4 Part Music Blog

Last night I was in Bath for the last in this years series of Saturday evening organ recitals at Bath Abbey. This final recital was given by none other than the Abbey Organist and Director of Music Peter King. The combination of the Klais organ and the mastery of Peter King is an attraction that no lover of organ music should miss! The abbey was not surprisingly full for this occasion and with free admission (albeit with a £5 per head donation on exit) this recital series is excellent value!

The recital programme was as follows:

Excelsior! – Franz Liszt

Excelsior! is an organ arrangement of the prelude from “The bells of strasbourg minster” one of Liszts impressive choral works written in 1874. The theme from this short prelude was later used by Wagner in his opera Parsifal.

Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543 – Johann Sebastian Bach

This “Great” prelude and fugue of Bach’s cannot be dated with any certainty but most likely falls somewhere between the early improvisatory works and the later mature masterpieces. The prelude has a largely improvisatory flavour and forms a very grand introduction to the melodic fugue. Unlike some later works the fugue does not end with a final grand entry on the pedals but returns to the free style of the prelude.

Concerto in D minor, BWV 596, Antonio Vivaldi / JS Bach

This work was long believed to be an original composition of Bach’s son Friedemann but is infact an arrangement by JS Bach of the Concerto for 2 violins op.3, no.11 by Vivaldi. It begins with a lively canonic duet above insistent pedal notes, and then a few full chords lead into an energetic fugue. The slow movement is a lilting siciliano and the concerto ends in a vigorous finale with a pungent chromatic ritornello.

Two legends – Franz Liszt

St Francis of Assis preaching to the birds (arr. Saint-Saens)

St Francis of Paola walking on the water (arr. Reger/King)

Liszt’s two Franciscan Legends for piano date from 1863 which is when Liszt was increasingly preoccupied by religious subjects.  The first of these two pieces predates Messiaen’s musical aviaries by nearly a century and is an amazingly original piece of musical picture painting.

A Song of Sunshine – Alfred Hollins

This is one of Hollins’ most popular pieces which follows his usual ABA form.  His compositions appeal to a wide audience due to the inexhaustible melodies and effortless mastery of modulation.

Homage to Handel – Sigfrid Karg-Elert

This fantastic piece is based around a short four bar motif from the theme of Handel’s Seventh Harpsichord Suite and was written following Karg-Elert’s election as Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in 1914.  In total there are 54 variations on this simple theme and monotony is avoided by the huge range of textures and colours which Karg Elert employs.    This piece was an excellent way of showcasing not only the mighty Klais organ but also the phenomenal skill of Peter King. In the words of David Gammie “the final page is very, very grand: Karg-Elert’s tempo marking is trionfante e gigantica.”

Tonight saw the return of Gareth Malone to our television screens with another quest to create a choir from scratch.  Having taken some school kids to the Choir Olympics in China and some boys to the Royal Albert Hall, Gareth’s latest challenge is to create a “community choir” in the town of South Oxhey.

South Oxhey is built on land which was once part of the Oxhey Hall Estate and was created after the second world war to help alleviate housing pressures on London caused by the Blitz.  Today the area has rather a poor reputation which goes back several decades. Gareth’s concept is to create a Community Choir which will give the area its much needed boost.

Gareth Malone

As a musician and singer (well a keen amateur choir member at any rate), I hope that Gareth’s efforts prove to be successful. As with anything a choir is never going to be everyone’s idea of fun but it’s good to see the BBC promoting the benefits of group singing.  I found it particularly amusing when Gareth admitted to being “middle class” as if this was something to be kept quiet.  Admittedly perhaps in South Oxhey maybe that is the case?  However, what this shows is that music and singing breaks down so called social barriers.

Traditionally I think choirs are often seen as for the middle classes which is a shame because it certainly shouldn’t be about that at all.  Personally I am hoping that Gareth’s work aside of developing a great choir in South Oxhey will also inspire other people to join or indeed form their local choirs.

Having missed the last couple of lunchtime recitals I managed to get along to todays performance at Bath Abbey and I am extremely glad that I did.

Steven Grahl has been Organist and Director of Music at St Marylebone Church since 2001 which houses a four manual Rieger Organ which was the result of a collaboration between St Marylebone and the Royal Academy of Music.  Since 2007 Steven has also held the post of Assistant Organist at New College Oxford where he plays for daily chapel services and accompanies the choir in a busy schedule of tours, broadcasts and CD recordings.

Today’s recital was a perfect illustration of why Steven was an award winning graduate of Magdalen College, Oxford and gained the coveted Limpus and Dixon prizes in his FRCO examination.  His performance was not only faultless throughout but he conveyed a wonderful sense of musicianship through his playing. The programme was as follows:

Steven Grahl

Allegro maestoso (Organ Sonata in G) – Edward Elgar

Fantasia in A – William Byrd

Scherzetto (Organ Sonata) – Percy Whitlock

Litanies – Jehan Alain

Recit de tierce en taille – Nicolas de Grigny

Scherzo – Maurice Durufle

Finale from Symphony no. 6 in G – Charles-Marie Widor

I particularly enjoyed the Widor – the last time I heard it was walking out of Mary Magdalen Chapel after getting married in May this year.  After the recital I went for lunch with Peter King – who knows maybe one day we might get to record in Bath Abbey.

I’m sorry it’s a little late in arriving but last week I attended the weekly organ recital at Bath Abbey which was given by Gary Desmond who is assistant organist there.

The recital opened with Hendrik Andriessen’s Theme and Variations.  Andriessen was a Dutch composer and organist, born in Haarlem in 1892.  He is remembered most of all for his improvisation at the organ and for the renewal of Catholic liturgical music in the Netherlands. Andriessen composed in a musical idiom that revealed strong French influences.

