Five Questions for…..James Parsons
James Parsons is teaching us in Oxford this week, and even persuaded us today that transposition and harmonisation at sight were great fun – well almost. He’s an enormously busy recitalist and teacher – organ tutor at the Birmingham Conservatoire…
RCO Easter Course 2014 – Thomas Trotter gets double-booked
Darlings, we went to see The Queen, and all because Thomas Trotter got himself double-booked. Thomas was due to teach us today here in Oxford. Then Buckingham Palace asked if he would kindly give his planned recital at St George’s…
St Paul’s appoints first woman organ scholar – congratulations Rachel!
The new organ scholar of St Paul’s Cathedral in London has been appointed, and will mark a first in the Cathedral’s history. Rachel Mahon will take up the position of William and Irene Miller Organ Scholar for the 2014/15 academic…
Ralph Downes and the Royal Festival Hall organ
I wish I’d met Ralph Downes. His autobographical book Baroque Tricks, subtitled Adventures with the Organ Builders, is difficult to get hold of now* but gives a vivid impression of the man, and his battles with the organ establishment of…
Five questions for…..Jennifer Bate
This interview was first published in the run-up to Jennifer’s recital on 1st March 2014 at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church – which was fabulous by the way: the Liszt Ad nos, ad salutarem undam a masterclass in orchestration. Details of…
Frederick Stocken World Premiere – 11 February 2014
Frederick Stocken will give the world premiere of his new piece Faith, Love, Hope during a recital at St Lawrence Jewry, next to Guildhall in the City of London, on Tuesday 11 February at 1pm. He says the inspiration to…
Five questions for…..Frederick Stocken
Frederick Stocken is a British composer – the only child of a British-born father and a mother who came to the UK as a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany. As Organ Scholar at St Catharine’s College Cambridge, he studied with…
Liturgical Hair – update for Advent 1
Organist Kathryn Rose is dyeing her hair in the appropriate liturgical colours for the season, to raise money for organ repairs. Here’s the first colour! – for today, the first Sunday in Advent. She needs more sponsorship if she’s going…
St Cecilia – the ultimate lady organist
Last year I gave you four St Cecilias to celebrate the day of our patron saint. This year it’s just one – this extraordinary early 17th century drawing by Daniele Crespi. Cecilia’s clothes are practically dropping off with the energy…
Five questions for…Marilyn Harper
Marilyn studied organ, piano, harpsichord and singing at the Royal Manchester College of Music. As organ scholar at Girton College, Cambridge, she studied with Gillian Weir; performances included Poulenc’s Organ Concerto, and a recital in the Cambridge Festival. She was…
Calgary Organ Festival 2013 – spooky goings-on
Calgary organists promise howling pipes and decomposing musicians from 10pm on 31st October at Knox United Church, as part of Calgary Organ Festival, coming up at the end of this month. Entry to this event is by donation to the…
Francis Jackson…and the Widor Toccata
Organists roll their eyes and sigh when asked for “The Widor Toccata” at weddings – it’s become a modern cliché, and most of us know that it all stems from the performance by Francis Jackson at the wedding of Prince…
Liturgical Hair
After the usual stalwarts of coffee mornings, bazaars, quiz nights and raffles, what other options are there for parish fund raising, when the organ, inevitably, needs expensive attention? The historic 1914 Lewis & Co organ at St Andrew’s, Leytonstone, in…
Five questions for…Henry Fairs
Henry Fairs is Head of Organ Studies at Birmingham Conservatoire and Organist to the University of Birmingham, UK, and his musical career began as a chorister at Leominster Priory. After graduating he studied in France and Germany, and was a…
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