Saturday 20 May 2023 AGM at St. Mary at Stoke

The baton was handed on from William Baldry who becomes Immediate Past President to our new President, Alan Loader. We are most grateful to William for his programme that we have enjoyed during his tenure. Most members of Council remain in post but we welcome Simon Clarke to Council and Robert Waller was elected as President Elect for the year 2024-2025. We were reminded that 2024 will be the 90th Anniversary of the Suffolk Organists' Association.

The meeting was well attended with the following members present and many Apologies sent: William Baldry, Stephen Hogger, Alan Loader, Ann Smith, Miriam Ellis, June Molloy, Barry Palmer, Simon Clark, Paul Austen, Robert Waller, Philip Speirs, Roger Pulham, Andrew Garfath-Cox.

William thanked members of Council for their contribution to the success of his year: Roger Pulham for his work as Treasurer and the splendid effort he makes to reclaim the Gift Aid due from HMRC; to Stephen Hogger for sending out the Newsletter and keeping us on track as to the constitution of Council members; to Nicholas Jardine for the organisation and success of several events; to Andrew Garfath-Cox fo the continual maintenance of the SOA website and to Miriam Ellis for her generous hospitality at her home with cake in memory of Martin Ellis. Alan Loader thanked William for his work which has been much appreciated especially by members who have participated in the activities that he arranged. Alan gave us a most interesting potted history of his musical journey from being a youngster in Birmingham until our knowledge of him as Organist of Rushmere St Andrew and his organisation there of his fine programme of concerts which he has organised for many years. He concluded by announcing his programme of events which is published for the coming year 2023-2024 and appears here.

After tea provided by the ladies of the church we crossed over into the church to listen to a composite recital by four Council members.

• First, Stephen Hogger who played Recit de Hautbois by Lefebure-Wely / Festivo by Martin How.
• Second, Paul Austen who played J.S. Bach: Two-part Invention in B flat major, BWV 785 / C.V. Stanford: Prelude/Postlude on a theme of Orlando Gibbons (Song 34), Op.105, No.1
• Third, Robert Waller who played Improvisation on ‘Ar Hyde y nos’ Gerre Hancock / Scottish Trumpet Tune - Paul David
• And then, Andrew Garfath-Cox who played Elegy for Organ by Richard Popplewell / Toccata pour Orgue by Theodore Dubois.

Saturday 29 April 2023 Two 3 manual Ipswich organs

A visit to St. Bartholomew's and St. John's

Saturday 29 April 2023 Postponed visit to two three-manual organs in Ipswich

Earlier in March, expected inclement weather cancelled this opportunity to visit these two organs. Fortunately we could now go to St. Bartholomew's Church Newton Road IP3 8HQ in the morning at 11am and St. John the Baptist Church Cauldwell Hall Road IP4 4QE in the afternoon at 2.30pm. The organ at St. Bartholomew's is a genuine Norman and Beard organ which has been overhauled by Bishops. The organ at St. John's is a Binns, Fitton and Haley organ maintained by Bishops, where we were welcomed by David Freestone, father of Nicholas Freestone now Assistant Director of Music at Worcester Cathedral.

At St. Bartholomew

• Tony Dunn Lied Variationen Samuel Scheidt
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Easter Hymn William Harris
• Alan Loader Rhosymedre Ralph Vaughan Williams
• Robert Waller Cantilene Theodore Dubois
• Nicholas Jardine Arabesque Louis Vierne
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Oblivion
• William Baldry Two Slow Airs Herbert Howells / White Note Paraphrase James Macmillan

At St. John

• David Freestone Psalm-Prelude No.1 from Set One Herbert Howells
• Robert Waller Palm Sunday Prelude Lindsay Lafford
• Tony Dunn Kyrie Martyrum Heronimus Praetorius
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Elegy Christopher Tambling / Fanfare Andrew Carter
• Nicholas Jardine Variation I and II
• Stephen Hogger Medley Over the Rainbow
• William Baldry Spitfire Prelude William Walton

Wednesday 19 April 2023 St. John's Church Woodbridge Recital

This was not an SOA event but Robert Waller, member of Council, had been contacted to replace one of the three organists who had ageed to play for this lunchtime recital. It was an opportunity to encourage these organists to join our Association.

We were cordially welcomed by the members of this church and the two manual electronic organ sounded well and played without any hitch.

Each participant introduced the pieces which they had chosen to play with some interesting facts.

First was one of the organists of St. John's, Robert Brockbank, whose idea it was to hold this recital which was accompanied by a free lunch! To his three chosen compositions, he suggested the idea for his choices was that perhaps in some sense they are 'bogus'. He said that the Toccata in D Minor by JS Bach may according to some musicologists not be a genuine Bach piece but neverthe less is a very popular piece of the baroque period. His second piece was the amusing Medley by Noel Rawsthorne with tunes embedded in it by Arne, Widor ingeniously woen together. And his third piece was 'Finlandia' by Sibelius which, of course, is a transcription from the orchestral score but is a very faithful rendering of the piece. I learned that Robert had learned piano as a youngster but in his retirement had decided to master the organ. He chose well for his tutor: John Cooper, a member of SOA, who is a very fine organist and has contributed greatly to the life of SOA over many years.

The second person to play is one of the organists of Bredfield Church, Alison Cannard, who chose a set of pieces for manuals only. First was a Choral Prelude by Telemann, followed by a modern piece by Martin Setchell based on the tune of the famous Handel's Largo. She then played a Pastorale by Charles Wesley, the prodigious writer of hymns whose sister was called Mehetabel. Alison asked us where we might find her name in the bible? We didn't know but she said the name appears in Genesis and the first Book of Chronicles. Next she played the very recognisable tune by Mendelssohn, Auf Flugeln des Gesanges. It was brought to the attention of the general public through the singing of this song by Doris Day. She brought her part of the recital to a close with a memdley of tunes by Johann Strauss.

The third part of the recital was played by Robert Waller. His programme began with Trumpet Voluntary by John Stanley, a lively piece probably originally written for manuals only. We then heard a delightful piece 'Adoration' by Florence Price, the first African-American woman to have her music played by a major American orchestra: the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His third piece was Prelude on St. Botolph by Gordon Slater. Next was George Oldroyd's Liturgical Improvisation No.1 followed by Cantabile No. 2 by Enrico Pasini who died just one year ago. Robert then completed his set with the lively Trumpet Voluntary by Gordon Young. Bringing the enthusiastic audience to their feet to sing a hymn, Robert concluded the composite recital by playing the hymn ' O praise Ye the Lord'. The players were applauded fullsomely by everyone in an enjoyable recital of about an hour and a half.

Saturday 25 March 2023 The Organ Club AGM Recital 2023

This year it was hosted by our SOA member Philip Luke in his church, Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church.

We listened to four young people of exceptional talent who each played two or three pieces of great contrasts showing the range that the double Binns organ of the Chapel is a very capable instrument tended by Eric Shepherd of BC Shepherd and Sons, a former President of the Organ Club.

First to perform was a graduate of rhe University of Nottingham in 2005, Philip Bricher. His first piece was an Interlude on "Strength and Stay" by Edmund Matthews. Then we heard Reflections on "Arirang" by A Young Kim. This set of four pieces for which the organ lends special colors to this customarily vocal tune is the most popular traditional folk song in Korea. Koreans regard "Arirang" as the best song to express feelings of both joy and sorrow. Kim's piece illustrates new feelings evoked in her by this traditional tune. She employs a mixture of various styles to breathe new life into this old melody and Philip brought out all this emotion in his playing.

Second was Mo Suet Ng who is a post-graduate of piano currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music and also studying the organ with Anne Marsden Thomas MBE. She gave us a beautiful execution of Buxtehude's Praludium in G minor BuxWV 149 followed by an exquisite rendering of Cesar Franck's lovely Prelude, Fugue and Variations Op18.

Our third performer the Senior Organ Scholar at Queen's College, Cambridge, Ben Markovic showed his FRCO prowess in two pieces. The first was the Fugue from Toccata, Chorale and FugueOp.16 by Francis Jackson, a mighty piece of great power. Wow! It was followed by Ancient Sunlight by Judith Bingham, a piece of both great delicacy but also culminating in dissonant excitement. Both pieces were played with extraordinary virtuosity by Ben.

The concert concluded with another splendid performance by the Organ Scholar of St. Mary's Church Battersea, Evan Lawrence, who received his ARCO diploma at the RCO Conferment Ceremony recently. He played three pieces Sonata No 4 by Mendelssohn, J S Bach's Allein Gott BWV 663 and an exciting piece by Gabriel Pierne, Prelude-Toccata.

More than an hour of splendid organ music given to these Organ Club members by these four young people was a very enjoyable experience and my thanks to Philip Luke who alerted me by email to this recital.

Saturday 11 March 2023 London Organ Day 2023

This year it was held in All Saints (Chelsea Old Church) and back to the usual time of the year after the difficulties of the Covid years. We were welcomed by Tom Bell who is the Artistic Director for the occasion.

Robert Waller and I made our way to London to this lovely church which had been bombed in the Second World War and meticulously restored piece by piece from the rubble. The first part of the programme after a tour of the organ by Tom was a recital of folk fiddle by violinist Sarah Hatch accompanied at the organ by Tom Bell.

A real surprise was the virtuoso playing of an art harmonium by Anne Page who demonstrated this instrument which had been brought down especially from Yorkshire with music by Franck, Guilmant, Lionel Rogg and by David Aphrahiam Liddle who was present in the audience. She had explained how this instrument had come about with its power of expression which has to be accomplished on an organ by different techniques. Anne's mastery of the instrument gave us an insight into another genre of music suitable for small organs too.

In the afternoon we had a very interesting talk form Richard McVeigh who has a very strong following on his website Beauty in Sound and is also Assistant Director of Music at Romsey Abbey. He said that he is particularly asked to play hymns which have such a resonance in the minds of many people. Sadly not as many as one would like!

Finally a grand recital by Nicholas Wearne concluded the day. I was pleased to be back in a very familiar area of London from my student days in Chelsea and glad that Robert Waller and I had represented the SOA at an IAO event and had had the opportunity to meet up with Michaela Cottee so soon after the recent death of her partner Dave Kinnersley.

Saturday 28 January 2023 Non-Conformity Outing in Ipswich

We were welcomed at three churches in Ipswich Town Centre, Museum Street Methodist, Bethesda Baptist, Tacket Street URC. A report on the day by Robert Waller follows:

"Twelve members of the Association gathered on a cold but bright morning at Museum Street Methodist church. Inside it was pleasantly warm and inviting. The organ is situated in a gallery with plenty of room for members to watch the action. Our Hon. Secretary, Stephen Hogger gave us a potted history of the organ and then members had the opportunity to play a variety of different pieces. Unfortunately John Wearne the organist of this church was unable to be with us because of his ill health.

Later in the morning we made our way to the Bethesda Baptist Church. Here Barry Palmer is the organist and has played here for many years. Stephen again gave a short history of this organ too which speaks through a grand arch into a large space surrounded by a gallery. I found it a bit challenging getting on to the organ stool but it was pleasant that in front of the organ console the backs of the choir stalls were heated. Our President, William Baldry, played the chorale prelude on ‘Dundee’ by Charles H H Parry and we realised that we had found a gem of an organ as we listened to William's excellent playing followed by a number of other members.

At the end of the morning session we moved from there to a small restaurant called Salt N Pepper which was very conveniently situated opposite our afternoon venue. This was Tacket Street URC.

At around 2.30pm we re-gathered in that church where Stephen Hogger is the organist and he briefly spoke about the organ. Very kindly he had brought the central heating to life taking the chill off a building which he said had not been used since mid-December. However it is amazing that the organ did not seem to have suffered any ill affects from lack of use. He explained that to save on energy costs they had held the services in the small hall where he had managed to acquire an harmonium to accompany the singing.

We were treated to tea and cake at the back of the church and members played the organ until the event finished at around 3.30pm."

Robert concludes, "Thank you for arranging the three visits allowing us to have the opportunity to play organs of some of the non-conformist churches in Ipswich creating a fulfilling event which was enjoyed by all."

Members present were: William Baldry [President], Alan Loader [President-Elect], Stephen Hogger [Hon. Secretary], Miriam Ellis, Nicolas Jardine, Tony Dunn, Hugh Singleton, Philip Speirs, Brian Crawford, Steven Donaugh, Andrew Garfath-Cox, Robert Waller, Barry Palmer.

Here is the music that we played:

Museum Street Methodist

• Philip Speirs - Reflection Daniel Bishop
• Robert Waller - Intrada Grayston Ives
• Andrew Garfath-Cox - David of the White Rock Towers
• Tony Dunn - Ciacona in e BuxWV160 Buxtehude
• Barry Palmer - 'Let my people go' Ernest Gold + Theme from 'Exodus'
• Steven Donaugh - No.1 and No.4 Four Sketches Schumann
• Alan Loader - Thema Met Variaties Hendrik Andriessen

Bethesda Baptist

• Hugh Singleton - Choral Prelude Healey Willan
• Tony Dunn - Trio Sonata No. 1 J S Bach
• Robert Waller - Adoration Florence Price
• Andrew Garfath-Cox - 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' + Elegy Christopher Tambling
• William Baldry - Choral Prelude on 'Dundanee' Parry
• Nicholas Jardine - Variations on Ave maris stella Andrew Parnell
• Steven Donaugh - Jesus Christus unser Heiland BWV 666+ Ich ruf' zu Dir Herr Jesus Christ BWV 639 + Das alte Jahr vergangen ist BWV 614 J S Bach

Tacket Street URC

• Robert Waller - Trumpet Tune Marko Hakenpää + Adagio Morten Malvik
• Nicholas Jardine - Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gmein BWV 734 J S Bach
• Andrew Garfath-Cox - Canzona from Sonata in C minor Percy Whitlock
• Alan Loader - an improvisation
• Steven Donaugh - No.2 and No.3 from Four Sketches Schumann

Saturday 26 November 2022 St Peter and St Mary the Parish Church of Stowmarket

A year ago we made a visit to this church where the congregation being without an organist rarely heard the organ being played. This large parish church right in the centre of Stowmarket has a tradition of the decoration of Christmas trees in the church at this time of year. It is a welcoming centre with a cafe inside the church and we had been asked whether on the afternoon of Advent Sunday members of our Association would like to play the instrument. Nicholas Jardine asked a number of members to play and four volunteered to play for an hour each.

