Expectations Alexander Ffinch

• Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921): Danse macabre, Op. 40, R. 171 (Arr. for Organ by Edwin Henry Lemare):
• 1 Saint-Saëns: Danse macabre, Op. 40, R. 171 (Arr. for Organ by Edwin Henry Lemare) 08:04
• Alexandre Guilmant (1837 - 1911): Marche Funèbre et Chant Séraphique, Op. 17 No. 2:
• 2 Guilmant: Marche Funèbre et Chant Séraphique, Op. 17 No. 2: I. Marche 08:38
• 3 Guilmant: Marche Funèbre et Chant Séraphique, Op. 17 No. 2: II. Chant 04:01
• Derek Bourgeois (1941 - 2017).: Serenade, Op. 22:
• 4 Bourgeois: Serenade, Op. 22 03:06
• William Mason (1829 - 1908): Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland:
• 5 Mason: Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland 02:45
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893): The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, TH 35:
• 6 Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, TH 35: Ouverture miniature (Arr. for Organ by Reginald Goss-Custard) 03:50
• 7 Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, TH 35: IIc. Danse russe "Trépak" (Arr. for Organ by Alexander Ffinch) 01:18
• 8 Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, TH 35: IIf. Danse des mirlitons (Arr. for Organ by Reginald Goss-Custard) 02:54
• Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934): Brook Green Suite, H. 190:
• 9 Holst: Brook Green Suite, H. 190: II. Air (Arr. for Organ by Alexander Ffinch) 02:30
• Marcel Dupré (1886 - 1971): Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20:
• 10 Dupré: Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20: Moderato 00:51
• 11 Dupré: Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20: Var. 1, Larghetto 00:48
• 12 Dupré: Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20: Var. 2, Poco animato 00:38
• 13 Dupré: Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20: Var. 3, Canon à l'octave. Cantabile 01:20
• 14 Dupré: Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20: Var. 4, Vif 00:29
• 15 Dupré: Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20: Var. 5, Vivace 00:52
• 16 Dupré: Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20: Var. 6, Canon à la quarte et à la quinte. Plus modéré 00:47
• 17 Dupré: Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20: Var. 7, Vivace 00:43
• 18 Dupré: Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20: Var. 8, Canon à la seconde. Cantabile 01:46
• 19 Dupré: Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20: Var. 9, Animé 00:47
• 20 Dupré: Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20: Var. 10, Fugato. Non troppo vivace - Presto 03:01
• Fanny Mendelssohn (1805 - 1847): Das Jahr, H. 385:
• 21 Mendelssohn: Das Jahr, H. 385: XIII. Postlude. Choral (Arr. for Organ by Alexander Ffinch) 02:36
• David Bowie (1947 - 2016): Life on Mars? (Arr. for Organ by Alexander Ffinch):
• 22 Bowie: Life on Mars? (Arr. for Organ by Alexander Ffinch) 03:45
• Marcel Lanquetuit (1894 - 1985): Intermezzo:
• 23 Lanquetuit: Intermezzo 04:10
• Toccata:
• 24 Lanquetuit: Toccata 06:02
• Total Runtime 01:05:41

Info for 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.

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, featuring prominently in events like the Cheltenham International Music Festival and BBC Radio 3 broadcasts. 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.

Alexander Ffinch, organ Cheltenham College

Alexander Ffinch
studied at the Royal College of Music, and was later organ scholar of Keble College, Oxford where he subsequently became a pupil of Thomas Trotter. He was resident organist at Lancaster Town Hall where he gave over 100 recitals in the 1990’s and also gained recognition in the St Albans Interpretation Competition in 1999. He has performed in UK, Europe, USA and Asia and his schedule for 2019 includes numerous engagements across the globe.

He was appointed College Organist of Cheltenham College in 2004, after a three-year tenure as Director of Music at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and is responsible for the daily organ playing in the College Chapel as well as accompanying the Choirs.

Throughout his time at Cheltenham, he has continued to give recitals regularly and is resident organist for The Eton Choral Courses and The Rodolfus Choir, appearing with these at both Cheltenham International Music Festival and also live on BBC Radio 3 broadcasts.

At the heart of Cheltenham College Chapel lies the College organ, originally built in 1897 by Norman & Beard. The case was designed by Henry Prothero, architect of the Chapel. The organ was rebuilt and extended by Harrison & Harrison in 1930 and was last restored with minor alterations in 1976. In 2013, a 32-foot ‘Double Ophicleide’ stop was added.

The organ has been excellently maintained by Harrison & Harrison since the last rebuild, but the time was right for the entire instrument to be taken apart in 2017 for major restoration, which was again undertaken by Harrison & Harrison.

The complete console, soundboards, wind system and pipework were all removed from the organ case and moved to Durham for overhaul, reworking and releathering before being reinstalled. Some pipework was removed and cleaned onsite. The organ has retained all of its valuable historical features and, like its larger cousin at King’s College, Cambridge, which has also been newly and successfully restored, it will certainly remain one of the finest examples of British organ building of the period.

Booklet for Expectations