This was followed by Johann Gottfried Walther’s Concerto in B minor.  Walther ( 1684 – 1748) was a German music theorist, organist, composer, and lexicographer of the Baroque era. Not only was his life almost exactly contemporaneous to that of Johann Sebastian Bach, he was the famous composer’s cousin.

Following this we were treated to three movements from the ‘Suite’ by Malcolm Archer.  Archer is an English organist, conductor and composer. He is widely renowned as one of the foremost church musicians of his generation and combines this work with an extensive recital career. He was formerly Organist and Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral, and is now Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College.

Desmond concluded his recital with two movements from Symphonie de Boston by Pierre Cochereau.

On Thursday of last week the second concert which formed part of the Mary Magdalen Festival week was given by Adam’s Apple Jazz Trio to a packed chapel.  Adam’s Apple are no stranger to the chapel having performed there on a couple of previous occasions and once again we were in for a treat.

Adam's Apple

Adam’s Apple comprises Adam Biggs on Piano, Ben Groenevelt on Double Bass and Rob Brian on Drums.   They have performed together for a number of years and have played with Derek Nash and other top musicians.  Their repertoire for this concert was centered around original arrangements of hymn tunes but performed in a very unique style.  Anyone thinking this is just 3 guys messing around with some hymn tunes needs to think again! Adam’s Apple should be heard to be believed.

I’ve been lucky enough to hear Adam’s Apple perform before on a number of occasions at various venues in and around Bath. This concert was just as good if not better than any I’ve been to before and even after 2 hours of live performance I still played their latest CD “Love Unknown” in the car on the way home.

This concert was a huge success and enjoyed by everyone who was there. Most importantly it also helped to raise money for the chapel as well as promoting the chapel as a venue for professional musicians which is something, as one of the chapel’s organists, I am hoping to continue in the coming months!  We are also hoping to record Adam’s Apple probably in the chapel at some point later in the year as the acoustic lends itself to this style of music.

Last night saw the first of two concerts at St Mary Magdalen chapel in Bath as part of the annual festival to celebrate Mary Magdalen day (which is in fact today).  The concert was given by the “Eberle Quartet” which comprises Daphne Moody (Violin), Jennifer Gibbs (Violin), Moira Alabaster (Viola) and Muriel Daniels (‘Cello).

The Eberle String Quartet

The concert opened with Haydn’s “Lark” quartet composed in 1790. The quartet’s nickname (not given by Haydn), comes from the high melodic lines of the first violin in the first movement’s opening phrase.  This was followed by Dvorak’s String Quartet number 12 the “American”. This piece was composed whilst on vacation in Spillville, Iowa in the Summer of 1893 around the same time as the New World Symphony.

After the short interval, where a glass of wine was enjoyed in the chapel garden overlooking Bath, the concert continued with Mendelssohn’s String Quartet number 4 in E Minor composed in 1837. This quartet is part of the Opus 44 set of 3 string quartets which Mendelssohn dedicated to the Crown Prince of Sweden.

Throughout the concert the Eberle Quartets playing was faultless and the accoustics of the chapel lend itself to a string quartet.  Several people commented that at times it was as if an entire string section from a chamber orchestra was performing.   The much requested encore “Pennies from heaven” proved that the Eberle Quartet are equally at home with a more contemporary style of playing.

We are hoping to record these 3 pieces with the Eberle Quartet actually in St Mary Magdalen Chapel later in the year which not only will produce a lasting memory of this concert but will we hope produce a fabulous CD of an extremely competent group of musicians who I would highly recommend to everyone.

Further details on the Eberle Quartet can be found on their website.

Today I took some time out to attend the lunchtime recital at Bath Abbey which today was given by Peter King, the Abbey Organist and Director of Music. As a former student of Dame Gillian Weir and Allan Wicks, Peter King was appointed as the Director of Music at Bath Abbey in 1986.  Along with Nicholas Kynaston, Peter was also responsible for the design and installation of the Abbey’s Klais Organ.

Peter King, Bath Abbey

In 1997 Peter started a girls choir at Bath Abbey which is now widely regarded as one of the finest musical ensembles in Bath.

Today’s organ recital included the following programme:

Prelude & Fugue in A minor – JS Bach

A Song of Sunshine – Alfred Hollins

Sonata in C Minor – Giovanni Battista Pescetti

In a Persian Market – Alfred Ketelbey

Voices of the Night Op 142 i – Sigfrid Karg-Elert

Entry of the Gladiators – Julius Fucik

Peter’s playing was as usual flawless throughout and I felt it was a particularly good rendition of the Bach Prelude and Fugue in A Minor.  This rather grand work is one of the most popular organ fugues, distinguished by its long and exceptionally tuneful subject, its unusually think textures and its relentless dynamic energy.

I also particularly enjoyed the Pescetti Sonata in C minor. “In a Persian Market” and “Entry of the Gladiators” gave Peter King, (ever the showman) an opportunity to use the fabulous Cymbelstern to great effect.  Overall it was another excellent recital.

Bath Abbey Lunchtime organ recitals are currently every Wednesday at 1.10pm until the end of August.  More information on Peter King can be found on his website.

On Saturday 14th February I attended a performance of the Occasional singers performing a programme of Romantic Choral Classics at St Mary’s Church in Dorchester.  The music included Elgar’s “As Torrents in Summer”, “The Shower” and “My Love dwelt in a Northern Land”, Tipett’s “Early one morning” and “Lilliburlero” as well as Grieg’s “Ave Maris Stella” and Mendelssohn’s Paslams 43 and 100, finishing off with Sweelink’s “Laudate Dominum”. It was a challenging programme with little respite for the singers who performed magnificently under the leadership of Rick Birley.