On arrival I was amazed to see so many Christmas trees, each of them creatively decorated and an unceasing gently moving snake of people, some with young children with their family members, admiring them. Very spectacular was a very large tree in the chancel sparkling with a myriad of lights topped with a brightly lit star of Bethlehem rising above a stable with the almost life sized Holy Family within. We learned that this had been achieved by the generosity of military personnel from RAF Wattisham with a large hoist.

Roger Green played from noon, followed by Nicholas Jardine from 1pm and then Stephen Hogger for the 2-3pm slot and Andrew Garfath-Cox played for the final hour until the church closed at 4pm. Each of us received a thank you card expressing their gratitude for our performances.

A great variety of pieces of different genres and different historical periods was played throughout the four hours so perhaps it wasn't surprising that without any consultation between us every piece played was unique!

Roger Green

Nicholas Jardine

• Demessieux - Rorate Caeli
• Buxtehude - Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
• Whitlock - Salix and Chanty
• Bach - Prelude in B Minor (BWV 544)
• Brahms - Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen
• Hurford - A Fancy
• Tomkins - A Fancy
• Dupré - Ave Maris Stella
• Rheinberger - Intermezzo
• Harris - Prelude
• Spedding - Variations on Ave Maris Stella

Stephen Hogger

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• The great hymn of Advent Sunday 'Lo, he comes in clouds descending' to the tune Hemsley
• Intrada Grayston Ives b. 1948
• Cantique de Jean Racine Gabriel Faure
• Trumpet Tune Marko Hakanää b.1970
• Elegy Paul Fey b.1998
• Oblivion Astor Piazzolla 1921-1992
• Praeludium und Fuge I Op. 37 Felix Mendelssohn
• Little Cornard Roger Green b.
• Intermezzo Pietro Mascagni 1863-1845
• Fidelis Percy Whitlock
• Paean Donald Cashmore
• Sleigh Ride Leroy Anderson arr. Thomas Trotter

It was a great relief that Nicholas Jardine was willing to be my page-turner which he did so competently giving me time to choose my registrations as there are few aids to playing on this organ. I tried to make my choice of composers above represent a wide selection of different countries: UK/France/Finland/Germany/Argentina/Italy/America. See if you can match them up! [some are repeated]

Saturday 5 November 2022 14.30

A DVD of Franck's music in the Richards Room of Martlesham Community Centre, Felixstowe Road, Martlesham (just behind Tesco) will be shown.

Saturday 29 October 2022 7.00pm Peter Crompton at St. Mary the Virgin, Ardleigh. [The St, Ardleigh, Colchester CO7 7LD]

Andrew Garfath-Cox writes: The evening was entitled 'An Organ Recital by Peter Crompton in Memory of Michael Simmonds'. Michael, in his modest way, would have undoubtedly expressed his pleasure!

On such an extraordinarily warm late October evening, it was a pleasure to be in the church where the late Michael Simmonds, had been organist. As an active member of SOA, we had also benefitted from the many photographs he took over the years on outings that we made. Peter speaks highly of their collaboration and good friendship in making recordings together where Michael's technical and fine musical expertise was exceptional.

The recital was organised by Geoffrey Boyle, a loyal member of SOA and organist of the church who also did the page turning for Peter. The organ had been expertly tuned by Andrew Stevens and sounded very well but Peter was forced to hand register much of his programme because the pistons for rapid registration changes were not available. Peter described their operation as switching on the headlights of a car to find instead the windscreen wipers working at full speed! Peter's expertise made this only a minor hindrance to him but his excellent playing made this transparent to the listeners. Peter spoke about the programme he had chosen and as described above the necessity to change his final piece from Carillon-Sortie by Mulet to Widor's famous Toccata from Symphony No V. It is a fine two manual 22 stop instrument and worthy of every effort to make everything to work seamlessly.

Peter who will be playing for the his twenty-fifth occasion at the Royal Albert Hall for the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance in November had chosen a very enjoyable hour long programme starting with a piece honouring our late Queen Elizabeth II, Elgar's Imperial March. The beautiful Adagio in E by Frank Bridge followed starting from very soft to a climax at its centre and then reducing to a breath taking quiet conclusion. Already the audience were warming with generous applause. Next played as a pair were Von Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her BWV 606 by J S Bach followed by a Toccata on the same tune tune by Garth Edmundson with brilliantly bright cascade of fast runs of notes over the pedal chorale. The audience showed their appreciation of the pair by clapping enthusiastically at the conclusion of the two. With a completely different registration we were treated to Brahms's Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen Op. 122 contrasting its soft expression with the piece before and the next to come. Liszt's monumental Fantasia and Fugue on BACH with its many different themes and textures were given full reign by Peter and the audience were thrilled by what they heard. We needed a few moments to savour what we had enjoyed and the Meditation by Durufle was a lovely contrast with its fascinating harmonies and good choices of musical palette. The Litanies of Jehan Alain was masterfully played and his early death at 29 as a soldier in the Second World War definitely robbed us of a great composer for the organ. Alain's wonderful piece was followed by the captivating tune of The Swan from Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens and the final piece was Widor's Toccata. Peter always gives us a splendid programme and the appreciation of the audience called him back for an encore: Karg-Elert's Nun Danket Alle Gott played with the usual Crompton vibrancy and spirit!

Saturday 1 October 2022 Masterclass with Colin Walsh at St. Mary-at-Elms

The idea of holding a Masterclass replacing the Organ Competition, which had been held jointly with the Suffolk Festival in earlier years, was unanimously agreed by Council. Colin Walsh, organist of Lincoln Cathedral, had undertaken to be with us. His patient, encouraging and kind comments were much appreciated throughout a very full day by a succession of enthusiastic performers at different stages of their organ playing journey.

William Baldry, our President, gave a warm welcome to Colin, the participants in the masterclass, and a large number of members of the Association who had come along to support this event. From 9.30 onwards, Nicholas Jardine, immediate Past President,did sterling work in providing tea and coffee and biscuits to sustain everyone with the authority of a 'professional barista' ! Again we were blessed with the weather outside with sunshine streaming into the church and we were most grateful to the church for allowing us to use the building as our venue and for the use of the organ.

First up at 10am was Kirk Wythe, who had come from the Holbrook area, and Colin demonstrated to him different aspects of the organ: the variety of stops available, the manuals and the range of colour and tonal intensity possible with this instrument. Kirk was clearly illuminated and commented that he had enjoyed the experience. Our brief as an organ society perhaps had enrolled another enthusiast.

Janet Looser played a chorale on manuals only of Old Hundredth. This tune was compsed in 1551 but she played a piece based on this tune by baroque composer Johann Gottfried Walther (1684 – 1748). No doubt you will note that his life was almost exactly contemporaneous with J S Bach. Very familiarly sung to the words 'All people that on earth do dwell' and Colin encouraged Janet to sind the words in her head as she played her piece.

Next was Catherine Johns, a teacher of French and German, who played a piece by Herbig who died in 1663 which has tight counterpoint for manuals only. Her church in Wissington has no pedals so this piece 'Canzon: Nun komm der Heiland Heiden' is very appropriate. She was keen though to advance her pianistic background to playing the pedals for other churches in her benefice and Colin gave her valuable instruction on how to add the pedal line to Blaenwern. As he encouraged her, the hymn played on the manuals, which she played at a pace very appropriate for singing by a congregation, emerged with the pedal bass line bit by bit adding to its grandeur.

Next at 11.15 was a thirteen year old from Epping, James Barker, a very keen player of the organ who, complete with his iPad, played Gabriel's Oboe by Ennio Morricone which is used to great effect in the film 'The Mission'. It is a beautiful tune but with an accompanying harmony that needs differentiating from the tune. Even with the help of the pedals this is difficult to achieve so Colin suggested that James should concentrate on using his hands and feet for the accompaniment while he, Colin played the tune with a steady pulse. This duet created a very satisfying sound but quite challenging to produce solo.

A short interval at 11.40 gave Colin a break but already we had heard many of Colin's wise words. He said that in relation to accompanying the singing of a congregation, the task of the organist is not to accompany them but to drive them forwards which will be a familiar theme to church organists. His comment about music is apposite: 'Music never goes backwards or downwards, it must roll along like a musical wheel'. He was reminiscing about playing for a service on the organ bench at Lincoln. In the cathefral, there is a strong draught from West to East. This flipped the page of the hymnbook to the wrong hymn which he began playing to the consternation of the choir but be built his error into a grand extemporisation which lead neatly into the introduction for the correct hymn! He also commented on how to place one's feet on a pedal board. He said that it is dependent on the nature of the pedal board: it differs from country to country. With a demonstration with his hands he mimed the effect. In England with our mostly concave pedal boards the feet face outwards; in France, feet just go up and down; in Germany the feet dance up and down on the toes of their shoes.

After the break, Brian Crawford, who has been a regular attendee at our events for some time but had never let us hear him play before gave a enjoyable rendering of Crimond and 'No Regrets'. These were played with a nod to theatre organ style which was very effective.

Very kindly Juliette Adams gave up her place to me, Andrew Garfath-Cox. Colin was not familiar with the first piece Elegy by Richard Popplewell LVO but very familiar with the composer himself. Colin had been examined for his FRCO by him! Colin asked me what parts of the piece I felt were important. I pointed to the chromatic passages and he told me to treat them as though I was conducting the strings of an orchestra and to play the bass line very legato as though they were cellos and double basses. I followed this piece with Gigout's Toccata which is taken form French Masterworks for Organ collected and edited by Alexander Schreiner. Colin commented that Schriener was an American organist and that the latter had been present when Gigout played his Toccata at St Augustin.

Robert Waller brought the morning to a close with a Sarabande by Arnold Cooke (1906-2005) gaining his BMus at Cambridge University. Colin again was not familiar with this piece but soon teased out the beauty of the piece and the pronounced dance rhythm of the Sarabande was an important key to the rhythm of the piece with its unusual harmony in places.

Everyone present were able to chat to each other and new people during the hour break for lunch. In addition to those already mentioned above these members came along to support were: Roger Pulham, our Treasurer, Alan Loader, President Elect, James Crowe who had hosted Colin in his home, Juliette Adams, Miriam Ellis, a new member of Council, Andrew Leach, Christopher Moore, Simon Clark, Philip Speirs and Hugh Singleton.

In the afternoon, Acer Smith, a 16 year old pupil of Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham played two pieces. The first was Tuba Tune by Lang which he played confidently with a reminder to keep a steady beat by Colin and the Berceuse by Vierne into which he gave this beautiful piece the gently rocking motion characteristic of a Berceuse.

Next Richard Staines played a number of excerpts from several barogue pieces, a rendering from Messiaen's Desseins Eterneles for which Colin extracted with a cunning registartion from the organ a most exquisite sound so characteristic of Messiaen by choosing to play certain stops at different pitches and demonstrating how to create quint/tierce sounds from this organ which has no mutation stops. We heard just a little of the 'Paean' by Howells which was not a piece particularly to Colin's taste citing hand written comments written on its music held in the library of St. George's Chapel Windsor by a former organist which were quite damning!

The final performer of the day, Angus Murphy-Lennox, a lay chorister of Norwich Cathedral brought the wonderful day to a splendid close by playing Mendelssohn's Prelude and Fugue in C minor. Colin examined with Alex in particular features of the music especially sequences and suggested that in playing them he should retain the tension in the music.

This was a very enjoyable occasion and the event closed around 4pm with many thanks to Colin still chatting with many of the people present and a photograph to remind of us of this occasion.

Saturday 3 September 2022 Two organs in Ipswich: St. Mary at Elms and St. Mary at Stoke

A good few members, both players and enthusiastic listeners, were welcomed by our President, William Baldry. This was yet another hot day at the start of meteorological autumn where we appreciated the cooler spaces of both churches.

We arrived in the morning at the Anglo-Catholic church of St. Mary at Elms where Andrew Leach, organist of the church and a member of the SOA, chose excerpts from a number of pieces to illustrate the range of timbres available on this three manual instrument by Hunter. An organ has been in the church since 1865 (costing £50) but was replaced 18 years later but then again with the present instrument installed in 1889. Fortunately in the fire of 2010 the instrument was left more or less unscathed but the intensity of the heat unsoldered some of the lead work in some pipes.

Andrew demonstrated the versatility of the organ with soft flutes and solo stops in Air and Gavotte by Samuel Wesley, how the organ could be successfully registered to play a section of a Trio Sonata by JS Bach, a Cornet by Maurice Greene and two sections of Messiaen's La Nativite de Seigneur: Les Bergers and with the organ at full stretch, Dieu parmi nous. His excellent playing whetted the appetite for others to play too. It was good to meet up with Juliette Adams, Brian G??, Miriam Ellis and William Glasse and those who played as listed below.

• Alan Loader, our President Elect: manuals only piece Voluntary II by Charles John Stanley (1712 - 1786)
• Andrew Garfath-Cox: March for a Harvest Festival piece by Hugh Blair (1864- 1932,l who at one time was Assistant Organist at Worcester Cathedral and famous for being pressed to play Elgar's Organ Sonata in G which Elgar had only completed on the morning of a delegation of visiting American organists. This piece is based on the tune of "Wir pflügen und wir streuen" text by Matthias Claudius, melodies by Johann André and Johann Abraham Peter Schulz. The central section of the Blair piece is delightfully harmonised contrasting with the rollicking march on either side.
• Roger Pulham: the Prelude of BWV 543 set in A minor by Johan Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) with some very nimble finger work required on a long sustained pedal point until the pedals join in exultation to the climax in the final chord of A major.
• Andrew Garfath-Cox: Toccata by Robert Prizeman (1952 - ) so familiar to Songs of Praise viewers but sadly usually orchestrated rather than just by the organ alone. A major feature of the piece is the continual changing of bar length which continuously surprises and delights the ear.
• William Baldry: March Héroïque by A Herbert Brewer (1865- 1928). A very rousing and compelling opening section leads to a softer melodic section with a beautiful tune, which returns later in grander style and finishes in a well crafted even more rousing and thrilling section at the conclusion. William played the piece with the panache it requires.
• Nicholas Jardine brought the morning's selection of pieces to a close with a very fine piece, Trumpet Tune by Andrew Carter (1939 -). You feel in this composition the joy of Andrew's charismatic personality and the lovely surprises in the harmonic material delight. Nicholas gave a fine interpretation of this intriguing music and our thanks to him for organising the refreshments.

