Joyce Jones – queen of the pedals
Who wouldn’t like to play the pedals like Joyce Jones? I’ve just ordered her book, Pedal Mastery For Organ from Amazon and I can’t wait. The page previews show exercises ranging from elementary to quite terrifying. Joyce Jones is renowned…
Dame Gillian Weir
Do we like pictures of organists in gorgeous frocks and pretty shoes gracing the organ steps? Of course we do – I know Dame Gillian Weir has resisted, rightly, being styled as a lady organist, but the organ world desperately…
Four St Cecilias
Today is St Cecilia’s Day – our patron saint – so here are four of my favourite St Cecilias. Where and when she was martyred is a matter of debate, but she is generally recognised as a noblewoman of Rome…
The lady with rhinestone-studded organ shoes – Diane Bish
Here’s another organist with that terrific combination of virtuosity and showmanship typical of the US of A. (We Brits do virtuosity, but our showmanship is a little more homespun.) Diane Bish is an international concert organist, recording and performing all…
The art of concentration with Daniel Moult
Many of the RCO Academy classes are held in St Giles Cripplegate church, which boasts no fewer than three organs. This class was on a rainy London evening earlier this week, topic: concentration, tutor: the excellent Daniel Moult. Daniel was…
…and in high heels – Ethel Smith
Ginger Rogers famously did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels. Ethel Smith’s chosen instrument was the Hammond organ, and she played not only in high heels, but in a tight frock and often a hat. Her…
Plainchant at Ampleforth
I confess I had a very woolly understanding of plainchant – until last weekend that is, when the RCO gave us a day of Discovering Plainchant at Ampleforth Abbey, in the North Yorkshire hills (near where I grew up). Plainchant…
Meeting with giants – Gerard Brooks and the organ of Westminster Hall
An RCO workshop with Gerard Brooks on the rebuilt Methodist Central Hall organ
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