CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JOHN BIRCH SATURDAY 12 MARCH 2016 Spring Concert with John Rutter CBE SSpring_Concert_8pp_final.inddpring_Concert_8pp_final.indd 1 004/03/20164/03/2016 117:487:48 John Birch: “...always as immaculate in his playing as in his attire” SSpring_Concert_8pp_final.inddpring_Concert_8pp_final.indd 2 004/03/20164/03/2016 117:487:48 A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF JOHN BIRCH “A soloist of distinction – happy to use his gifts as an ensemble musician, and supremely modest – both personally and professionally. His taste in music and the arts was only revealed under persuasion, but what a galaxy of sophistication he has left us.” Sir Neville Marriner, Founder and Life President of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields It has been huge fun to help plan this evening and to We pay tribute to John this evening and recognise welcome back so many familiar faces in the process. the many strands of his musical life represented here It is extraordinary to realise that I am now almost a tonight; from Chichester Festival Theatre where he decade older than John was when I fi rst set foot on was Music Adviser (Patricia Routledge), the Royal the Sussex campus in December 1976 on a wild, wet Philharmonic Orchestra (he was their organist), John day, despondent at having failed to secure a choral Rutter (who employed John as organist for many of his scholarship at Selwyn Cambridge. The then organ own recordings), the Royal College of Music (where scholar at Sussex (who sadly died in a tragic accident Stephen Roberts still works, and where Stephen Disley a few years later) and the then Chaplain, Duncan was his pupil), the Academy of St Martin in the Fields (for Forrester, offered me a choral scholarship on the basis whom he often played continuo), Chichester Cathedral of a rather wooden St Matthew Passion aria, and I never Choir (a young chorister is singing with us this evening), looked back. to Temple Church and Brighton Festival Chorus... the list is endless. He was Curator Organist of the Royal Albert Although I was supposed to be reading French, I spent all Hall, Accompanist to the Royal Choral Society, President my time on music. John encouraged, cajoled, mentored of the Royal College of Organists, and so much more. and inspired me. He was duly and rightly withering Here at Sussex he helped design the organ for the new about my organ playing but nonetheless made me organ Meeting House 50 years ago, was University Organist, scholar in my fi nal year. Many of us here this evening auditioned organ and choral scholars, and directed the have reason to be eternally grateful to John Birch, and Meeting House and University Chamber choirs. indeed to that other legend still happily with us, Laszlo Heltay, for the musical journeys we have since enjoyed to All here tonight are helping to raise funds to endow music the highest standards. John remained a close friend of scholarships as their way of saying thank you for John’s mine and Jill’s (whom I met and married here at Sussex) gifts of music-making, his friendship and his lasting to the end. He was godfather to our son Will. infl uence on their own musicianship. Roger Walkinton, Executive Producer of the Spring Concert SSpring_Concert_8pp_final.inddpring_Concert_8pp_final.indd 3 004/03/20164/03/2016 117:487:48 SPRING CONCERT WITH JOHN RUTTER CBE “John Birch was the complete professional, always as immaculate in his playing as in his attire, full of life and fun, generous in his friendships and teaching, relishing every opportunity to make music as if it was the most important of his life. A model of a life well lived and an inspiring example to us all.” John Rutter OBE, collaborator and friend of John Birch TONIGHT’S PERFORMERS THE UNIVERSITY CHAMBER CHOIR John Rutter CBE (conductor) The University of Sussex Chamber Choir meet weekly Patricia Routledge CBE during term time. The Choir is open to all students and Stephen Roberts (baritone) staff from Sussex and Brighton Universities, everybody is Stephen Disley (organ) welcome, and there are no auditions. Stephen King (organ) D’Arcy Trinkwon (organ) recently appointed Organist Every year the Choir performs in the University Candlelit to the University of Sussex Carol Service at Christmas, an event which always proves Jonathan Keyte (treble) by kind permission of popular with the university community. The Choir also Chichester Cathedral choir puts on a concert at the end of the spring term, usually University Chamber Choir a major classical work accompanied by a chamber ensemble. Augmented by alumni singers and other friends: OUR GRATEFUL THANKS Sopranos: Janet Barry, Sylvia Coward, Polly Hitchcock, Liz Kaye, Sue Mileham-Paine, Mary Potter, Hilary Todd Our grateful thanks to all the performers who have Altos: Gill Kay, Philippa Dodds John, Georgina Drewe, wholeheartedly volunteered their time for this event Jill Walkinton in tribute to John Birch, and to the following who have Tenors: Nicolas