After the morning session some took the opportunity to lunch in the town before regathering at St. Mary at Stoke where we were pleased to add Barry Palmer, and Bob and Ann Smith, all very loyal members of the Association to our group. James Crowe, our Hon. Journal Editor and also organist of this church was away on his work travels but we were greeted by a member of the congregation. This two manual 19 stop Holditch organ has a rebuilt tracker action but the Pedals electrified. However, at first glance where were the pedal stops? There are two ranks, an Open Wood 16 and a Bourdon extended to 8 and 4 feet pitches but operated by tabs above the Swell manual rather than drawstops.

Another eclectic programme was presented in the afternoon from Sweenlinck to Ladies in Lavender theme tune.

William Baldry played three pieces showing the versatility of the organ

• Toccata Johann Pachabel (1653 - 1706)
• No 3 from Vesper Voluntaries Edward Elgar 1857 - 1934) A wistful tune from a set of pieces which form a Sonata (in the Mendelssohnian use of the term) in miniature.
• Sonata III by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)

Barry Palmer then played two pieces in theatre organ style which gave us another facet of the instrument. Nigel Hess studied music at the University of Cambridge where he was musical director of Footlights Revue Company. Kenneth Alford was a pen name and was a bandmaster in the British Army and Royal Marines Director of Music.

• Ladies in Lavender theme Nigel Hess (1953 - )
• Great Little Army Kenneth Alford (1881 - 1945)

Andrew Garfath-Cox played two pieces. One is by American composer Gordon Young. This piece I heard played by the late Carlo Curley at an organ duel with Carlo on his travelling organ in St. Mary's Church, Woodbridge some many years ago. The second piece by Donald Cashmore, founder of the City of London Choir, has a lovely, sumptuous harmony and beautiful tune in the central section in 3/2 time in Bflat contrasting with the fanfare theme in D which begins and ends the piece, and briefly surprises in a modulation to Bflat, before ending exultantly in D major. It needs a name! It is No 4 in Processional Marches for organ published by Novello.

• Prelude in Classic Style Gordon Young (1919 - 1998)
• No.4 Donald Cashmore (1926 - 2013)

Alan Loader played two contrasting pieces.

• Opus 5 No.1 John Stanley (1712 - 1786)
• Nun danket alle Gott Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877 - 1933)

Roger Pulham played the 1st Chorale of the renaissance composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562 - 1621).

Andrew Leach brought the afternoon to a fine conclusion with his improvisation on the hymn tune Cwm Rhondda. This tune was written in 1907 by John Hughes and the hymn and tune is often referred to as 'Bread of Heaven'. His improvisation should be published!

Our thanks go to William for organising a very enjoyable opportunity for both the performers and the listeners to socialise in convivial company and to the two churches who kindly allowed us to create a paean of praise for the organ.

Tuesday 12 July 2022 13.10 St. Mary le Tower SOA sponsored organ recital.

Sadly no members of this SOA sponsored event were able to be present with the exception of William Baldry, our President, and your Webmaster, who writes:

On such a hot July summer’s day entering the cooler interior of the church, it was a delight to see such a large audience all ready in their seats in anticipation of the recital programme described as ‘Musical Favourites for a Summer Lunchtime'. William Baldry welcomed the recitalist, Robin Walker, known to many through his conducting skills with the Ipswich Choral Society since 2015 and William paid fulsome thanks to the Suffolk Organists’ Association for their generous sponsorship of this concert drawing the audiences’s attention to another SOA sponsored one coming in August with Nicholas Freestone, Assistant Director of Music at Worcester Cathedral.

Robin Walker launched his programme with the familiar declaratory opening of Bach’s Toccata in D minor. Always a audience pleaser, Robin played the fugue section with a very steady pace and his superb technique allowed every note to be heard. Choosing contrasting stops for the echo sections was a very striking effect and he played this section softly so that the concluding coda built up to a very fulfilling and dramatic conclusion. The audience responded with energetic applause.

Robin spoke to the audience and explained that in his younger days he had been a cellist and that the next two pieces were lyrical pieces. He reminded us that the organ is an very special instrument because all the parts can be produced by the one player. Elgar’s Chanson de Matin was his next choice to prove this and he started very quietly on the strings of the Swell manual with the beautiful tune played with a very soft flute letting the music gradually increase in dynamic but gradually bringing it back to a subtle diminuendo. Then we heard another wonderful tune ’The Swan’ composed by Saint-Saëns. We were enraptured by the good choice of stop to imitate the sound of a cello and the rippling undercurrent of the accompaniment on light flute stops on the Choir. For the final arpeggios, very soft bell-like tones on the Swell manual brought to mind the glinting of the sun on the gently ripples as the swan glided by.

Even if these two beautifully played pieces were lulling the audience into somnolence, the next piece, Charpentier’s Prelude to the ‘Te Deum’ immediately brought the organ to life with the alternating sections of the loud trumpet with full organ accompaniment contrasted to slightly lighter diapason sounds. Robin followed this with Morricone’s Gabriel’s Oboe. Here he developed the religious and highly emotional atmosphere of this piece and the audience was soon suffused with the enchanting sound of the oboe created by the Krummhorn stop on the Choir.

Robin introduced his next piece Percy Grainger’s Handel in the Strand by drawing the attention of the audience to the continuous pedal line throughout the piece in the rhythm of a clog dance though noting that such footwear would not enable an organist to perform such an intricate piece! The hands are also simultaneously playing very tricky parts but Robin played the piece with great jollity at a first-rate pace with excellent stop management to bring out the different timbres needed in different sections and with a gradually increasing crescendo to bring this excellent piece to a thrilling ending. The strong applause clearly confirmed the enjoyment that these well-known pieces were giving.

The well-known tune universally held in popular imagination from the Largo from ‘Dvořák New World Symphony‘ was played on the Swell Oboe and then in distinction on a lovely flute with an exquisitely soft accompaniment. Other less well-known sections were quietly developed and delightfully played especially the counter tune in the pedal against a reedy accompaniment which comes before the return of the familiar tune just before reaching its intense culmination with the powerful but softly played characteristic but unusual slow chord sequence. Here Robin brought the volume down to a whisper for the final few bars. There was a brief silence as the audience assimilated the artistry with which he had interpreted the composer’s wishes possibly so finely.

This excellent recital which began with one of the most loved Bach works was to be brought to a close with a masterful performance of Widor’s Toccata. Every bride and bridegroom would be proud to walk out to Robin’s skilful technique articulating the rhythm of the piece with a steady pulse throughout but not so fast that we couldn’t enjoy the contrasting sections set off by powerful pedal declamations which his performance brought to the fore. In the final sections with double pedalling there was a restrained increase of crescendo so that none of the final exuberance of the final chords were diminished. and the appreciation of the audience was expressed warmly. We had experienced a most enjoyable Summer concert.

Andrew Garfath-Cox

Here is the programme:

• Toccata and Fugue in D minor J.S.Bach ((1685-1750)
• Chanson de Matin Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
• The Swan Camille Saint-Saëns (1825-1921)
• Prelude to the 'Te Deum' Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704)
• Gabriel's Oboe from the film 'The Mission' Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)
• Handel in the Strand Percy Grainger (1882-1961)
• Largo from 'New World Symphony' Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904)
• Toccata from 'Symphonie V' Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)

Saturday 9 July 2022 Roger Pulham and William Baldry at St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich. Talk on The Lost Organ of the Tower.

Monday 27 June 2022 Recital by Peter Crompton St. Andrew's Hall Norwich

On a cloudless June summer morning, I set off with Peter at 8.30am to be his page-turner for his recital at Norwich. As you can read below, this is the third recital that Peter has given in the last few months. The previous two were on the 1933 Hill, Norman and Beard organ of the Chapel of Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk which is in excellent playing condition. The organ of St. Andrew's Hall is an original three manual Hill, Norman and Beard organ with 58 stops and electro-pneumatic action. It was restored and remodelled in 1983.

Unfortunately, organists rather more often have to contend with the instrument that they have been invited to play. It would be unusual for any non-playing member of the audience at organ recitals to be familiar with the fact that every organ is variously non-standard. At a glance there is the familiar look of organ keyboards and stops but these manuals, as these keyboards are called, will have different sensitivities, very heavy action or much too light action, minute differences in geometrical proportions that can make playing more or less comfortable or even possible. The stops of the different divisions of the organ can be located within the console in different ways from one organ to the next and every organ has a different selection of stops available. The recitalist has to take in all this information and then spend time (a lot of time) setting up the instrument so that each piece of music has all the correct timbres, crescendos and diminuendos controllable in real time as their fingers and feet play the music.

On our early morning arrival it soon became apparent that in the process of setting up the organ with registration of the stops vital to effective performance of the chosen pieces, the organ was suffering from a number of random faults which would render some of these pieces unplayable. Should the recital be held was a question? Some time was lost as the organ builders arrived and attempted a repair but this made it more difficult to play and it was returned to its initial condition but necessary practice time had been lost too. It was decided that three of the programmed pieces which needed extensive registration changes for a convincing performance would have to be deleted.

The audience, who arrived for the 1.10pm start was told of the difficulties that had to be overcome to put on their recital but they responded very enthusiastically to Peter's splendid recital and from the rather small number of people there, there was rapturous applause. Most left with one of Peter's CD and also a bonus one too!

I played the organ for a little while, whilst Peter was speaking with the audience, and it was immediate apparent to me how well Peter had coped with this instrument with such demanding pieces that he had chosen. We returned back to Suffolk by late afternoon, the brilliance of the blue sky for the morning drive had changed dramatically instead to driving torrential rain and the sky was black but it was a most enjoyable day out.

Here is Peter's amended programme: Nicholas Choveaux was an organist/composer in Great Yarmouth. Garth Edmundson is an American. Pietro Yon is from Italy. Louis Vierne from Paris, organist of Notre Dame. William Walton is an English composer and received his knighthood in 1951. And Johann Sebastian Bach is from Eisenach in Thuringia, Germany.

• Introduction and Toccata on 'Lasst uns erfreuen' Nicholas Choveaux
• Prologue (from a Wartime Sketchbook) William Walton
• O Mensch, bewein' dein Sünde groß BWV 622 J S Bach
• Now thank we all our God Cantata 79 (arr. Virgil Fox) J S Bach
• Von Himmel hoch, da komm ich her BWV 606 J S Bach
• Toccata on 'Von Himmel hoch' Garth Edmundson
• Humoresque Pietro Yon
• Final Symphony No 1 Louis Vierne

19 June 2022 Royal Hospital School Chapel A recital by Peter Crompton, Organist Emeritus of RHS

This recital followed an afternoon organised by the RCO for a study session on hymn playing led by Edward Allen (Director of Music RHS) and David Poulter a renowned cathedral organist where he served in his career at the cathedrals of Rochester, Coventry, Chester and Liverpool. He is now working freelance in Suffolk.

Those who attended Peter's most recent recital on the Hill, Norman and Beard 4-manual organ with a programme of Bach pieces and music composed with these pieces in mind were to receive another afternoon of splendid and entirely different pieces which on this occasion were of English followed by French music.

Probably as it was a Sunday, members of the SOA were noticeably absent except for James Crowe and myself and also Andrew Stevens, who keeps this instrument in such tip-top condition. We listened with great enjoyment to hear the usual Crompton sensitivity and power in many virtuosic pieces in a well balanced programme.

• Introduction and Toccata on 'Lasst uns Erfreuen' Choveaux (1904-1995)
• Adagio in E Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
• Prologue (from A Wartime Sketchbook) William Walton (1902-1983)
• A Trumpet Minuet Alfred Hollins (1865-1942)
• Master Tallis's Testament Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
• Grand choeur dialogué Gigout (1844-1925)
• Impromptu Vierne (1870-1937)
• Cortège et Litanie Dupré (1886-1971)
• Méditation Duruflé (1902-1987)
• Toccata Bédard (b.1950)

20 May 2022 Unitarian Meeting House Friars Street Ipswich IP1 1YD 7pm

Robert Waller the organist of the church for 45 years and member of SOA Council gave a very enjoyable recital with free refreshments in aid of Lighthouse Women's Aid Project and an appreciative audience very generously contributed £200 to the charity. Organ Recital.

Robert's choice of music gave a complete range of musical idioms and was well received.

• Intrada Grayston Ives (1948-)
• Aria (Concerto Grosso 12) G F Handel (1685-1759)
• Sanctify us by the goodness Cantata 22 J S Bach (1685-1750)
• Melody Alfred Hollins (1865-1943)
• Postlude in D Healey Willan (1880-1968)
• Cantilene Théodore Dubois (1837-1924)
• Trumpet Voluntary John Stanley (1712-1768)
• Reflection Daniel Bishop (1981-)
• Cantabile No. 2 Enrico Pasini (1935-)
• Liturgical Improvisation No. 1 George Oldroyd (1886-1961)
• Finale on 'Hyfrydol' Henry Coleman (1888-1965)

Robert chose to play the tune of a 'Prayer for Ukraine' as an encore in respect of the suffering of the people of Ukraine.

So as to give the audience information about the pieces of the composers that were to hear, these programme notes were read out. This introduced some interesting discussions at the close of the performance.

Grayston (Bill) Ives (born 1948) is a British composer, singer and choral director. Until March 2009, Ives was Organist, Informator Choristarum and Fellow and Tutor in Music at Magdalen College, Oxford. In this role he was responsible for the daily musical life of the college chapel. The Intrada was composed for the Queen's Jubilee celebrations.

