[1] Williamson's Organ Concerto was written in 1961, to a commission from Sir William Glock specifically for that year's BBC Proms season.
[2] The première took place at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 8 August, and was performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Adrian Boult (a staunch advocate of Williamson's music[3]) with the composer himself as soloist.
Many listeners at the time were bewildered by the (allegedly) bizarre sound-world of the concerto, and there were mixed reviews from the press.
[4] Williamson himself later recalled that "the concerto's first performance was received with enthusiastic abuse by the more conservative elements of the British organ world for being too venturesome, by Baroque enthusiasts for its use of the romantic organ, and by some critics for not being sufficiently venturesome!"
[5] The concerto is divided into three movements, as follows: LYRITA: London Philharmonic, Adrian Boult (conductor) and Malcolm Williamson (organ solo) [SRCD.280]