Organ Consultant, Recitalist & Author
It was a delight to be back in Southwell Minster on 23rd December, where we attended the first night of the Festival of Lessons and Carols. A lovely atmosphere, a packed cathedral, excellent singing and a wide range of carols. And no responsibility for it myself! Joy all round.
Anne and I are still in a trance this morning after a profoundly moving and immaculately prepared performance by the Oxford Bach Choir and CBSO of ‘The Dream of Gerontius’ yesterday evening, a concert dedicated to the memory of Sir Stephen Cleobury, members of whose family were present. The Sheldonian Theatre was packed, Roderick Williams, Ed Lyon and Kathryn Rudge were on inspired vocal form, and Benjamin Nicholas steered his forces through the deep streams and flashing rapids of Elgar’s masterpiece with calm aplomb and complete control. Intense detailed preparation of the score is all-important when it comes to conducting Elgar; few are as well-prepared as Ben Nicholas, who has an instinctive feel for just the right tempo at every moment. Totally inspiring!
We visited my parent’s grave here in the beautiful Arboretum Cemetery in Bingham a couple of days ago — two years since Dad died — and as we stood there, a lovely little robin came and perched on the memorial stone. He watched and waited — beautifully still — whilst I took a couple of photos, then flew away. My mother would have been so delighted!
This evening I was part of a capacity audience at Westminster Cathedral for an extraordinary event. Seven Viscount digital organs had been installed, to augment the cathedral’s two famous pipe organs, all in aid of the UK premiere of the late Jean Guillou’s La Rêvolte des Orgues, which formed the last thirty minutes of the evening, and featured leading players from all over Europe. The nine instruments were put to good use in the first hour of the programme in music by Bach and Vivaldi, the percussionist necessary for the Guillou also playing the side drum in Pierre Cochereau’s Boléro sur un thème de Charles Racquet. Frankly, words fail me in attempting to do the event justice, but I would not have missed it — even if I never wish to hear the Guillou again.
Today was spent at Radley College, near Oxford, a famously musical independent school which has recently signed a contract with Nicholson & Co for a new three-manual organ. The need has arisen because the chapel is about to be extended and the current organ will not be loud enough nor is in the best position in chapel to lead the singing. Today they took final measurements for the new case, standing proudly in the west gallery, the large Pedal section going in the existing organ chamber. The photograph shows work beginning on the chapel, which will gain a beautiful new East end.
Anne and I have just returned from a most enriching holiday in Vienna and Salzburg. By great good fortune we managed to get into the dress rehearsal of La Clemenza di Tito on our second night, and that good fortune remained with us for eleven days as we trod in the footsteps (and in the very houses) of Leopold, Constanze and Wolfgang Mozart, of Michael and Joseph Haydn, and, of course, of Antonio Salieri. A refreshing interlude was a wine-tasting day in the Wachau Valley, culminating in a visit to the glorious Abbey at Melk. Even the weather smiled upon us — and the flights were on time. We could ask for nothing more and returned home truly refreshed and inspired.
I’ve not conducted a Diocesan Choirs Festival since retiring from Southwell so it was a real delight to do so in Henley-on-Thames parish church on October 12th. Numbering around 200 — with an impressive three rows of extremely well-behaved and thoroughly-prepared juniors — the combined choirs of the Diocese of Oxford made a well-blended and confident sound. The rehearsal went smoothly and the service was a delight, enhanced by the fine playing of Sebastian Thomson coping with the rather odd organ, and a thought-provoking address by the Incumbent, Fr. Jeremy Tayler.
I’m just back from a stimulating couple of days in Swindon, where last night I gave the inaugural recital on a singularly fine organ in the very well-attended Catholic church of the Holy Rood. Anthony Hall (of Clevedon organs) has been ‘titulaire’ there for some years and his firm has just finished enlarging and enhancing the 1930 Ainscough organ. A gorgeous terraced console designed by Anthony and made by Colin Peacock’s team at Renatus was exceptionally comfortable to play and the large and enthusiastic audience made playing a real delight. I can’t remember when I enjoyed playing an opening recital as much!
It has been a stimulating weekend in Cardiff, where the RCO, IAO and BIOS have mounted this year’s three-day Organ Fest. RCO President Gerald Brooks gave immaculately prepared recitals on the two splendid 3-manual Father Willis organs in the city, David Briggs performed an heroic programme on the majestic Nicholson in Llandaff Cathedral (to be broadcast later this month on BBC Radio 3), and a most interesting lecture recital was given in the National Museum of Wales, centred on the Snetzler / Green / Gray & Davison organ in its beautiful and unique Robert Adam case. Anne and I enjoyed all the music and also the social aspects of the weekend, meeting up with many friends. I took a photo of the wonderful Snetzler in the museum; the trip was worth the effort for this organ alone.
An enjoyable annual event, which I have had the honour to organise for the last ten years, is the Diocesan Organ Advisers’ Conference, at which around 30 Anglican Diocesan Organ Advisers from all over the country (plus colleagues from other denominations) assemble for three days for a varied programme of talks, instruction, organ visits, and general discussion. This week, for the first time since the conference was founded some 60 years ago, we have been based in the Diocese of Leicester, at tranquil Launde Abbey. The conference was centred on the work of local organ-builders Stephen Taylor and Joshua Porritt, several of whose organs were examined and discussed. The photograph is of Taylor’s last remaining untouched organ, at St Peter’s church, Highfields.