George Frideric Handel (born 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) A German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training in Halle and worked as a composer in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London in 1712, where he spent the bulk of his career and became a naturalised British subject in 1727. The Aria is from the Concerto Grosso No.12.

Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O.S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period. He is known for instrumental compositions such as the Art of Fugue, the Brandenburg Concertos, and the Goldberg Variations, This arrangement is from cantata 22 where the tune is played with the feet at 4 foot pitch with an accompaniment in the hands at 8 foot pitch.

Alfred Hollins (11 September 1865 – 17 May 1942) was an English organist, composer and teacher, who was noted as a recitalist in Scotland. Hollins was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, and was blind from birth. His mother died while he was young, and little is known about his father. After his mother's death, Hollins was sent to live with his "Aunt Mary", who gave him his first piano lesson. In 1878, Hollins enrolled at the Royal National College for the Blind at Upper Norwood. He studied with Frits Hartvigson on the piano and Dr E.J. Hopkins on the organ. Hollins then presented several successful concerts including one at the Crystal Palace, where he performed the solo part of the Emperor Concerto, and a concert at Windsor in the presence of Queen Victoria. His melody in A♭ dates from 1934.

James Healey Willan (12 October 1880 – 16 February 1968) was an Anglo-Canadian organist and composer. He composed more than 800 works including operas, symphonies, chamber music, a concerto, and pieces for band, orchestra, organ, and piano. He is best known for his church music. His Postlude in D is one of many small organ works.

Théodore Dubois was born in Rosnay in Marne. He studied first under Louis Fanart (the choirmaster at Reims Cathedral) and later at the Paris Conservatoire under Ambroise Thomas. In 1871 he taught at the Paris Conservatoire, then becoming director from 1895 till 1905. He had a considerable output including operas, orchestral music and chamber music. The Cantilene is one of his lyrical organ pieces.

Paul Fey (2000-) is one of the up and coming organist composers with a large output of pieces already at the age of 22. The elegy is one of a set of pieces from A COLLECTION OF MEDITATIVE PIECES FOR LITURGICAL AND CONCERTANT USE PART I (LENT) Published in Feb. 2022.

Charles John Stanley (1712 -1786) was an English composer and organist. He began studying music at the age of seven. Under the guidance of Maurice Greene, composer and organist at St. Paul's Cathedral, he studied "with great diligence, and a success that was astonishing" (Burney). At the age of nine he played the organ, probably as an occasional deputy, at All Hallows, Bread Street. When he was eleven years old, Stanley was appointed organist to the church at a salary of £20 per annum. When he was fourteen "in preference to a great number of candidates" (Burney) he was chosen as organist at St Andrew's, Holborn, and at the age of seventeen became the youngest person ever to obtain the Bachelor of Music degree (B.Mus.) from the University of Oxford. The Trumpet Voluntary is taken from a set of voluntaries Op7 no 3 and arranged for manuals and pedals by Henry Coleman.

Daniel Bishop (1981-) is the Sub Organist at Liverpool Cathedral, having previously been Chorister, Organ Scholar, Associate Organist and Director of the Girls Voices. In addition to his Cathedral post, Dan is Director of Music at Liverpool College, a role which sees him working with pupils from across the College in both academic and creative settings. He holds a fellowship from the North and Midlands School of Music and is an Associate Fellow of the University of Liverpool. Reflection comes from a collection of pieces 'Liverpool Lollipops' composed by Liverpool Cathedral Organists, past and present.

Enrico Pasini (1935 - 10 April 2022) was an Italian pianist, organist and composer. He studied at the St. Cecila Academy, Rome, under Alfredo de Ninno and Fernando Germani. Organist of St. Salvatore’s, Horta. Professor at the Cagliari Conservatory. b. Rome, Italy, Aug. 8th, 1935; d. Monserreto, Apr. 10th, 2022. Cantabile no 2 is one of several organ compositions.

George Oldroyd (1886-1951) was an English organist, composer and teacher of Anglican church music. He studied with the organist and composer Arthur Eaglefield Hull and took violin lessons from Johann Rasch and Frank Arnold. He graduated with a B.Mus (1912) and D.Mus (1917) at the University of London. He was organist of St. Alban's Church, Holborn from 1919 to 1920, and then of St Michael's Church, Croydon from 1920 until his death in 1951. In the 1920s he taught at Trinity College, London, and from 1933-1948 was Director of Music at Whitgift School. From 1944 he was Dean of the Faculty of Music at London University, becoming King Edward Professor of Music from 1951. Liturgical Improvisation No 1 is one from a set of 3 organ pieces.

Richard Henry Coleman (1888 –1965) was a cathedral organist and took many posts Manchester Cathedral 1908–1912, St. Mary the Virgin, Blackburn 1912–1914 St Columb's Cathedral 1914–1920, Peterborough Cathedral 1921–1944 Hatfield Parish Church 1947–1948, All Saints' Church, Eastbourne 1949–1959 Chapel Royal, Brighton. His Finale 0n the Welsh hymn tune ‘Hyfrydol’ is one of many organ compositions.

Saturday 7 May 2022 The Annual General Meeting of the Suffolk Organists' Association

After two years where this meeting has been held virtually, members of the Association met at Christchurch, Tacket Street where the outgoing President, Nicholas Jardine, was thanked warmly for his two year extended period of office cause by the cessation of activity in 2020 by the President Elect William Baldry. Members of the Council remained the same as before with the welcome addition of Miriam Ellis, wife of the late President, Martin Ellis and also Alan Loader was elected as the President Elect to follow in 2023.

Nicholas thanked the members of Oouncil for their work in sustaining the organisation: the Honorary Secretary, Stephen Hogger for his Newsletters, the Honorary Treasurer, Roger Pulham, for keeing our accounts in order, the Journal Editor, James Crowe for editions of the Journal and the Webmaster, Andrew Garfath-Cox for keeping the website up to date.

William Baldry gave his programme for the next six months which will appear in Forthcoming Events, thanked everyone for their attendance, and the afternoon concluded with a short recital by William of English Music, of which several pieces of music had been written for celebrations of the Royal Family.

The first piece by Bliss he married directly into Intrada by Grayston Ives. The Sovereign's Fanfare was composed for the Marriage of HRH Princess MArgaret in Westminster Abbey on 6 May 1960. Sir Arthur Bliss, Master of the Queen's Musick in 1953, was educated at Rugby School and then at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He attended the Royal College of Music with enough time to have the influence of Vaughan Williams and Holst but his studies were interrupted by the First World War. Some people will have been into Ives shoeshop in Woodbridge and will be unaware that Grayston Ives is related to the present owner. Intrada waa written for Her Majesty Quenn Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Thanksgiving Service in St. Paul's Cathedral on 7 June 1977.

Vaughan Williams also attended the Royal College of Music before studying music at Trinity College, Cambridge. He also was a close friend of Holst whose death was a severe personal and professional blow to Vaughan Williams; the two had been each other's closest friends and musical advisers since their college days. Rhosymedre is the middle piece from Three Preludes on Welsh Hymn Tunes. It was played at the Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales by the request of Lady Sarah McCorquodale and also at the weddings of her two sons: Prince William and Prince Harry. The Elegy by Sir George Thalben Ball, who attended the Royal COllege Music at 14, was also played at the funeral of Diana. This piece originated in an improvisation which Thalben-Ball played at the end of a live BBC daily religious service during World War II, when the service finished a couple of minutes earlier than expected. Because so many listeners to the broadcast telephoned the BBC to ask what the composition was, the decided to write down his improvisation as well as he could remember it.

Crown Imperial, a Coronation March (1937) by Sir William Walton was an immediate success with the public. He was asked to compose a march in the Elgarian tradition for the Coronation of George VI in 1937.

• The Sovereign's Fanfare Arthur Bliss
• Intrada Grayston Ives
• Rhosymedre Vaughan Williams
• Elegy Thalben Ball
• Crown Imperial William Walton

William's choice of music in this Platinum Jubilee Celebration of Her Majesty The Queen in three weeks was much appreciated by the members present.

Saturday 23 April 2022 Royal Hospital School 2.30pm

Let's celebrate International Organ Day, as designated by the Royal College of Organists, with our former President, and Organ Emeritus of Royal Hospital School, Peter Crompton. He will be playing the Grand Chapel organ built by Hill, Norman and Beard in 1933 and still one of the finest instruments in Britain. Peter's programme is entitled Bach+. There is no doubt it will an event worth coming to! Let's fill the chapel - there is no lack of seats - emulating the great concerts at Alexander Palace by G D Cunningham in the early 1930's when thousands would turn up to hear him play! Do come along we will look forward to meeting you!

A wonderful afternoon in the School Chapel of RHS with an excellent recital by Peter Crompton, Organist Emeritus, was certainly not one to be missed. It was a fine celebration of the RCO designation of the day as an interNational Organ Day. His programme was called 'Bach and Friends'.

Nicholas Jardine, our outgoing President, having served for two years in difficult circumstances with a cessation of activity during lockdown was, with the audience, treated to his wish that there should at last be an emphasis on Johann Sebastian Bach during his presidency. Peter was to give this to him in style and demonstrated how much an influence JSB has had on the compositions of many organists over several centuries right up to the present day.

The sun shone from a blue sky and inside the Chapel of St. Mary and St. Nicholas, the magnificent romantic Hill, Norman and Beard organ shone as triumphantly as ever. Peter registered the large 4 manual instrument with just the right combinations to give a genuine baroque flavour to the Chorales and the works of JSB himself. The amazing power of the organ was released in the Toccata and Fugue in D minor, the well-known piece by Karg-Elert, the splendid composition on the letters of Bach's name by Liszt and especially in the concluding piece, the Prelude and Fugue in B major of Dupré. Peter's fingers and feet flew over the keys with immense talent ensuring that every piece was enthusiastically applauded by the audience. The audience was to get a second helping of the Dupré as an encore as I had fluffed a page turn in this very thrilling piece.

Attending were mostly members of the Association: Nicholas Jardine, James and Fiona Crowe, Tony Percival, Barry Palmer, Robert Waller, Michael Bayley, Philip Speirs and his wife, Hugh Singleton and Andrew Garfath-Cox. We were most grateful to Edward Allen, Director of Music of RHS for welcoming us and Andrew Stevens, organ tuner, was present having already made sure that the organ was readied for Peter's demanding playing of this 1933 unaltered original instrument which gives so much pleasure to organ afficionadoes.

• Nun danket alle Gott Johann Sebastian Bach an arrangement by Virgil Fox
• Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier BWV 731 J S Bach (1685-1750)
• Nun danket alle Gott - Marche Triomphale Op. 65 Karg-Elert (1877-1933)
• Fantasia in G major BWV 572 J S Bach
• Herzlich tut mich verlangen BWV 727 (Passion Chorale) J S Bach
• Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565
• O Mensch bewein' dein Sünde gross BWV 622 J S Bach
• Fantasia and Fugue on B.A.C.H. s. 260 Liszt (1811-1886)
• Es ist ein Ros' ensprungen Op. 122 Brahms (1833-1897)
• 'Giant' Fugue in D minor BWV 680 J S Bach
• Von Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her BWV 606 J S Bach
• Toccata on 'Vom Himmel hoch' Edmundson (1892-1971)
• Prelude and Fugue in A minor BWV 543 J S Bach
• Ebarm' dich mein, o Herre Gott BWV 721 J S Bach
• Prelude and Fugue in B major Op. 7 Dupré (1886-1971)

This was a great SOA event and we thank Peter most warmly for giving us such an enjoyable recital.

Saturday 19 February 2022 St. Mary's Woodbridge 2pm

With just a valiant few turning out on a very inclement afternoon but as the rain poured down ever harder outside some very effective and short repertoire was played on the two-manual organ but with a powerful Tuba and a 32ft pedal rumble. So our very willing performers had followed the brief and found a large variety of shorter pieces which were listened to with many pleasant surprises amongst the collection.

Refreshment of tea, coffee and biscuits were kindly provided by Robert Waller and Stephen Hogger, our Hon, Secretary, who brought along a friend unfamiliar with the church and the town of Woodbridge, feeling the chill of the church, did not play so we shall have to wait for the pieces by Martin How that he had intended to let us hear. Nicholas, our President, thanked everyone for coming and everyone appreciated the opportunity to play and the extensive range of stops available on the two manuals and pedal division.

As a tribute to Gillian Wildney who has died very recently on the 25 January 2022, I played the piece she had kindly found for me after I had heard it for the first time being played by Roger Green at Stowmarket when Roger was President. Here is the repertoire that we played:

Robert Waller

• Trumpet Tune Gordon Young (1919-1998)
• Fanfare for the Common Man Aaron Copland 1900-1990)

Philip Speirs

• Andante in F Alfred Lefebure-Wely (1817-1869)
• Andante Sostenuto Guy Eldridge (1904-1976)

Tony Dunn

• On a theme of Orlando Gibbons C V Stanford (1852-1924)
• Canon on the 4th and the 5th from Variations sur un Noel VI Marcel Dupre (1886-1971)
• Trento de falsas de 2nd tono Pablo Bruna (1611-1679)
• Pange lingua Juan Cabanilles (11644-1712)

Nicholas Jardine

• Paean Philip Moore (b.1943)
• Cradle Song Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
• Te lucis ante terminum John Rutter (b.1945)

Robert Waller

• Prelude on St. Botolph Gordon Slater 1896-1979)

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• 'Picardy' Alec Rowley (1892-1958)
• Aria Ian Tracey (b.1955)
• Elegy Paul Fey (b.2000)
• Three Liturgical Improvisations No 1 George Oldroyd (1886-1951)

Saturday 22 January 2022 DVD about King's College Organ Rebuild Christchurch Tacket Street

A number of members met to view a DVD on the reconstruction of the Harrison and Harrison organ in the Chapel of King's College. Stephen, organist of the church and Hon. Secretary hosted this session which are followed by tea and cakes.

