Music by Douglas Bell


Carson Cooman has championed the music of English composer Douglas Bell (1932–2022) and has made recordings of a number of his organ compositions.

Douglas Bell served as organist of St. Bartholomew’s Church, Marsden, near Huddersfield, England from 1955 until 2003. He was a student of Francis Jackson and earned a Fellowship certificate from the Royal College of Organists. Bell composed and published many organ works. In addition to his musical pursuits, Bell played professional cricket for the teams of Huddersfield, Marsden, and Elland.

Most of the organ music of Douglas Bell is published by animus Music Publishing (Cumbria, England). (Other works remain in manuscript at present.)


Carson has recorded numerous pieces by Bell that can be listened to online at Contrebombarde Concert Hall (online listening stream links), or YouTube (full playlist), or downloaded as MP3 files.

Ayre (2011)
Published by animus Music Publishing in “False Relations”
YouTube / MP3

Cantilena (2010)
Published by animus Music Publishing in “Five Miniatures”
YouTube / MP3

Carson’s Tune (2016)
YouTube / MP3

Chorale and Dance (2013)
Published by animus Music Publishing
YouTube / MP3

Dance of the Gargoyles (2012)
Published by animus Music Publishing in “Organ Club Collection”
YouTube / MP3

Dorian Chorale (2012)
Published by animus Music Publishing in “Organ Club Collection”
YouTube / MP3

Dorian Prelude (2015)
YouTube / MP3

False Relations (A Suite for Organ) (2011)
1) Praeludium; 2) Tune for a Hunky Punk; 3) Ayre; 4) Fantasia Organum
Published by animus Music Publishing
YouTube / MP3

Fantasia circa Holt (2010)
Published by animus Music Publishing in “Five Miniatures”
YouTube / MP3

F.J.’s Jig (2017)
YouTube / MP3

Fotheringhay Suite (2011)
1) Mr. Bull’s Sortie (MP3)
2) Mary’s Dumpë (MP3)
3) Royal Tordion (MP3)
4) Lantern Song (MP3)
5) A Hymn for Richard (MP3)
Published by animus Music Publishing
YouTube (complete)

Jongleur (2015)
YouTube / MP3

Joust (2016)
YouTube / MP3

Lydian Fagot (2017)
YouTube / MP3

A Minstrels’ Gallery (2011)
1) Basse Danse (MP3)
2) Dump (MP3)
3) Tordion (MP3)
4) Branle (MP3)
5) Pavane (MP3)
6) Galliard (MP3)
Published by animus Music Publishing
YouTube (complete)

A Modal Point (2015)
YouTube / MP3

The Moorland Spell (2017)
YouTube / MP3

Per organo molto piccolo (2013)
1) Cantique (MP3)
2) Il Flauto mobile (MP3)
3) Dance of the Tritone (MP3)
Published by animus Music Publishing
YouTube (complete)

Phrygian Chorale (2010)
Published by animus Music Publishing in “Five Miniatures”
YouTube / MP3

Phrygian Fancy (2017)
YouTube / MP3

Pipe Dream (2016)
YouTube / MP3

Prelude on a Melody by Hanson Wood (2004)
Published by animus Music Publishing in “Pennine Pieces”
YouTube / MP3

Rhapsody on a Theme by Widor (2010)
Published by animus Music Publishing in “Five Miniatures”
YouTube / MP3

Shades of a White Rose (2013)
1) Jig (MP3)
2) Epicedium (MP3)
3) Tixover Prelude (MP3)
4) Richard Recalled (MP3)
Published by animus Music Publishing
YouTube (complete) / MP3 (complete)

Soliloquy (2016)
YouTube / MP3

Spectrum (Variations on “Winchester New”) (2014)
YouTube / MP3
In memoriam: B.C.H. (2014)
YouTube / MP3
Halifaxiensis: Paean (2014)
YouTube / MP3
Published by animus Music Publishing as “Trilogy”

Snetzler in Halifax (2014–15)
1) Trump for Leonard (MP3)
2) Lament (MP3)
3) J.W.’s Lavolta (MP3)
4) A Verse for Jean (MP3)
5) Jubilate for John (MP3)
Published by animus Music Publishing
YouTube (complete) / MP3 (complete)

Tristram Remembered (2012–13)
1) Herschel’s Romp (MP3)
2) Aeolian Chorale (MP3)
3) Meditation (MP3)
4) A Tune for Tristram (MP3)
Published by animus Music Publishing
YouTube (complete)

Variations: The Bower (2010)
Published by animus Music Publishing in “Five Miniatures”
YouTube / MP3