THE ESSEX ORGANIST the Newsletter of the Essex Organists’ Association
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THE ESSEX ORGANIST The Newsletter of the Essex Organists’ Association Mar -Apr 2016 www.essexorganists.net EDITORIAL I shall be off on a short holiday abroad soon and will have to leave finalisation of the preparation of this issue to others in the editorial team, especially Fay Hepworth and Stuart Pegler. For your information, Richard Brasier has also just joined the team as proof reader. I return from holiday just a day or two before publication is due to take place, so I’m hoping for a pleasant surprise when, on my return, I open my emails and find a final proof ready for checking and publishing. Gillian and I strictly do not take our computers away on Featured in this issue: holiday with us! p.2 John Cooper Recital in the Moot Hall Anyway, I hope you can all find something of - Alwyn Jones interest amongst the usual variety of material. P.3 London Organ Day 2016 And do please write to me if you wish to give - Richard BrasierP.4 Ten Pieces for Organ feedback on any matter raised within these pages. - Gillian Ward Russell A much refreshed editor is delighted to be able to P.4 Letters to the Editor report that he has had time to approve the P.6 Registration Workshop assembled material for this edition. Great work - Gillian Ward Russell by the editorial team! My sincere thanks to you P. 8 A Study Day on the restored 1821 H.C. Lin- all. Ed." coln Organ, Thaxted Alwyn Jones, Editor - Gillian Ward Russell P.9 Celebrating Maldon’s New Organ Arrival - Alwyn Jones P.9 Organ Concert for EOA to be given by Gillian Ward Russell P.10 Essex Organists Association Organ Competition 2016 P. 12 Forthcoming EOA events in 2016 P.13 Other events in 2016 1 John Cooper Recital in the Moot Hall Bells, a Star, Kings and a Ride in the Snow This was the less than succinct title John Cooper had chosen for his lunchtime organ recital at The Moot Hall, Colchester, on Tuesday 2nd February. However, it did make one wonder what it meant, which helped to raise one’s interest level! John Cooper is Organist Emeritus of St Mary-le-Tower, the Civic Church of Ipswich, but the Essex connection is that he was for many years Senior Lecturer in the Colchester Institute School of Music and responsible for establishing a flourishing tradition of organ playing, and is fondly remembered by our President for being an inspirational teacher in the 1970s. Today was the first time I, personally, had heard him play and a delightful surprise for me was that his playing sounded more like that of a 20-year old than that of a much more mature man – 80 years old to be precise. And the snappy title of his programme? He explained it by introducing the main thread as being related to bells. Les Carillons de Paris by Couperin, Samuel Wesley’s An Air composed for Holsworthy Church Bells and varied for the organ (another snappy title!), Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson (arr Thomas Trotter) and Carillon Sortie by Mulet. Interlaced between these main-theme items were pieces by Bach, Buxtehude, Dubois, Mendelssohn and Andrew Carter (b 1939). Both Buxtehude and Mendelssohn had strong connections with Bach as being inspirer and inspired, respectively, so that pulled the draw-cord to tighten the structure of the programme. The spread of the composers’ birth dates, however, made for a nice variety of styles and interest, and the overall effect was most enjoyable, especially due to the very skilled and lively playing demonstrated by John Cooper. The notable hub of the performance was undoubtedly Mendelssohn’s mighty Sonata in D minor a firm favourite of mine ever since I became familiar with it through page-turning for Gillian when she gave a big recital in Oldenberg, Germany, a few years ago. I did wonder if John could help match my memories of Gillian’s moving interpretation, but I needn’t have worried, of course, since Gillian no doubt had in turn been inspired by John’s teaching. I only just managed to hold off the tears during the Variation No 3, such was the emotive strength of the playing. Later, Gillian gave me the intriguing inside information that John’s favourite music at the time she was a student was of the Baroque and Modern eras, rather than the Romantic, so she too was impressed with his skilled interpretation of this most Romantic of compositions. This was a thoroughly rewarding trip to the Moot Hall with its now really wonderful instrument. (See our Sept-Oct 2014 and Jul-Aug Sept 2015 issues for further articles related to the Moot Hall Organ and its