Chester & North-East Organists’ & Choirmasters’ Association Affiliated to the Incorporated Association of Organists CNEWOCA Newsletter – August 2017 On line at www.cnewoca.org.uk Facebook - www.facebook.com/groups/CNEWOCA ______Our Next Event . . . Poulton Hall and treated to some lovely I look forward to seeing you at some of the Monday 18 September at 7.30pm refreshments, and a good time was had events that have been organised for the by all. Our performance in the quiz was not months ahead. If you’d like to discuss Composite Recital at St Giles’, as good as last time, coming second to a anything to do with CNEWOCA in the We thank member Chris Pilsbury for the very knowledgeable Liverpool team – well meantime, don’t hesitate to contact me on opportunity to play the three manual done LOA, and thank you for a splendid 07939 645688 or by email angiejohnevans instrument at St Giles’. The instrument evening. @uwclub.net sounds magnificent in a building which is We frequently hear that the organ’s Grade 1 listed and the church tower is one popularity is diminishing, however I was Encouraging the Youth of the seven wonders of Wales. The seven looking at the number of recitals taking Member Gilmour Pemberton has written to wonders are commemorated in an place within our area and wondered if there me as follows: anonymously written rhyme: is any other instrument that can boast the “Rev Sam Erlandson, Vicar of Rhostyllen same level of exposure and availability to Parish Church, is also an organist (ARCO) and Wrexham steeple, the public, often at no cost. who is concerned that many organists in the 's mountain without its people, Congratulations and thanks to those who Wrexham area are 70 plus. He is trying to Overton yew trees, St Winefride wells, continue to promote organ concerts – obtain funding for those with grade 5 piano bridge and bells. I appreciate how much effort is involved. and above for young people to take over in The steeple is, in fact, a tower – but it As I have mentioned on previous occasions, the future. wouldn’t rhyme otherwise. The tower is we must ensure anyone who attends is I believe this is a National problem. Can visible from quite a distance – the postcode encouraged to come again by receiving a our Association offer any help or advice?” is LL13 8LS. warm welcome and that the performer We are all aware that this problem is not Every year Chris arranges two series of provides a programme which is also confined to the Wrexham area and perhaps recitals and if you get chance there is a nice appealing to the non-organ enthusiast. as an Association we should be following Schimmel piano. We are looking for Later this month, when I give my first ever this lead. Many of you will know Mark volunteers to play for about 10 minutes organ concert at Hamilton Street Methodist Swinton – I had worked with Mark’s mum each – please e-mail John Evans if you are Church, I am going to try to follow my own and when he started organ lessons with interested ([email protected]). suggestions by providing a programme Roger Fisher I was asked if I could arrange which is appealing to the non-organ for Mark to practice at St Francis’ Church. October’s Event enthusiast. The concert will feature ‘Dance That was arranged, but as the Church is On Monday 9 October we visit the Church Themed’ items, such as ‘The Blue Danube’, normally locked, it was not straightforward, of the Good Shepherd, Heswall. This is a ‘Jamaican Rumba’, ‘Devil’s Galop’ and and due to the organ being up a flight of new organ (1971) built by Rushworth and ‘Waltz of the Flowers’. It will also make steps the Church insisted that he was Dreaper, and whereas most of us have to use of the church projector to show pictures accompanied by an adult. A few days ago a manage with one or two pedal stops, this and video to enhance the music. The neighbour called round to tell me that she instrument boasts 9 on the pedal with concert will last about 45 minutes and will knew a young boy who is learning the 6 each on the Great and Swell. be followed by some lovely cakes and piano and is also taking some organ lessons drinks, and it’s FREE! Hopefully some of – did I know somewhere he could practice? The Chairman Writes you will be able to come along on Sunday I don’t really know what churches are 20th August at 3.00pm and support me - it August is the month when many people can available in the Upton area of Chester but I would be good to see you. take a well-earned rest and recharge their do have my 3 manual Viscount in the living Sometimes we can take the organ for batteries. So many choirs, clubs and church room, so I am making that available in this granted, so I thought I’d remind you that groups have a break for the summer, and instance. I will report further as things organs were banned in Soviet-controlled yet the organist is expected to carry on develop, but this is food for thought, so if Europe because they were a symbol of the regardless. When I started thinking about we hope that our churches will have church and monarchy; they are the largest this a little more, my mind was drawn to organists in the future, we need to be doing instrument played by one person; and the realise that most churches get more visitors something about it today. I have spoken to most complex machine created before the in the summer than at any other time, and Rev Sam Erlandson and he has given me a Industrial Revolution! yet they seem happy to offer less than their lot more of the background information and I hope you are all managing to make the best, often with no choir to lead the singing. progress so far. Some of the funding will most of the summer – it’s the time when we I hope that I’m going to be flooded with be available in the Wrexham area only and get plenty of daylight to encourage us out responses that this simply isn’t true! as stated it is aimed at the younger and about. Don’t forget, there are lots of Last month, we had a joint event with our generation who have reached a proficient organ concerts out there, many of them friends from the Liverpool Organists’ standard at the piano. Any offers of help, free, and you may even meet up with some Association. We were warmly welcomed suggestions, ideas please e-mail me at of your friends and CNEWOCA members. to the Liverpool Secretary’s home at [email protected]. Once again, Nigel Ogden will be our What’s On? Music at Wesley Tuesdays 12.45pm to 1.35pm Celebrity Recitalist who will play roughly Chester Cathedral 12 Sep Adam Davies - Piano half way through the day. More Thursdays at 1.10pm 19 Sep Helen Southall (Saxophone) information will be forthcoming in the next 17 Aug Roger Fisher (Organist Emeritus) Raewyn Bailey (Piano) couple of months’. 24 Aug Benjamin Scott (Canterbury) 26 Sep Kell Wind Trio (Flute, Clarinet, 31 Aug John Wyatt (London) Bassoon) Hamish Dustagheer 7 Sep Simon Botschen (Wuppertal, Germany) Admission Free - Retiring Collection I must admit that it was the name that 14 Sep Philip Rushforth (Chester Cathedral) attracted my attention, so I did a little 21 Sep Rachel Mahon (Chester Cathedral) research...... Christ Church URC, St Asaph Cathedral Port Sunlight Hamish Dustagheer Wednesday 6 September, 7.30pm Saturday 9 September, 7.30 pm is Maestro di Meirion Wynn Jones Ian Tracey Cappella of St Admission £5 John’s Co-Cathedral: (Carmarthen) the Conventual Admission £6, including programme Church of the

