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Nigel Ogden

Nigel was born in Manchester. His father was a church organist, and also a lover of the theatre organ. At an early age, Nigel was taken to hear the great Reginald Dixon playing the Tower Ballroom Wurlitzer organ, and was instantly 'hooked'.

He first broadcast in 1971, and on 3rd March 1980, when still only in his mid twenties, took over from Robin Richmond as the presenter of the BBC Radio 2 programme The Organist Entertains. The programme itself has now been running for 33 years and can be heard on a Tuesday evening at 8pm.

Nigel is equally at home on church organs and electronics, particularly Hammonds, and has just issued a CD playing one of these instruments. Cathedrals organs too have received the very special Ogden treatment, with a most enjoyable recording made recently at the magnificent organ in Lincoln Cathedral.

However, the theatre organ is Nigel Ogden's first love, and he has recorded many CDs at the organ that first sparked his imagination - the Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer.

The theatre organ lends itself to music of the 1930s, and Nigel has wonderfully expressed this era in his composition Art Deco 'Three-piece' Suite. Other works include several in Stainer & Bell's 'light organ music series'. Among these are Afternoon tea with the Duchess, written to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the installation of the five-manual Compton organ at the Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square and the fun piece Scherzo for the White Rabbit.

In a more serious vein, Nigel has written several stirring marches, including England's Glory, New Era composed to inaugurate a series of lunchtime concerts at Manchester Town Hall, and Our Squadron Leader.

His talents, both as a composer and performer, appear to have no end, and he has also penned a delightful Christmas carol Born for us on Christmas Day, premiered and recorded by the Altrincham Choral Society.

Sheet music titles by Nigel Ogden published by Stainer & Bell

These titles can all be ordered in our secure online shop.

	Afternoon Tea with the Duchess Ref. H321 - PDF Sample [Online Shop] Written to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Compton Organ at the Leicester Square Odeon, London, affectionately known as 'The Duchess'.

	An Art-Deco Three Piece Suite Ref. H358 - PDF Sample [Online Shop] Reflecting his admiration for the age of flying boats and Bakelite radios, the 'Art-Deco Suite' is an affectionate study in nostalgia - a trio of images from the 1920s and 30s set in music of timeless elegance. The first piece 'Ritzy', speaks for itself: classy, carefree and full of elite syncopations. 'Acacia Avenue', in contrast, is a miniature tone poem, its languidly flowing melody conjuring up visions of neat suburban 'semis' and impeccably tended gardens. The unstoppable finale, 'To Clarice', pays homage to the popular Clarice Cliff ceramics of the period, superbly decorated in black, orange and lime, and now as much a collector's item as this composition has proved to be amongst lovers of stylish organ music.

	At Your Service Unison voice and piano Ref. H456 [Online Shop] Fifteen Practical Voluntaries for Church Organists. Liturgical organ music in an accessible modern style is always welcome, and Nigel Ogden,well-known contributor to Stainer & Bell's 'Light Organ Series', and host of 'The Organist Entertains' on BBC Radio 2, has composed fifteen new pieces for use within the communion service andother acts of worship. Versatile in function, they may be played on a two-manual organ, withoptional pedal, but are also suited to a variety of instruments, to enliven church services with awealth of suitable moods and atmospheres.

	Born for us on Christmas Day Unison voice and piano Ref. W199 - PDF Sample [Online Shop] Nigel Ogden, host of BBC Radio’s The Organist Entertains and one of Britain’s most talented popular musicians, wrote the words and music for this delightful all-age Christmas carol. It has been recorded by the Altrincham Choral Society, conductor Steven Roberts, on the AVID label, CD-AVC613 and cassette, AVM613.

	England's Glory Ref. H323 - PDF Sample [Online Shop] Pageantry, pomp and circumstance are vividly portrayed in this stirring march. Detailed registrations are included in the score, and the strong melodic style of the piece is inevitably based around the vital ingredient of a memorable 'big tune'.

	Leprechaun in London Ref. H322 - PDF Sample [Online Shop] Starting with the Westminster chimes, the melody develops into an Irish Jig, and the Leprechaun has great fun in the Metropolis. 'Handel in the Strand' and 'Bach goes to Town' with a touch of the Blarney!

	Mr Mozart Takes a Sleigh Ride Ref. H451 - PDF Sample !! NEW !! [Online Shop] For his latest seasonal entertainment, Nigel Ogden has arranged a sequence of favourite tunes by Mozart and capped them all with a surprise quotation of Leroy Anderson's classic Sleigh Ride melody. Well within the range of organists of intermediate ability who are able to master a simple pedal part, the music offers spirited versions of the Rondo alla Turca, the Exultate Jubilate, Eine kleine Nachtmusik , the Piano Sonata K. 545 and the G minor Symphony, and more laughs per minute than the average Christmas cracker.

	New Era Ref. H389 - PDF Sample [Online Shop] Written to inaugurate a series of lunchtime concerts at Manchester Town Hall, one of Britain's finest examples of Victorian architecture and home of the magnificent Cavaille-Coll organ. English through and through, it opens with a short fanfare motif which helps to bind the sections together as it marches along with more than a hint of Elgar. Easy under the fingers (and feet) this is a real players piece and would suit any occasion where a little pomp and ceremony is required.

	Our Squadron Leader Ref. H428 - PDF Sample [Online Shop] Nigel Ogden's many admirers will welcome this latest addition to the growing list of original organ music from the pen of this stylish entertainer. A lively march in military style frames a 'big tune' in E flat major, written in the grand ceremonial manner. Sounding equally fine on pipe or electronic instruments, the piece is well within the range of any player of Grade 4 standard or above, and has been recorded on the CD 'At Your Request', issued by OS Digital Recordings, performed by the composer on the Wurlitzer Organ at Stockport Town Hall.

	Penguins' Playtime Ref. H320 - PDF Sample [Online Shop] You can just imagine the penguins at the London Zoo waddling and diving in the famous pool designed in the 1930s by Lubetkin. Pure fun!
	Saints on a Spree Ref. H461 - PDF Sample [Online Shop] The latest addition to Stainer & Bell's much-admired Light Organ series, Saints on a Spree is a stylish and not altogether reverent fantasy on several popular tunes associated with saintliness. Lively episodes in Latin-American and schmaltzy-waltz mood pull the carpet from under a solemn, hymn-like opening. Things get even more wild when Widor's Toccata from the Fifth Symphony and Brahms's Lullaby put in an appearance. With his usual masterly craftsmanship, Nigel Ogden, leading light-organist and host of long-running Radio 2 series The Organist Entertains, draws all these ideas into a grand and saintly peroration, which will sound as good whether played on an electronic instrument as on a church organ.

	Scherzo for the White Rabbit Ref. H348 - PDF Sample [Online Shop] ' . . . suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her. There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, 'Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!' (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat pocket or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.' Lewis Carroll from 'Alice in Wonderland' and inspiration for this lively and fun piece of light organ music.