music for organ

    Three major organ works: one from Liszt, one of the masters of high Romanticism and bubbling virtuosity; the powerful Heroic Sonata of Jongen and the first commercial recording of the delicately figured piece ‘The Dancing Pipes’ by Jonathan Dove, one of today’s most appreciated composers. This superb program is titled ‘Transformations’ as each piece contains musical transformations of themes; it also reflects the transformation of the fine Harrison & Harrison organ at Cheltenham College Chapel – this is its first recording since a full restoration in 2017.

    Alexander Ffinch studied at the Royal College of Music and was organ scholar at Keble College Oxford. He gave over 100 recitals as resident organist at Lancaster Town Hall and continues to undertake a busy concert and broadcasting schedule (sadly his planned August 2019 debut at Notre Dame Paris is ‘on hold’). Alexander was appointed College Organist at Cheltenham in 2004 since when he has played daily in the Chapel as well as giving regular recitals; he oversaw the 2017 restoration and manages the work of both students and visiting recitalists.