November 2007
F. C. J. Swanton, F.R.C.O.	Show Menu

Pat Maybury

I first met F. C. J. Swanton. F.R.C.O. or ‘Swanee’ as he was affectionally known to his friends, when he was Organist of St Philip and St James Church in Booterstown. I was 12 years old and my mother was a leading soprano in the choir. This was the beginning of a long and happy friendship with him and with other choir members.

After Evening Service ‘Swanee’ would give a recital to his captive audience, first handing a programme to each person and a giving verbal introduction to each piece. It was here that I came to understand composers such as Messiaen, E.J. Moeran, his beloved J.S. Bach and Marcel Dupré, a man who became a friend to him. He was thrilled when invited to stay in Dupré's home and to meet Dupré’ wife. This friendship also gave him the opportunity to play the organ in Notre Dame Cathedral. He gave recitals in London but few in Ireland (except of course his own recitals after Evensong). He would never begin before all were silent, which would be immediate when you came under his glare.

Coming back to these Sunday evenings each member of the choir took it in turn to have supper in our homes and what evenings they were! When it was our turn I would not go to bed until he played God save the King and La Marseillaise simultaneously!

When the organist position in Mariners’ Church Dún Laoghaire became vacant in 1951, ‘Swanee’ grabbed it eagerly. The acoustics there were superb. When I was older I had the great pleasure of singing solo there in Messiah, Creation etc., with the Trostan Singers, and a few recitals with him at the organ. I am reminded of an occasion when, while accompanying one of the oratorios, he continued reading a book on the organ seat. On another occasion he came direct from the Mozart Festival in Austria, sat at the piano and played music which he had bought there but but never seen— amazing sight reading.

‘Swanee’ worked in a bank and was a whiz at mathematics. He could have a serious conversation while totting up figures. I don't think he made any mistakes! In those days not many people owned cars and it was quite amusing to see him on a tram or bus taking a very small purse from his pocket to get out the money for his fare, especially if it was Standing Room Only! If ever anyone gave him a lift he would not say he was driven, it was always motoring.

He lived with his mother and sister on St John's Road, Sandymount, with St John’s Church just up the road (another building great for singing in). It was Heaven for him when he played there. He loved the form of service and every year played Midnight Mass at Christmas with my sister singing Silent Night. He just loved playing the organ to the point that he had a pedal board built to fit under his piano for practise. It did look odd to see the piano halfway up the drawing-room wall!

When he was away he always used a very mediocre deputy and we used to say he did this on purpose, so that we would be reminded of his genius when he returned! On one occasion we were to sing The Heavens are Telling from Creation for a Harvest Service, but the Irish Times in its wisdom gave the title as The Heavens Artillery! These are some of my memories of ‘Swanee’—a loveable gifted eccentric.

F. Calvert J. Swanton: born Co Cork, 1895, died Dublin 1974. FRCO 1930. Organist SS Philip & James, Booterstown, mid-1920s–1951; Mariners’ Church, Dún Laoghaire, 1951–72; St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Blackrock, 1972–74.

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