Tuesday 25 January 2022 An invitation to play the organ at the Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds

Five members of the organ responded to the generous invitation by the Director of Music, Tim Parsons, and Assistant Director of Music, Richard Cook, to meet after Evensong to play the magnificent Harrison and Harrison rebuild of the 4 manual organ. This was a great delight as our last visit was in January 2011 shortly after its inauguration on Advent Sunday 2010. Present were the President, Nicholas Jardine, the Hon Secretary, Stephen Hogger, Steven McDonough, Andrew Garfath-Cox and Robert Waller. The presence of Richard Cook in the organ loft to help with registrations was invaluable and it ensured the organ music played sounded magnificent in the splendid acoustic of the empty cathedral. Our thanks to our two hosts.

The music played was of great variety from J S Bach to Paul Fey, a fine young German organist and composer. A piece composed in his younger days by Dr. Francis Jackson CBE who died on the 10th of January celebrates his remarkable achievement of being an extraordinary musician at York Minster until his one hundred and fifth year. He was responsible for the rehabilitation of the “Toccata” from Widor’s Fifth Symphony at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Kent in York Minster in 1961. He served as President of the Royal College of Organists from 1972 to 1974.

Robert Waller

• Sanctify us by thy goodness ( from Cantata 122 ) - J S Bach (1685-1750)
• Now thank we all our God - Anton Wilhelm Leupold (1868-1940)
• Clair de Lune - Claude Debussy [arr. Richard Lloyd (1933-2021)]

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• Elegy Paul Fey (b. 2000)
• Pageant Francis Jackson (1917-2022)

Steven McDonough

• Prelude and Fugue in G major BWV 541 J S Bach (1685-1750)

Steven Hogger

Nicholas Jardine

2021

Wednesday 13 October 2021 at 7pm at Christ Church, Tacket Street, Ipswich.

As a tribute to Martin Ellis, a former President of the Association, who died whilst in office in the January before the first lockdown, members of the Association and the many friends of Martin listened to five members of the Association play.

In particular, we were pleased that Miriam, Martin's widow, who fortunately recovered from breaking both wrists simultaneously, was here too. The members of the Association present were John Wearne, organist of Museum Street Methodist, Tony Percival former organist of this church before his retirement, Ann and Bob Smith, Robert Waller, organist of Unitarian Meeting House, Barry Palmer, Andrew Garfath-Cox, and Hugh Singleton.

The concert was well attended and we were welcomed by Stephen Hogger, Secretary of the Association and current organist of Christchurch, who introduced his fellow players: our current President, Nicholas Jardine, two former Presidents, Juliette Adams and Roger Green and Christopher Moore who brought the concert to a close with two very fine pieces by Stanford and 'Fanfare on Shine Jesus Shine' by Christopher Tambling. Stephen recollected our trip with Martin to King's Lynn and Boston in Lincolnshire. We had met Nigel Ogden's sister there and so he chose to play his first piece 'England's Glory' to reawaken our memory of a very enjoyable outing and he played 'Elegy' by George Thalben Ball because Martin had been a choir boy in the fifties at the Temple Church in London under GTB's direction.

Nicholas Jardine chose 'Village Variations' by the celebrated York composer, Andrew Carter, who had visited Great Wenham and although looking for a indigenous Suffolk folk tune, finding no suitable one composed this set of ten variations which Nicholas felt matched the personality of Martin. Nicholas mentioned that in the penultimate variation "If it comes across as a smooth performance I shall have definitely played the wrong notes". The tune in 'Village Variations' composed by Andrew Carter has shades of 'Last of the Summer Wine', the very long-running comedy series filmed in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire with the impulsive and mischievious Compo and his fellows which we might well presume that Martin would have appreciated.

Juliette gave a fine performance of a Toccata by Johann Jakob Froberger, restricted by his wealthy patrons from publishing much of his music in his lifetime although it was to be a very strong influence later to many famous composers. In 1649, he left Vienna and during his voyage to England had been robbed of all his money but found a job pumping the bellows of Westminster Abbey. Juliette followed this with a contrasting piece by Jean Langlais in a quiet and reflective mode. Juliette is a very fine player and both pieces were brought to our ears with her meticulous musicianship.

Martin was well-known as a Methodist preacher and had composed some hymns. The audience was invited to sing one of these. The tune is called 'Taunton School' where Martin had been Assistant Director of Music in the early 70's and appears in one of the methodist hymn books.

Roger Green related how on a trip to Haverhill, he had been stropping along with Martin and the latter requested that they rest a while on a bench. Roger said that this 10 minute conversation was an influential moment full of fun and bags of information and this impelled him for this concert to write a Suite of pieces to remember this particular splendid moment in time. Roger is a very self-effacing composer and explained that the five pieces drew on borrowed snippets of well known pieces, including the hymn that we had just sung, but with new rhythms, moods, harmonies and textures which would each seem like Martin, the master of puns and lover of cake, to be like an old friend but now dressed in very different clothing which Roger offered as a heart felt tribute to him. His final piece of the suite required us to clap at an ever faster pace until we recognised the Widor/Ellis influence towards the end.

As Christopher quickly pointed out, Roger Green is a hard act to follow, but Christopher himself is a top drawer recitalist and his performance of the Benedictus showed his command of the style and his ability to choose just the right tempo, mood and timbre to every section in a piece which has many contrasting elements. Christopher said that he had been on holiday many years ago in Dorset but had visited Exeter Cathedral where a recital was given by Martin Ellis, of whom Christopher had at the time no knowledge. The piece Christopher heard was Reubke's 94th Psalm, but much later, Christopher was to meet Martin when they were both awarded the ADCM (Archbishop's Diploma in Choral Music), and also again when Christopher was examining at Epsom College where David Pipe (now at Leeds Minster) was one of Martin's pupils. This slow movement is a very fine example of English organ music and perhaps Christopher chose it because Martin was also a fine, greatly respected and inspirational teacher, an excruciatingly fine punner with sometimes ascerbic observations(!), and a man devoted to Christian ethics. The concert ended with the Fanfare from 'Shine Jesus Shine' a hymn guaranteed to get congregations singing and this piece is by another much respected teacher, Christopher Tambling, Director of Music at Downside Abbey, who sadly died much too young in 2015

The programme of music played

Stephen Hogger

• March - England's Glory Nigel Ogden
• Elegy George Thalben Ball

Nicholas Jardine

• Village Variations (Andrew Carter)
• Toccata in D minor Johann Jakob Froberger
• Tiento from Suite Medievale Jean Langlais

Hymn

• O God, O Spirit know to us Words: T A Dewing Tune: Martin Ellis

Roger Green

Suite for Organ - with happy memories of Martin Ellis

1. Spring (Hollins)
2. Menuet (Boellman
3. Interlude (Mendelssohn)
4. Fancy on 'Taunton School' (Ellis)
5. Finale (Widor/Ellis)

Christopher Moore

• Bendictus from Sonata Britannica
• Fanfare on 'Shine, Jesus Shine'

Saturday 25 April 2021 St. Mary Le Tower at 2.15pm

At the invitation of William Baldry, President Elect, a few members came to the Tower which had been booked for the Annual Organ Competitions but sadly there were no applications. Tony Dunn, Barry Palmer, and Andrew Garfath-Cox were welcomed by the President, Nicholas Jardine and our Secretary, Stephen Hogger, who had repaired the organ recently came along later. No need for overcoats or cold fingers as the day was unusually warm and sunny for late in September. It was a home match day for Ipswich Town Football Club making parking a little more tricky.

The Henry Willis organ of the church has in recent years been enhanced with new stops, an Oboe 8' and a Binns Vox Humana with the Mixtures and reeds revoiced. Following a major overhaul by Bower & Company of Norwich in 2006, the organ included a new 32 note Pedal Board, an increase in the number of pistons for each department, revoicing of Great and Swell Mixtures and tonal regulation of the entire organ. The experience at the console is a comfortable one but the church has a very dry acoustic.

Pieces from across the centuries were played mostly on flutes until the final piece, Marche Pontificale by Widor when the the organ blazed forth in the capable hands of William.

• Andrew Garfath-Cox: Aria by the celebrated composer Andrew Carter
• Barry Palmer: A delightful arrangement by Gert van Hoef entitled Meditatie Londonderry Air with some sumptuous harmonies. A contrast was Fanfare for a Bride, an excellent and very rouing piece by Noel Rasthorne which Barry neatly melded with All Hail King Jesus by Dave Moody in an arrangment by Tim Doran. Barry in fine style completed with Think About His Love by Walt Harrah in a beautiful arrangment by Carol Tonquist
• Tony Dunn: He has has used the lockdown to great effect where with his teachers he has mastered many pieces by Buxtehude. Today he played first of all two pieces, BuxWV 208 and 209, both entitled Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist. He followed this with the Adagio by Widor which precedes the famous Toccata from Symphony No. V. He completed his choices with Melodia from Op 129 No 4 by Max Reger.
• Nicholas Jardine: Adagio by Percy Whilock which has been recently discovered and published by Banks Music. A lovely piece so typical of Whitlock.
• Andrew Garfath-Cox: He played another Aria which has a very calm start with an oboe solo and builds up to a crescendo with the tune accompanied by running triplets and then quite suddenly on a long pause the music resumes a peaceful repose. Throughout with much changing of key there are fascinating harmonies which ensure you are aware that this is a piece of the 20th century. This is by a litle known post second world war composer Reginald Hunt D.Mus (Lond.) FRCO FLCM.
• William Baldry: Marche Pontificale by Charles Marie Widor brought a most enjoyable afternoon to its final conclusion in enthusiastic style.

Tuesday 31 August 2021 Composite Recital at St. Peter's Church, Sudbury at 12.30pm

Three members will be playing. Stephen Hogger, Robert Waller and Nicholas Jardine. A well attended concert from the people of Sudbury and a few members of the SOA, Tony Dunn, Roger Green who introduced the recitalists, Andrew Garfath-Cox and Michael Bayley. Sadly it will be the final use of the organ whilst the redundant church of St. Gregory undertakes a major refurbishment over the next two years.

Stephen opened the programme with a masterly performance of Nigel Ogden's 'England's Glory' following this with four more contemplative pieces based on folk tunes from around the British Isles. These four Preludes on English Folk Tunes were: Ash Grove Andrew Gant; Blue Sleeves Malcolm Archer; Skye Boat Song Richard Lloyd (1933-2021); Londonderry Air Stanley Vann (1910-2010)

Robert followed with the following pieces in his part of the programme.

• Trumpet voluntary from Suite for Organ John Stanley
• Sanctify us by thy Goodness J S Bach
• Aria (Concerto Grosso No12) G F Handel
• Melody A Hollins
• Cantabile no 2 E Pastini
• Finale on 'Hyfrydol' H Coleman

Nicholas played Allegretto Gracioso Frank Bridge (1879-1941); Waltz Noel Rawsthorne (1929-2019); Amazing Grace: Variations Denis Bedard. But the audience wanted more and he brought the excellent recital to a close with Shanty Percy Whitlock (1903-1946).

Thursday 12 August 2021 Museum Street Methodist Church at 1pm

On behalf of the Ipswich Arts Association, Stephen Hogger, Hon. Secretary, will be giving an organ recital at Museum Street Methodist Church. Details here!

Saturday 19 June 2021 Royal Hospital School Grand ORgan at 7pm with Peter Crompton

A hearty audience braved the inclement weather, the problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic and, for some, the attraction of EURO 2020 football to attend the recital given by Peter Crompton, a former President of the SOA and Organist Emeritus of Royal Hospital School, Holbrook.

A number of members of the Association came too: Bob and Ann Smith, Geoffrey Boyle, Barry Palmer, Robert Waller, Andrew Garfath-Cox and our President, Nicholas Jardine and we were welcomed by Edward Allen, Director of Music, to the Grand Organ in the RHS Chapel.

It was very pleasing that there were a number of young people there too including Edward's two children and it his son Oliver who chose the music for Peter's Encore. This was Final by Vierne, the last (final!) movement from the 1st Symphony for Organ Op. 14. This is a very fine piece of composition and an excellent choice by this youngster to be played as the enocore at the end of a recital of so many magnificent pieces with great aplomb showing the enormous power of the 1933 Hill, Norman and Beard organ which had been expertly brought back to full working order by Andrew Stevens, the organ tuner during the lock down period.

So although not an official SOA event, at last we were able to meet again in the spacious acoustic of the Chapel with absolutely no problems of social distancing. We were to hear a tour de force by Peter of a well balanced programme which was enthusiastically received by the audience that included Rick Wakeman CBE who was captivated by this wonderful instrument of which Peter Crompton is so much the master.

• Festival Toccata Percy Fletcher (1879 - 1932)
• Psalm Prelude (Set 1, No.1) Herbert Howells (1892 - 1983)
• Tuba Tune Norman Cocker (1880 - 1953)
• Folk Tune Percy Whitlock (1903 - 1946)
• Tu es Petra Henri Mulet (1878 - 1967)
• Will o' the Wisp Georg Balch Nevin (1892 - 1943)
• Placare Christe Servulis (Le Tombeau de Titelouze) Marcel Dupré (1886 - 1971)
• Elfes Joseph Bonnet (1884 - 1944)
• Litanies Jehan Alain (1911 - 1940)
• Berceuse Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937
• Carillon de Westminster Louis Vierne

Saturday 25 January 2020, 2.15pm Organ Recital by Hugh Singleton and Paul Austen

Christ Church, Tacket Street, Ipswich

A number of members of the Association attended the lunch and we learned from the Secretary, Stephen Hogger, now organist of this church succeeding Tony Percival, that our President, Martin Ellis was not able to be with us because of serious illness.

An appreciative audience enjoyed the performances of our two younger Council members, Paul Austen, our Membership Secretary and Hugh Singleton whose parents had travelled from Halifax. Members present were Nicholas Jardine, Christopher Moore, Ann and Bob Smith, Barry Palmer, Mike Pluck, Tony Percival, Roger Green, Adrian Pell, Brian Crawford with his wife Janice, Philip Speirs with his wife, Robert Waller, Andrew Garfath-Cox, and Stephen Hogger.

Paul Austen introduced the programme that our two excellent recitalists were to play for us and he has kindly written below what he said about the pieces.

Hugh Singleton

• J.S. Bach (1685-1750): Pièce d'Orgue in G major, BWV 572

Here we find Bach in extrovert mood, drawing on the Northern German school of organ writing. The outer sections are full of rapid passagework.