St Mary's, Shrewsbury Knights of Malta. Liverpool Cathedral Thursdays at 1.00pm Prior to his 17 Aug Sarah Boutwood (Packwood Haugh Sat 19 Aug Ashley Wagner (Birmingham appointment, he held Cathedral) School, Shropshire) 24 Aug James Parsons (Birmingham similar posts at Quarr Sat 26 Aug Benjamin Scott (Canterbury) Abbey, Blackfriars, and Campion Hall, Mon 28 Aug Ian Wells (Holy Trinity Conservatoire) Southport) – please note this 31 Aug Anthony Pinel (St Chad's, Shrewsbury) Oxford. Enjoying a reputation as one of recital is in the Lady Chapel Admission Free - Retiring Collection England’s foremost Catholic organists and Sat 2 Sep Edward Taylor (Carlisle improvisers, he performs regularly in the Cathedral) Hamilton Street Church, great churches and cathedrals across Sat 9 Sep Hamish Dustagheer - (Valetta) Europe. Sat 14 Oct Ian Tracey (Liverpool Cathedral) Hoole, Chester Hamish Dustagheer studied at the Royal - the organ's 91st anniversary Sunday 20 August at 3.00pm College of Music, London, graduating with recital - please note this recital John Evans first-class honours and the keyboard prize. starts at 3.45pm “dance-themed programme” He studied with Gordon Fergus-Thompson All recitals (apart from 14 Oct) commence followed by cakes and drinks (concert pianist) and Sophie-Véronique at 12.30pm - admission free Admission Free Cauchefer-Choplin (Organiste Titulaire Adjointe of Saint-Sulpice, Paris). During his Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral “Come and Sing” time at Royal College he achieved Saturdays at 2pm examination and competition success, as 19 Aug Matthew Searles (Liverpool Met Cath) Music for the Christmas Season 26 Aug Simon Leach (Holy Name, Manchester) 23 September at St David’s RC Primary well as obtaining the Fellowship of the Admission £5 School, Mold CH7 1LH Royal Schools of Music. Hamish completed

postgraduate studies with distinction from This is a RSCM Area Event the University of Oxford, where he read for St Giles’, Wrexham directed by Mervyn Cousins - a choral workshop exploring repertoire choices for Christmas with an MPhil in Music at New College. He Mondays at 12.30pm specialised in performance, whilst also 28 Aug Tim Jones (York) technical advice for both singers and choir 4 Sep Graham Eccles (St Asaph Cathedral) trainers. Music copies will be available at the researching the influence of Solesmes on 11 Sep Andrew Wyatt (Chester Cathedral) workshop and the cost is £7 per person. If you Catholic church music in early twentieth 18 Sep Iain Stinson (All Saints, Thornton are interested please email me at bob.jones25@ century England, under the supervision of Hough) btinternet.com for an application form. Prof Robert Quinney and Dr Philip

25 Sep Christopher Pilsbury (St Giles’, Kennedy. Wrexham) In August 2016, at the age of 24, he was Lunches available - admission free Organ Recitals Nationwide appointed by the Archbishop of Malta, Mgr retiring collection http://www.organrecitals.com Charles Scicluna, as Maestro di Cappella in the Archdiocese of Malta. In addition to his St Chad's, Shrewsbury DON'T FORGET principal role at St John’s Co-Cathedral, his

Fri 18 Aug Tom Corfield (Derby) Chester Cathedral Organ Marathon duties include overseeing the musical activities at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Tues 5 Sep Peter Dyke (Hereford Cathedral) Saturday 16 September 2017 All recitals at 12.40pm 9.00am to 9.00pm Mdina, promoting liturgical music Admission free - retiring collection throughout the Archdiocese, and directing Philip Rushforth has written as follows: the music at all major state and religious St George’s Hall, Liverpool occasions presided over by the Archbishop. ‘I want to give you notice that we are again Hamish is the recitalist at Liverpool Tues 5 Sep Recital Cancelled holding another ORGAN MARATHON here Sun 24 Sep Ian Wells (Holy Trinity, Southport) Cathedral on Saturday 9 September at Admission £2.50 at the Cathedral in aid of the Grand Organ 12.30pm.

Appeal. Our last marathon was held in October 2014 and I know that you took part Newsletter Contributions Christ Church, Birkenhead and supported the appeal. For that I am Contributions for the September newsletter Sat 9 Sep 12.00noon very grateful. If you would like to take part are required before 1 September. Please Paul Broadhurst (Christ Church) again – I am very much hoping you will - write to Bob Jones at 3 Appleton Road, Part of the Heritage Open Days 2017 and obtain sponsorship for your time at the Chester CH2 1JH or (preferred) e-mail at Admission Free magnificent organ of Chester Cathedral, [email protected] or telephone please SAVE THE DATE and spread the 01244 315089 or 07701 052304. word to any likely participants!