Chisholm, Wayne Jones, Rev Preb devoted themselves behind the scenes: Dr Brian Leathard, Alan Sykes, Rev Dr Colin Thompson, Roger Walkinton; Janine Thorogood; Dr Phil Watten; Paul Wallis Hannah Folkes; Charles Harrison and the Chichester Basses: Iestyn Henson, John Liggins, Tony Potter, Cathedral Choir; Professor Ed Hughes and his colleagues Nick Straw, Roger Walkinton, Peter Williams from The Music Department. SSpring_Concert_8pp_final.inddpring_Concert_8pp_final.indd 4 004/03/20164/03/2016 117:487:48 PROGRAMME 7pm WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION by Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex CHH PARRY: I WAS GLAD (CHOIR AND ORGAN) conducted by John Rutter with Stephen King on organ SAMUEL WESLEY: ORGAN DUET IN C MAJOR (ONE MOVEMENT) with Stephen Disley and Stephen King PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE CBE reads a passage of her choice LEOŠ JANÁCEK: ORGAN SOLO FROM GLAGOLITIC MASS with D’Arcy Trinkwon GABRIEL FAURÉ: REQUIEM, 1893 VERSION EDITED BY JOHN RUTTER with Stephen Disley on organ and solos from Stephen Roberts and Jonathan Keyte, Chichester Cathedral Chorister HERBERT HOWELLS: PSALM PRELUDE SET II NO. 1 with Stephen King on organ JOHN RUTTER: THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU conducted by John Rutter with Stephen Disley on organ HYMN: THE DAY THOU GAVEST LORD HAS ENDED 8.15pm We invite you to join us for drinks and canapés 9.30pm Carriages SSpring_Concert_8pp_final.inddpring_Concert_8pp_final.indd 5 004/03/20164/03/2016 117:487:48 BIOGRAPHIES JOHN RUTTER CBE STEPHEN ROBERTS John Rutter’s career has embraced choral, orchestral Stephen Roberts is one of Britain’s foremost concert and instrumental pieces. His choral works, Requiem, and oratorio performers having collaborated with Magnifi cat and Psalmfest have been performed many conductors such as Sir David Willcocks, Richard Hickox times around the world. Having also been Director of and Sir Simon Rattle. Music at Clare College, and founder of the Cambridge Singers, he now divides his time between composition STEPHEN DISLEY and conducting. John Rutter’s record label, Collegium, has achieved wide acclaim over the years, showcasing Stephen Disley studied with John Birch at the Royal his own work in addition to a wealth of traditional and College of Music and London’s Temple Church. He sacred music. performs frequently at the Royal Albert Hall and is Sub-Organist at Southwark Cathedral. PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE CBE STEPHEN KING Patricia Routledge is best known for her role as Hyacinth Bucket in the British sitcom Keeping up Appearances Stephen King studied at Trinity College of Music, and (1990–95), for which she was twice nominated for a then was organ scholar at Sussex under John Birch. BAFTA. She rose to prominence during the 1980s in For 24 years he has combined a career in the NHS with monologues written by Alan Bennett and Victoria Wood; being organist at Brentwood Cathedral. appearing in Bennett’s A Woman of No Importance (1982), as Kitty in Victoria Wood As Seen On TV (1985– D’ARCY TRINKWON 86), and being nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress for Bennett’s Talking Heads: A Lady of Letters D’Arcy Trinkwon has performed at international festivals (1988). She also starred in the British television series and concert series worldwide. Alongside his extensive Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996–98). career he is Organist of Worth Abbey, and Organist to the University of Sussex. SSpring_Concert_8pp_final.inddpring_Concert_8pp_final.indd 6 004/03/20164/03/2016 117:487:48 OUR VENUE: THE MEETING HOUSE THE MEETING HOUSE RESTORING THE ORGAN Dedicated in October 1966, the Meeting House is an The Grant, Degens and Bradbeer organ in the Meeting exquisite legacy of Sir Basil Spence’s architecture and House is one of a small number of key instruments from design. The building has a long tradition of hosting a the mid 1960s. It is an exciting and vivacious musical range of religious, spiritual, cultural and social activities. instrument, delivering far more than its modest size The ground fl oor includes a social area where students would suggest is possible. meet and enjoy lunch and the most reasonably priced coffee and tea on campus. The quiet room is reserved for The aim of the refurbishment by Clevedon Organs was study and refl ection. The beautiful chapel located above to reinstate the instrument to full playing condition and is especially striking when the sun shines through the restore the tone of its pipes to the standard to which they multi-coloured windows, transforming the space into a were fi rst voiced. The original console was restored, and veritable festival of colour. a wireless console was added echoing the striking design and modernity of the organ when it was fi rst built. The The chaplaincy team based at the Meeting House Meeting House organ is one of only two wireless organs comprises clergy and laity from diverse faith traditions.