• Olivier Messiaen (1908-92): La Vierge et l’Enfant (from La Nativité du Seigneur)

La Nativité, dating from 1935, is perhaps Messiaen’s first great organ masterpiece, building on his earlier work, L’Ascension. It is a series of nine meditations on Christ’s incarnation and birth, the first of which contemplates the Virgin and the Child. Messiaen heads the score with quotations from Isaiah and Zechariah: “Conceived of a Virgin, unto us a Child is born, for unto us a Son is given. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; behold, thy King cometh unto thee; He is just and lowly.” The theme of rejoicing is evident in the central section.

Paul Austen

• Heinrich Scheidemann (c.1595-1663): Alleluja, laudem dicite Deo nostro

Scheidemann was organist at St Catherine’s, Hamburg. Together with Samuel Scheidt, he may be considered a bridge between Jan Sweelinck and the North German school. Alleluja, laudem dicite Deo nostro is an “intabulation” – a kind of transcription – of a motet by Hans Leo Hassler, transferring the choral work into the realm of keyboard music. The text of the motet is drawn from Revelation chapter 19: “Alleluia. Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great. Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice. Alleluia.”

• Johannes Brahms (1833-97): Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen (from Eleven Chorale Preludes, Op.122)

These Chorale Preludes were drawn together by Brahms at the very end of his life, although it is possible that he actually wrote them much earlier. The German text of this, justifiably the most popular of the set, has been translated as follows:

A Rose has arisen From a tender Root, As the ancients sang to us, The lineage was that of Jesse, And it brought forth a little flower In the middle of the cold Winter, Indeed, halfway through the night.

The chorale melody, woven through the texture of this piece, is well known to us through the hymn, “A Great and Mighty Wonder.”

• Olivier Messiaen: Les Bergers (from La Nativité du Seigneur)

The second movement of La Nativité, reflecting upon the Bethlehem shepherds as they return from beholding the infant Christ. It is headed by a quotation from Luke’s Gospel: “Having seen the Child lying in the manger, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God.” Messiaen depicts their imagined piping one to another. The piece concludes with what he describes as “a kind of carol with a curious rhythm.”

Hugh Singleton

• Felix Mendelssohn (1809-47): Prelude and Fugue in C minor, Op.37 No.1

Mendelssohn both looked back to J.S. Bach, whose music he championed, and stood in the vanguard of the German Romantic school of organ writing. This piece, written in 1837, is the first of his major works that established that style. The fugue has an attractive theme that begins with a rising motive.

Saturday 11 January 2020 Trianon Concert: Corn Exchange Ipswich

Very magnaminously the Trianon Concert which takes place in Ipswich Corn Exchange took as their charitable benevolence the state of the organ which is in the building and which is sadly neglected and doesn't reflect the pride that other major towns take in their cultural heritage. The SOA has taken an active interest in bringing this instrument back to a state which would give pleasure to the people of Ipswich by attracting local and nationally known organists to perform on an instrument worthy of their talent. In pursuing this aim to keep the organ at least in the short term in playable condition, the Trianon musicians generously invited members of the SOA to make a collection at their concert for this sole purpose. Nicholas Jardine, currently President Elect of our Association, organised the collection and it was supported most generously by the audience as reported in the East Anglian Daily Times, Wednesday 16th January 2020.

Saturday 2 November 2019: French Romantic School of Organ Music

Peter Crompton gave an illustrated lecture on the life and works of Louis Vierne beginning at 2.00pm at Museum Street Methodist Church where we were welcomed by the new Minister, Rev. Joan Pell. We were delighted that her husband, Adrian Pell, is an organist and is our most recent member of the SOA.

As would be expected from Peter, the two and half hour talk which included listening to twelve well known works (as listed below) from the French oeuvre flew by as he engaged passionately with his subject and with humorous anecdotes from his own life. He spoke of the difficulties and trials that Vierne overcame to become probably the most renowned composer for the organ, ever. Cesar Franck had been a hugely strong influence on Vierne's style of composition and also subsequently the effect of Charles-Marie Widor's influence, as Professor of Organ at the Conservatoire following Cesar Franck, on technique formed Vierne's early experience of the organ. From these significant teachers, Louis Vierne in turn influenced his own pupils. In particular, Dupre and Durufle, the latter being present when Vierne died at the organ of Notre Dame Cathedral and was the pupil of whom he was most proud. And he discussed the disappointment that Vierne had, that although being Organist Titulaire of Notre Dame and extensive recital tours including Britain and the USA, he was never to become Professor of Organ at the Conservatoire.

LOUIS VIERNE (1870 - 1937)

• Rec 1 - Final (Symphony 1, op 14) - Vierne Track 12 ENCORE- Peter Crompton at the organ of the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook
• Rec 2 - Cantabile - Franck Track 2 - CANTICUM - Naji Hakim plays french organ music Eglise de la Trinite in Paris
• Rec 3 - Toccata (Symphony 5) - Widor Track10 - Charles-Marie Widor - Olivier Latry aux Grandes Orgues de Notre-Dame de Paris
• Rec 4 - Allegro Vivace (Symphony 1) - Vierne Track 4 - Louis Vierne Complete Organ Symphonies - Daniel Roth at the organ of Saint Sulpice in Paris
• Rec 5 - Allegro Risoluto (Symphony 2) - Vierne Track 7 - Louis Vierne Complete Organ Symphonies - Daniel Roth at the organ of Saint Sulpice in Paris
• Rec 6 - Suite ‘Evocation’ - Movement 3 - Dupre Disc 1 - Track 7 - Pierre Cochereau l’organiste de Notre-Dame
• Rec 7 - Arabesque - Vierne Track 6 - French Organ Music from Chester Cathedral - Philip Rushforth
• Rec 8 - Carillon de Westminster - Vierne Track 8 - ENCORE - Peter Crompton at the organ of the Royal Hospital School
• Rec 9 - Clare de Lune - Vierne Track 9 - Trois Siecles D’Orgue a Notre-Dame de Paris - Olivier Latry
• Rec 10 - Tournemire Complete Recordings St Clotilde 1939/31 & Vierne 3 Improvisations 1928 - Notre-Dame Tracks 4,5 & 13
• Rec 11 - Prelude sur le nom d’Alain - Durufle Track 1 - St Eustache in Paris - Bernhard Leonardy
• Rec 12 - Messe Solennelle op 16 - Vierne - Gloria Track 2 - Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris - Grand Messe Du XX siecle

We thank Peter for giving such an illuminating talk and it was pleasing that the event was well attended by appreciative members: Gillian Wildney, Juliette Adams, Robert Waller, Hugh Singleton, Roger Green, Paul Austen, Anne and Bob Smith, John Wearne, Martin and Miriam Ellis, Philip Speirs and his wife, Brian Crawford, William Baldry, Nicholas Jardine and Andrew Garfath-Cox.

Tea and Cake kindly provided by Miriam Ellis inspired convivial discussion among members which continued to 5pm./p>

Saturday 5 October 2019 24 September Great German Romantic Pieces

In the morning at St Mary Le Tower, Ipswich, Martin Ellis played music by three famous German composers. Rheinberger, who was born in Vaduz, Leichtenstein but resident in Germany for most of his life. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy who in 1829 organised and conducted an acclaimed performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion, which had by then been quite forgotten. The success of the performance – the first since Bach's death in 1750 – played an important role in reviving Bach's music in Europe. Reubke, one of Franz Liszt's favourite pupils to whom he taught piano and composition in Wiemar in 1856 sadly just two years before Reubke's death at only 24 years of age.

• Sonata No 7 in F minor Joseph Rheinberger (1839-1901)
• Andante with variations Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847) (
• Sonata in C minor on the 94th Psalm Julius Reubke(1834-1858)

In the afternoon at Tacket Street Methodist Church, Roger Pulham showed a DVD of Reger and his music, and this was followed by the EGM which was called to get the adoption of members for the new Suffolk Organists' Association Constitution. Martin Ellis thanked both Andrew Garfath-Cox and Roger Green for their meticulous work in the drafting and preparation of his new constituion for its final adoption by the meeting. This was passed nem.con. Refreshments had been kindly prepared by members of the congregation.

Tuesday 24 September 2019 ST MARY LE TOWER IPSWICH 1.10pm Organ recital by Colin Walsh

Sponsored by the SOA. Colin Walsh who has played at St Mary Le Tower on many previous occasions, gave an excellent recital of music by Bach, Franck, Gigout and Vierne. He studied for three years in France with Jean Langlais at St Clotilde which inspired him to specialise in French symphonic and modern music, in particular the works of Franck, Vierne and Langlais. In 1988 he played Messiaen in front of the composer himself. Since January 2003 he has been Organist Laureate of Lincoln Cathedral where he presides over the fine Father Willis organ which is virtually untouched since its installation in 1898 and was the last organ built by Willis before his death in 1901. A few members of the Association were present: William Baldry who undertook the page turning, John Wearne, Martin Ellis and Andrew Garfath-Cox.

The programme:

• Allabreve in D BWV 589 J S Bach (1685-1750)
• Andantino in G minor César Franck (1822-1890)
• Intermezzo and Cantabile from Symphony VI Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)
• Toccata in B minor Eugène Gigout (1844-1925)
• Rosace from Equisses Byzantines Henri Mulet (1878-1967)
• Impromptu and Carillon de Westminster drom 24 Pièces de Fantaisie Louis Vierne (1870-1937) (

Saturday 21 September 2019 Organ Recital at 7pm by Robert Waller at Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House, Friars Street IP1 1TD

Robert, a member of Council, and organist of this chapel for 45 years is giving this organ recital for the Meeting House Restoration Fund. This is an important place of worship in the centre of Ipswich. Free entry and a collection of the Fund. Robert will play a varied programme of well known pieces from the organ repertoire including the Suite Gothique by Boellmann and he would welcome your support!

This was a successful fundraising event raising over £750 for the restoration with a sizeable audience which included our member, Juliette Adams, which was much appreciated by Robert.

Saturday 14 June September 2019 5pm

Although not directly an SOA event, there was a call for pianists who would like to convert to the organ by David Poulter, Chapel Organist at RHS with tuition by Daniel Moult and a recital by him to conclude the day. The recommendation that it would be well worth members was responded to by a handful of members: Michael Bayley, Barry Palmer, Hugh Singleton, Andrew Garfath-Cox and, in particular, Geoffrey Boyle who made RHS Chapel his final destination on his cycle ride for The Suffolk Churches Heritage Cycle Ride which benefits his own church and all the wonderful churches that are cared for in Suffolk, many which the SOA have visited from time to time. We now also count on the valuable support of our new members: Edward Allen, Head of Academic Music at RHS and David Poulter, School Organist, previously Director of Music at the cathedrals of Coventry, Chester and Liverpool.

Daniel's talent is second to none and had chosen a varied programme of music which should be enjoyed more often but need not only the technical skill that Daniel possesses but also his exuberant expressive personality, which we all love, and which he pours into his every performance. There is no doubt that being described by The Organ magazine as "one of the finest organists of our time" is entirely apt.

As Will Fraser brought to our attention on a recent visit to RHS, Fugue State Films are bringing out before Christmas a DVD entitled 'The English Organ' where Daniel Moult was filmed and recorded touring the world playing more than thirty organs, one as far away as the south island of New Zealand, as well as many in this country including Truro, Coventry, and King's College Cambridge. Definitely place an order for an ideal Christmas present for an organist friend!

• Mendelssohn, War March of the Priests
• Mendelssohn, Theme & Variations
• Widor, Symphonie V, first movt
• Stanford, Trio
• Whitlock, Fantasy Choral II
• Stephen Hough, Von Gott will ich nicht lassen
• Vaughan Williams, Rhosymedre
• Dupre, Prelude & Fugue in B Major

You can read below how two non-SOA events at Royal Hospital School were hugely enjoyed by audiences which included a very small band of loyal members of the Association on Sunday afternoon and then another the next day at lunchtime. Peter Crompton, who needs no introduction, played on the Sunday and on the Monday lunchtime, a brilliant recital by David Poulter, recently Director of Music at Liverpool Cathedral, and who has only very recently come to live in the County and to work at RHS.

Sunday 16 June 2019 4pm RHS

What an excellent recital we were treated to on Sunday afternoon. Peter Crompton, Organist Emeritus of Royal Hospital School, Holbrook and a former President of the Association, played with great panache some of the greatest masterworks of the French oeuvre. He exhibited his knowledge of that organ in all the various pieces from Daquin to Messiaen with astonishing ranges of tone and volume as he can command from the Grand Chapel Organ. How lovely to hear the whole of the Suite Gothique by Boellmann with its such contrasting movements especially the Priere a Notre Dame, especially with the thought of that Cathedral and its world-renound organ which survived the fire. The Lefebure-Wely was a little lively shock after the mystery of the Messiaen but these pieces demonstrate the development and breadth of the 'romantic' style found in French music. The sincere appreciation of the audience as they stood to acclaim Peter's magnificent playing was heartfelt. A busy week for Peter as he had been giving a recital at Bath Abbey the previous Tuesday.

• Marche Pontificale Widor
• Variatons on a Noel Daquin (1694-1772)
• Chorale No.3 in A minor Franck (1822-1890
• Suite Gothique Boellmann (1862-1897)
• Priere du Christ montant vers son Pere (from L'Ascension 1933)
• Sortie in E flat Lefebure-Wely
• Allegro Vivace (Symphony 1) Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
• Carillon Sortie Mulet

Monday 17 June 2019 David Poulter at Royal Hospital School

A restrained, beautifully articulated, rendering of one of Bach's greatest compositions for the organ opened the recital, the Fantasia and Fugue in G minor (BWV 542). In The Swan from The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens, you could believe that a cellist was playing the sonorous tune. Lot of different flute combinations decorated the Scherzo in E by Gigout. The tune on the Swell Oboe made the extended phrases of Cesar Franck's Prelude, Fugue and Variation, sublime. And the recital concluded with a request from a member of the audience for Toccata from the 5th Symphony which David played with prodigious dexterity with unexpected dashes of exuberance as he opened and closed the swell box. Gradually David built up the grandeur of the piece to show how the immense power of the Holbrook organ can be heard in the hands of a master organist. How fortunate we are that he has come to Suffolk.