restoration.) Alwyn Jones 2 London Organ Day 2016 Southwark Cathedral , Saturday, 5th March This year’s London Organ Day focuses on the centenary of the death of the German composer, Max Reger. He composed some monumental organ music during his lifetime, and was even revered by some as the greatest German composer since Johann Sebastian Bach. His music will also be put into context, with performances of pieces by Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms, amongst others, but, most importantly, we will hear music by Johann Sebastian Bach, whose influence cannot be understated! There will be recitals by Tom Bell (Artistic Director), Henry Fairs (Head of Organ Studies at Birmingham Conservatoire) and a rare UK performance by the legendary Bernhard Haas (Munich Conservatory). The musicians of Southwark Cathedral will give an introduction to the Cathedral building and its wonderful Lewis organ. Graham Barber will give a talk on his upcoming Reger DVD, and Tom Daggett will give a presentation on his groundbreaking OBE organ outreach programme based near St Paul’s Cathedral. In the words of Tom Bell….” If you are a Reger aficionado, then this is the day for you. If you love romantic organ music, this is also the day for you. If you feel rather challenged by Reger’s music, then come and hear what I have to say and learn more about Reger and his music. I guarantee you will come away inspired!” Tickets cost £33, £28 (IAO member), £10 (Student in full time education) Gillian has offered to co-ordinate travel, so please let her know in good time if you plan to attend and would like to share travel companionship, or perhaps car share in getting to a starting railway station. She would also like to know which EOA members she can expect to see at the event. Let her know if you intend to take any photographs and she will let our Newsletter Editor know from whom he can expect to receive photo submissions. Written personal reactions to the day will be especially welcome for inclusion in our next Newsletter. (Please use Gillian’s contact details at the end of this Newsletter.) This is a day that’s not to be missed! Richard Brasier THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF MATERIAL FOR THE MAY-JUNE ISSUE OF ‘THE ESSEX ORGANIST’ IS 30th MARCH 2016 Late submission of urgent matter may be acceptable in certain circumstances. Editor. 3 TEN PIECES for ORGAN A youth development initiative from our President. It is a fact that classical music (in the widest sense of the term) is a minority interest in the UK; it is also acknowledged that the appreciation of organ music forms but a tiny part of that interest. With the BBC’s current initiatives Ten Pieces primary and Ten Pieces secondary as my inspiration, I have devised a recital programme headed Ten Pieces for Organ with the aim of attracting young people to come and experience the thrill of the organ and its music. The programme comprises ten fairly short pieces taken from the core repertoire— from Bach to Bovet—each of which will be introduced in an appealing way and video screens will show the action. I will launch the presentation on Tuesday 30th June at 1.15pm at St Mary’s Church, Frinton, Essex, and will repeat it at Chelmsford Cathedral on Friday 7th October at 12.30pm. My hope is that, from these initial performances (to which schools will be especially invited), others will take up my lead and turn this into a national project. Gillian Ward Russell Letters to the Editor Thank you for all your hard work in publishing the EOA magazine. As a member I always look forward to reading it. In a recent edition I noted, in a Letter to the Editor, a comment about David Martin’s article on the IAO Congress. I used to work with David at Hylands School, Chelmsford, some years ago. The last time I visited the IAO Congress at St. Andrews was quite a few years ago (just after I had got married). I wanted to tell you that I still have vivid memories of meeting there the late John Jordan (formerly from Chelmsford Cathedral) who had taught me as a student at KEGS, Chelmsford. Throughout the whole of our conversation he continued to address me in the traditional way of teachers speaking to pupils, namely by surname only. Rather strange when I was a married man! However, I was more than happy to accept that from such an inspirational figure. But my main reason for writing to you now is to say that, though the title hadn’t been formally adopted at that stage, I was ‘organ scholar’ at St. Andrews University when the old organ was replaced by the present instrument. The builder was Hradetzky of Krems, Austria.