James Woodman, composer

Sinfonia

There are wonderful sonorities, colorful registration for a large romantic organ, and a closing double fugue with a fantastic coda. Sinfonia is a worthy addition to organ repertoire for the advanced player.

Six Little Partitas: Book I

...there is an imaginative and economical use of material in building up the variations. These short works provide for a wide variety of use in services, and would not be out of place in a recital programme as a gentle foil for larger pieces; furthermore, with the optional pedal they make good early teaching pieces, as well as useful studies in compositional techniques.

Six Little Partitas: Book II

...subtle and masterful use of texture and imaginative harmony...advanced players could sight-read much of these works — however this does not lessen the charm and interest that abounds in them...These works are a welcome and highly useful addition to the repertoire.

Six Little Partitas: Book I

These amazing creations, designed for minimal registration, speak as eloquently to the art of organ music as any elaborate music anywhere. They epitomize my goals of service literature which transcends its original material and which transforms its auditors.

Eight Little Harmonies and Counterpoints

The pieces are modest in technical difficulty, transparent in formal organization, full of life and drama, and just plain fun to play.

The Midwife’s Tale

Woodman's text setting seemed to be of a different age, like many of the Renaissance composers, where marriage of text and music are intricately bound together by a cohesive understanding of implied and explicit meaning.