Friday 7 June and Saturday 8 June 2019 Kings Lynn - Boston - Spilsby - Skegness

Led by our President, Martin Ellis, who had made all the arrangements for the visit and accompanied by his wife Miriam, this two-day outing gave a wonderful opportunity for six members of the Association in all to perform on four splendid organs over our enjoyable two day visit to Norfolk and Lincolnshire. We were given a very warm welcome at each of the churches we visited, often with tea and cake freely offered. With plenty of time to look around the churches as we listened to our members playing an extensive repertoire of organ music from the pre-baroque to recently published music.

After an early Friday morning start to reach King's Lynn Minster by 10.45am, we were welcomed by the organist, Adrian Richards, who briefly described the work that had been done in a recent restoration of this large three manual instrument with 59 stops. It still contains some original Johannes Snetzler pipework and was the largest of this maker's oeuvres in the second half of the 18th century when it had 27 stops and 1820 pipes, only Beverley Minster in 1768 exceeded it with slightly more pipes but one less stop! The very fine Snetzler case created by Johannes Snetzler's brother, Leonhard in the grandest rococo style was regilded in 2003 with 3000 sheets of gold leaf.

Tony Dunn

• Messe pour les couvents / First Sanctus/ Recit de Cornet / Elevation - Tierce en Taille / Agnus Dei - Plein Jeu / Dialogue - Grands Jeux - Couperin
• Voluntary in G Henry Purcell
• Praeambulum octavi toni, five fugues and Finale Franz Xavier Murschhauser

Stephen Hogger

• Vesper voluntaries - Edward Elgar
• Cofnet Voluntary - Taverner
Somewhere over the Rainbow - arr. Hogger>

Robert Waller

• Prelude on 'Bread of Heaven' - Noel Rawsthorne
• Flourish for an Occasion - Noel Rawsthorne
• Types and Shadows - ROsalie Bonighton
• Celtic Lament - Noel Rawsthorne

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• Cantique de Jean Racine - Faure
• Tuba Tune - Norman Cocker
• Adagio for Strings - Barber
• Three Pieces No. 1 - George Olroyd
• Jig in A minor from Two Festive Pieces - Harmon

Martin Ellis

• Impromptu in C No.3 Coleridge-Taylor

With no difficulty in finding places to eat in King's Lynn we left the magnificient Priory Church and drove on to Boston. It had been impossible to arrange a visit to St Botolph’s Church as there are on going stone repairs in progress but the 'Boston Stump' commanded our attention across the flat fenland directing us through horrendous traffic jams to the Centenary Methodist Church which was nearby. We were most warmly greeted by the present Minister – The Rev’d Dr Val Ogden with Tea and Cake. We were to learn that her younger brother is Nigel Ogden, the celebrated theatre organist, who, a while ago, gave a stunning performance on the organ of the Royal Hospital Organ, Holbrook. The 3 manual 1905 Cousans organ sounded wonderful in the 1400 seat auditorium of the Chapel as our members put it through its paces.

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• Intrada - Grayston Ives
• Toccata - Boellman
• Aria - Tracey
• Postlude in C - Henry Smart
• Orgeltoccata - Driffill

Tony Dunn

• Unter der Linden grunen - Sweelinck
• Prelude and Fugue in F major - J S Bach

Robert Waller

• Postlude - Dubois
• The Rose Garden - Edward MacDowell

Martin Ellis

• Adagio in E - Bridge
• Introduction and Trumpet Tune - Stanley

Stephen Hogger

• O my Soul rejoice with gladness - Karg-Elert
• England's Glory - Nigel Ogden

Saturday morning 8 June 2019

: We checked out of our hotels for the short drive to St. James Church, Spilsby for the 10.00 am start where we were met by the Rector and Margaret Cook, organist of the church and also with members of the congregation who were having their coffee morning and welcomed us most warmly with coffee and cake. This church which is at least 900 years old was the private chapel to the local Willoughby family which needed to be enlarged over the centuries because of the number of monuments to the family in the chapel. We enthusiastically accepted the invitation to play the large 1866 William Hill 3 manual organ which has been recently restored by a bequest from the late organist of £200 000, a figure that couldn't be exceeded. However, we were sensitive to the people having coffee, so our volume respected the wish to bring ‘non con blasto’ pieces to play!

At 12 noon, Dr Robert Pacey gave an insightful talk to our members and members of the congregation on the Hill family who originated from Spilsby leasing land from the Willoughby family. An interesting conundrum was how did William Hill ever get into organ building in London at all? Indeed at that time there were very few organs in this area which included the first one built, Lincoln Cathedral in 1660. We learned that William Hill was the youngest of nine children who had been sent to boarding school at Louth Grammar School after his father died when he was 9 and that also at that school was the great explorer, Sir John Franklin, another Spilsby boy three years William's senior. The Headmster of the school was also Vicar of Louth and the firm of Elliott maintained the organ in this church. Elliott had a connection with Snetzler. William must have met Elliott in the church for he became in 1816/17 an apprentice in Elliott's firm in London and later he married Elliott's daughter. William eventually set up his own firm, with his own name, experimenting with strings and imitative flutes which are very characteristic sounds of a Hill organ. The organ which he built for his own childhood church has been moved around the church at different times and in 1926 had pneumatic action installed by Cousans which is still in excellent service. The introduction of the railways allowed the considerable expansion of his firm's business because of easier transport of the larger pipes and his workforce grew. He was responsible for the high pressure reeds in Birmingham Town Hall.

Tony Dunn

• Ricecar del settimo tono - Andrea Gabrieli c 1510-1586
• Fuga - Johann Pachabel 1653-1706
• The Cuckoo -Louis-Claude Daquin 1694-1772
• The Swan - Camille Saint-Saens 1835-1921

Stephen Hogger

• Liturgical Prelude No. 2 - George Olroyd
• Festivo - Martin Howe

Robert Waller

• Shalom - Norman Warren
• Eventide Charles Villiers Stanford
• Prelude in C - Johann Rinck 1778-1846

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• Chanson de Matin - Elgar
• Interlude - S Coleridge-Taylor
• Nimrod - Elgar
• The Holy Boy - John Ireland
• Andantino - Bedard

Martin Ellis

• Prelude in G - Harris
• Pavane - Paul Drayton

At 12.45 pm, the organist Margaret Cook very kindly booked us into lunch at the Nelson Butt in Market Street for lunch where we enjoyed a most convivial lunch with excellent food and service especially the Pavlova that our President enjoyed and much deserved for his faultless planning of this trip.

After this repast with much jollity, we left Spilsby for St Matthew’s Church, Skegness at 2.30pm. We were welcomed by the Rector's wife and several ladies apologising for the lack of a key for access to the organ. However with the console key found,and very eager to play the 1929 Rushworth & Dreaper organ, we were willing to climb in to reach the console. Another very fine, well maintained instrument completed this excellent trip where the companionship of fellow organists and all of the four instruments had given us so much pleasure.

Tony Dunn

• The Cuckoo -Louis-Claude Daquin 1694-1772
• Prelude and Fugue in Gminor BWV 558 J S Bach
• Praeludium, Cadenzen und Fugen Alessandro Poglietto (d. 1683)

Robert Waller

• Entree Pontificale - Bossi 1861-1925
• Chorale - Noel Rawsthorne
• Reflection - Charles Wood 1866 -1926

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• Priere - Ambroise Thomas
• Organ Sonata in C minor - second half of 4th Mvmnt. - Percy Whitlock
• Aria - Mann

Friday 24 May 2019 St Stephen's Walbrook Friday Recital

Our student member, Harrison Cole, gave this recital. Martin Ellis went to hear him and reported that his technique was 'faultless and the style superb, I was in awe of his performance especially the Hakim which I could not even begin to tackle. It was well worth the journey.'

His programme was:

• Suite Carmelite - Jean Francaix
• Three Pieces from Pieces de Fantasie: Aubade, Dedicace and Feux Follets – Louis Vierne
• Plainte from Suite Brève – Jean Langlais
• Hommage à Igor Stravinsky – Naji Hakim

Saturday 4 May 2019 East of England Organ Day Royal Hospital School

A splendid day organised by William Saunders, Director of Music at Royal Hospital School and Edward Allen, Head of Academic Music deserved to be attended more of our members who would have had a thrilling experience. Nevertheless, members Peter Crompton, Tony Dunn, Barry Palmer, Michael Bayley, Andrew Garfath-Cox and our young member Alex Taylor with his parents came to all or part of the day.

The day began with an unusual programme by Christian Wilson from Oxford University who had in the short time he had to prepare discovered some really interesting registrations. He is the current teacher of Ben Banks, our student member now studying at Oxford, and we considered Ben most fortunate to have such an accomplished player and academic as his guide.

David Pickfall continued the morning's superb entertainment with a magisterial display of virtuosity on the superb Fazioli accompanying two Silent films both about 25 minutes long.

Two eighteen year old students, sponsored by The Organ Club, each played with complete confidence and remarkable dexterity programmes of three pieces. One had only been playing the organ for four years. Their talent was superb and thoroughly enjoyable.

A look at excerpts from the fascinating output of Fugue State Films with Will Fraser, filmmaker and organist and director of this company, whose output is often partly crowd-funded, gave us an insight into how these films come about and how he chooses the theme for them. A DVD set on 'The English Organ' will be the latest production due to come out just before Christmas 2019 featuring organs here in Great Britain and also those from other countries with demonstrations and commentary at each venue by Daniel Moult.

Yet another brilliant recital was the final climax of the day by Richard Hills famous for his equal accomplishment with theatre organ style and traditional organ genres. He brought a wonderful conclusion to a really enjoyable day packed with superb musicianship on the king of instruments and, in particular, this Grand Chapel Organ of The Royal Hospital School, Holbrook with its four manual Hill, Norman and Beard 1933 instrument which was able to produce just the right sounds for Durufle or Buxtehude, Bach or Piazzola, Dupre or Whitlock and many other famous composers heard during the course of the day.

Saturday 13 April 2019 - A Spring Day out in Suffolk Villages (with the added advantage of organs to play).

I hope the weather is fine because the villages and churches that we shall visit are some of the most beautiful I know anywhere. In the morning you can explore the joys of four Suffolk villages and discover what being a village organist in Suffolk is really like. Those of us who play some of the more versatile organs in the county may have forgotten the reality that many of the county’s organs are limited in compass and range and manage without modern playing aids. And yet the Monks Eleigh Benefice organs, with which we shall spend the morning, are played regularly by one of our own members, Laura Wallace. She faithfully moves from church to church, as we shall, and is devoted to these beautiful instruments, each of which will offer you something different and exquisite in its own way. One of her compensations is that the churches are such gems and the countryside around them is a joy to behold. So the aim is to enjoy a day out in the countryside and gently play a few organs.

In the afternoon we move to discover the interestingly different character of the organ at the URC in Hadleigh.

You are welcome to join us at any point during the day

10.00 – Meet at Chelsworth All Saints IP7 7HU

But try to arrive early to have some time around the exquisite village. Park by the pub (The Peacock) – room on both sides of the road. Short walk to church which is in sight. Don’t worry about what it feels like walking through someone’s front garden! The organ here is by August Gern, pupil of Aristide Cavaille Coll. Gt. 8884 – Sw 1688428 - Pedal 16 (straight, flat) Works are under way to move the organ to a new gallery above its present position and it is likely that electrical work will prevent us using the blower – exercise recommended for hand pump duty! We shall have the opportunity to discover something of this relatively rare instrument and the present plans for its future.

10.30 – Monks Eleigh St Peter IP7 7JQ

The village is a five minute drive from Chelsworth. The church has two organs J.W. Walker – 1879 – one manual 888442 and 16pedal (flat parallel) – lever swell and two combination pedals. It can be found at the west end of the church. In the chancel is an electronic organ. Try playing it without the console speakers and it sounds much better.

11.15 - Brent Eleigh St Mary (Hall Road, CO10 9NP) and Kettlebaston St Mary IP7 7QA

Half to the first and half of the group to the second both only 5/10 minutes drive. The two groups might like to swap over at 12.0ish. Parking by both churches

Brent Eleigh, - Bates and Son, London – one manual 8842 pedal (flat parallel and permanently coupled. All enclosed. Perhaps you will not have played many organs by this builder. Bring some manuals only music – you can cheat a bit with pedal pull-downs. Open Diapason and Clarabella sharing a Stopped Bass and brightened with a Principal and Fifteenth.

Kettlebaston – Lieblich Organ by T. C. Lewis – 88 – one octave of pedal pull-downs. You cannot miss the chance to play this. Built by the mighty Lewis firm (Southwark and Ripon Cathedrals etc.) this tiny organ, just two stops, from the Lewis ‘Lieblich’ range will allow you to play it, pumping by foot or with a colleague pumping by hand. So time for some team work. Probably most effective in manuals-only music. The organ was moved here from Wattisham in 1977.

12.45ish to 2.00 LUNCH

There are several good choices for you:

2.30 The Great Meeting (URC) in Hadleigh IP7 5DL

All meet again where we should have time for each member to play the organ which I am told is being tuned specially for our visit. In 1966 moved to Hadleigh by Bishop and Son – Gt. 8884, Sw. 88884288Trem, Ped. 16,16,8, Parking in Hadleigh is probably best in the facility in Magdalen Road which runs parallel with the High Street and just off the B 1070. The church is in Market Place – a short walk through to the High Street and then find Market Place. There is some parking very close by at the end of Market Place but spaces are limited.

4.00 Home time

Sunday 7 April 2019 Recital Church of the Sacred Heart and St. Francis 114 Connaught Ave, Frinton-on-Sea CO13 9AD 2.30pm

Our member Gillian Wildney, organist of this church, has organised a recital to be given by Peter Crompton, a former President of the Association and Organist Emeritus at Royal Hospital School, Holbrook.

