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 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.

Dame Gillian’s recital was part of the Grand Organ Festival at Westminster Cathedral, which continues through 2013.  You can download a brochure, and see the other regular organ recitals here.

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