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 needs a bit of glamour. She has had a dazzling career as an international concert artist, was the first woman President of the Royal College of Organists, the first woman President of the Incorporated Society of Organists – is an authoritative and inspiring teacher, has collected more awards and honours than you can shake a stick at, while her CDs of the works of Messiaen and the Poulenc Organ Concerto are regarded as definitive recordings.
I went to her final public recital in December last year. The great and the good of the organ world packed Westminster Cathedral – as one wag put it, if a terrorist plot had blown the building sky-high that particular evening, church music in Britain would have been wiped out for several generations. I won’t even attempt to write a review – but you can see what the British press thought on her home page here.
Last April Dame Gillian taught us for a day on an RCO course in Oxford. I can’t think of any teacher who gave so much in such a short time, and hooray that she is continuing to teach, even if she has decided that the live recital no longer appeals. When asked for advice on performance she said – resist thinking about people who might want you to fail – imagine you and the organ are in a bubble which rejects thoughts that you don’t want inside, but projects the music out. Eliminate page turners! – or train them not to move or ‘keep time’. Don’t live on hope! – mend your shoes, take care of every eventuality you can think of, and make it simple for exams – do something easy, well, rather than seek the experience of losing by trying to wing it on the day. And a great tip – learn a difficult piece from the end, working backwards, then you are always going towards something you know.