Those who attend Peter's recitals know that they will come away thrilled with his execution and musicianship. This afternoon's programme will see a small organ reveal its secrets in the hands of a master. This is a new organ by Skrabl UK which sits in the west gallery with the case built into and projecting from the gallery front. Put this event in your diary!

PROGRAMME:

• Now thank we all our God JS Bach (1685-1750) (Cantata 79) arr Virgil Fox
• Chorale Prelude: O Mensch, bewein’ dein’ Sunde gross JS Bach (1685-1750)
• Fantasia in G major BWV 572 JS Bach (1685-1750)
• Adagio in G minor Albinoni (1671-1751)
• Prelude on Rhosymedre Vaughan-Williams (1872-1958)
• Will o’ the Wisp Nevin (1862-1901)
• Pavane Faure (1845-1924)
• Berceuse Vierne (1870-1937)
• Litanies Alain (1911-1940)
• Humoresque Yon (1886-1943)
• Aria Rawsthorne (1929-2019)
• Toccata Mushel (1909-1989)

Monday 25 March 2019 1.30pm Recital by Ben Banks at on the Grand Chapel organ at Royal Hospital School, Holbrook

Although not an SOA event, our student member Ben Banks now Organ Scholar at Oriel College, Oxford gave a fine recital when he returned to his old school where he was the Crompton Organ Scholar to give the well attended lunchtime recital. After leaving Royal Hospital School, he was appointed Organ Scholar at Portsmouth Cathedral and Portsmouth Grammar School. He has received tuiton by Peter Crompton, Tom Bell, Andrew Cantrill-Fenwick and now learns with Christian Wilson all very fine organists and particularly inspirational teachers of the organ.

A good audience enjoyed his well balanced programme played with distinction. As well as people from parishes associated with his father who is Canon Precentor of the Cathedral at Bury St Edmunds, a number of SOA members were there to support Ben: Barry Palmer, Gillian Wildney, Andrew Garfath-Cox and Peter Crompton.

Programme

• Allegro from Symphony No.2 Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
• Légende & Choral Vierne
• Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No, 1 Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
• The Legend of the Mountain Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877-1933)
• Toccata on Aberystwyth David Bednall (b. 1979)

Wednesday 20 March 2019 – A Day in North London

Two Father Willis organs to play, one at St John’s, Friern Barnet and the other at Union Chapel, Islington. 8.00am return to Ipswich circa 6.00pm.

We travelled by coach from Ipswich picking-up en route at Marks Tey more of our members and in fairly heavy traffic arrived at our first destination to be greeted by John Norman formerly of Hill, Norman and Beard Organ Builders who gave us details of how the church had been progressively built. Ascending by a narrow spiral staircase, the organ is high up in a chamber on the North side of the Chancel. We were told that the apsidal stonework of the chancel was created very expensively at the request of the Vicar after he had seen such designs in some German churches. It is certainly very impressive. The nave and transcepts was built in stages and at the west end is a very tall and ornately carved font cover. The huge butresses of the building which can be seen outside are necessary as this church has fully stone vaulted roof.

After everyone had had the opportunity to play the organ, we went to Kenwood House which has magnificent views of the city of London and ate in the cafeteria for lunch. We welcomed two new non-playing members Brian and Janice Crawford on our trip, the president and we thanked Roger Green for arranging this splendid day out. The others members present were Tony Percival, Mike Pluck, Stephen Hogger, Robert Waller, Tony Dunn, Stephen O'Donaghue, Ann and Bob Smith, Martin Ellis, Andrew Garfath-Cox and Juliette Adams.

We were welcomed at Union Chapel by the Director of Music. The determination of the congregation to maintain their chapel worship within this remarkable building, the maintenance of the building itself and its organ has required hard work and intense lobbying of charitable sources and the the use of the building by concertgoers of a wide variety of different musical genres to provide an income stream preserving the wonderful organ for generations to come. An unusual feature of the organ retained in the rebuilding by organ builders Harrison and Harrison of Durham is that it can be both powered by water pressure as well as by electricity and we saw the hydraulic pumps working the bellows for different pressures.

Anthony Percival who recently retired from playing at Christchurch, Ipswich writes about the Union Chapel organ:

"The Union Chapel had its origin in the yer 1802 in a spontaneous association of part Espiscopalians and part Nonconformists. The former who embraced a more evangelical ministry than that prevailing at the parish church wanted some provision for worship in addition tot he two existing Nonconfromist Chapels. Their first Union Chapel in Compton Terrace was opened in 1806.

It is interesting to note that at first, the liturgy of the Church of England was used alongside the Comgregational way of worship - this also applied to the differetn observances of Holy Communion. By 1845, this practice ceased as Episcopalian membership had dwindled and the Congragational Order adopted entirely.

The prest Chapel was opened in 1876; Mr. Gladstone being among the worshippers. The building itself was at the time unique among Nonconformist places of worship. The plan wa suggested by the Church of Santa Fosca, Torcello. The great and lofty interior is octagonal having seating for just two thousand people. A leading architectural journal once gave Union Chapel as one of the most remarkable buildings of Queen Victoria's reign. It cost £50 000. The acoustic is wonderful! The large 3 manual 'Father' willis organ was installed in 1876-77 with pipework dating from 1873.

I have in my possession a copy of the Church Manual of 1872 with its brown and gold-tooledcloth-bound cover. It was prepared by the COngregational Minister, the Rev. Dr. Henry Allon, who with his gifted organist H J Gauntlett, began the fasion of printing hymnbooks with music and introduced regular congregational singing rehearsals.

I first heard the organ in 1960's and have played it subsequently, once for a wedding, and again to have a tape-recording session. I also demonstrated it for a visit by the Chapels Society of which I am a member."

It had been suggested that these two instruments would offer a thrilling opportunity to dust off off copies of your Victorian and Edwardian pieces and play them on organs of their own period. Many members took up this challenge and the music played follows:

St John the Evangelist, Friern Barnet

• Martin Ellis Scherzo Gigout
• Tony Dunn Preambulum Octavi Toni, five Fugues and Finale F X Hurschauser
• Stephen Hogger Allegro Maesto e Vivace from Sonata No 2 Mendelssohn / Berceuse (from 24 pieces) Vierne
• Robert Waller A Voluntary for Easter on St Fulbert Douglas Guest
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Ich Ruf zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 639 J S Bach / Postlude in D Henry Smart / Trumpet Tune in D David Johnson
• Steven McDonough O Gott, Du frommer Gott Op 122 Brahms
• Roger Green Prelude on 'Crugybar' Roger Green

Union Chapel, Islington

• Tony Percival Trumpet Tune John Stanley/ Hymn Tune 'Laudate Dominum' H J Gauntlett
• Tony Dunn Andante in C from The Village Organist S S Wesley / Finale (Andante) from Sonata 6 Mendelssohn
• Stephen Hogger 'Over the Rainbow' Arzen / War March of the Priests Mendelssohn
• Robert Waller The Prayer Our Father Taught Us' Quentin Thomas / Gaudeamus Sidney Campbell
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Scherzetto Percy Whitlock / March on a theme by Handel Guilmant
• Steven McDonough Andante Lennox Berkeley / Prelude in C BWV 541 J S Bach
• Roger Green First Liturgical Prelude George Oldroyd
• Martin Ellis Pastoral and Carillon from Op 3 Vierne

Details from NPOR for St. John the Evangelist, Friern Barnet 1896 Father Willis

Pedal: Key action Tr; Stop action Me; Compass-low C Compass-high f1 ; Keys 30

• 1 Open Diapason 16
• 2 Bourdon 16

Choir: Key action Tr ; Stop action Me; Compass-low C Compass-high g3; Keys 56

• 3 Blank CD spare
• 4 Claribel 8
• 5 Dulciana 8
• 6 Suabe Flute 4 CD Flute Harmonique
• 7 Piccolo Harmonique 2 CD Viola da Gamba 8'
• 8 Corno di Bassetto 8

Great: Key action Tr; Stop action Me; Compass-low C Compass-high g3; Keys 56

• 9 Open Diapason No.1 8
• 10 Open Diapason No.2 8
• 11 Claribel 8
• 12 Principal 4
• 13 Fifteenth 2
• 14 Mixture IIIrks 17.19.22
• 15 Trumpet 8

Swell: Key action Tr; Stop action Me; Compass-low C Compass-high g3; Keys 56 Enclosed

• 16 Bourdon 16 CD Double Diapason
• 17 Open Diapason 8
• 18 Lieblich Gedackt 8
• 19 Salicional 8
• 20 Vox Angelica 8
• 21 Principal 4 CD Gemshorn
• 22 Flageolet 2
• 23 Cornopean 8
• 24 Hautboy 8

Couplers

Swell to Pedal / Swell to Great / Swell to Choir / Choir to Pedal / Great to Pedal. Note: Ratchet Swell pedal (RH side); 2 + 2 combination pedals

Details from NPOR for Union Chapel, Islington recently restored by Harrison and Harrison

Pedal: Key action Compressed Air; Stop action Me; Compass-low C Compass-high f1; Keys 30

• 1 Open Diapason Wood 16
• 2 Open Diapason Metal 16
• 3 Bourdon 16
• 4 Principal 8
• 5 Ophicleide 16 12"

Choir: Key action Tr; Stop action Me; Compass-low C Compass-high a3; Keys 58 Enclosed

• 6 Lieblich Gedact 8
• 7 Claribel Flute 8 grooved to Lieblich Gedact
• 8 Dulciana 8
• 9 Viol d'Amore 8 sic
• 10 Concert Flute 4
• 11 Lieblich Flöte 4
• 12 Piccolo 2
• 13 Corno di Bassetto 8
• 14 Tremulant

Great: Key action Barker Lever; Stop action Me; Compass-low C Compass-high a3; Keys 58

• 15 Double Open Diapason 16 stopped bass
• 16 Open Diapason 8
• 17 Stopped Diapason 8
• 18 Claribel Flute 8 grooved to Stopped Diapason
• 19 Flauto Dolce 8
• 20 Principal 4
• 21 Flute Harmonique 4
• 22 Twelfth 3
• 23 Fifteenth 2
• 24 Mixture III 17.19.22
• 25 Trumpet 8
• 26 Clarion 4

Swell: Key action Barker Lever; Stop action Me; Compass-low C Compass-high a3; Keys 58 Enclosed

• 27 Contra Gamba 16 stopped bass
• 28 Open Diapason 8
• 29 Lieblich Gedact 8
• 30 Salcional 8 sic
• 31 Vox Angelica 8
• 32 Gemshorn 4
• 33 Lieblich Flote 4
• 34 Mixture III 17.19.22
• 35 Trumpet 8
• 36 Oboe 8
• 37 Vox Humana 8
• 38 Clarion 4
• 39 Tremulant

Couplers

Swell to Pedal / Swell to Great / Choir to Great / Choir to Pedal /Great to Pedal

4 composition pedals Great, 4 Swell; Gt-Pd toe pedal (rhs at right-angles to pedalboard); 2 balanced Swell pedals, LH to Swell, RH to Choir

The Barker lever is a pneumatic system which multiplies the force of a finger on the key of a tracker pipe organ. It employs the wind pressure of the organ to inflate small bellows called "pneumatics" to overcome the resistance of the pallets (valves) in the organ's wind-chest. This lever allowed for the development of larger, more powerful organs still responsive to the human hand. These larger organs first flourished in France, e.g., the organ produced by Cavaillé-Coll at St. Sulpice. The first Barker lever was built in the Cavaillé-Coll organ of the Basilica of Saint-Denis.

This "contrivance" was named after Charles Spackman Barker (1804-79), engineer and organ-builder. A similar lever was developed by David Hamilton in 1835, and there has been debate whether Barker stole the design.

Monday 18 March 2019 1.30pm Christopher Moore Organ Recital at RHS

Although not an SOA event, our member Christopher Moore gave an excellent recital claiming that this was his last public recital. It is was then that we a small but appreciative audience were privileged to enjoy a master at work before he throws off his organ shoes.

Christopher has a fine pedigree of prestigious posts that he has held among which Director of Music at the Cathedral of St Michael and St George, Grahamstown, South Africa, and in 1986 at Great St Mary's Cambridge, later moving to there to the Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs. Most recently he retired from post of Choir Director at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds where he lives and is busy involved in many aspects of musical life both locally and further afield.

>He chose a programme which gave us the Hill, Norman and Beard organ (1933) at its finest. Each piece was registered with a different tone: sometimes almost theatre organ like as in his first piece showing one aspect of Whitlock's Bournemouth experience; in Howells, the grandeur of our great cathedrals with dramatic gradations of tone and volume; a light and playful touch in the Bossi Scherzo; the energy of the Passacaglia by Andrew Carter, and, finally the uplifting voice of Tu es petra by Mulet. Christopher couldn't have wooed his audience better in this Lenten season and the extended applause clearly showed how much we had enjoyed the occasion.

Programme

• March for the Phoebe Percy Whitlock (1903-43) arr. Gower
• Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No1 Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
• Scherzo in G minor, Op.49, No 2 Enrico Bossi (1861-1925)
• Passacaglia Andrew Carter (b. 1939)
• Tu es Petra (Carillon) Henry Mulet (1878-1967)

2018

Saturday 3 November 2018 – Repertoire Session at St John’s United Reformed Church, Cowper Street, Ipswich. 2pm – 4pm

The 2 manual organ was originally by Bishop and later installed in the new building by Boggis. There are seven stops on each of Pedal (16,16,8,8,4,16,8), Great (8,8,8,4,4,22/3,2) and Swell (8,8,8,4,2,2rks,8). There is a useful supply of playing aids and the detached console will enable us to gather round and share our music. A full specification below.

The aim of the afternoon was to share music that you have found useful or that speaks to you in a particular way. The bait was taken up by nine members: John Wearne, Andrew Garfath-Cox, Barry Palmer, Tony Percival, Martin Ellis, Hugh Singleton, Juliet Adams, Roger Green, Roger Green and Nicholas Jardine. In the audience were Ann and Bob Smith, Michael Bayley, Stephen Hogger, Mike Pluck, Philip Speirs, Michael Bowmer who is a friend of Tony and Mike and a couple who had spotted the event from the website and hopefully will join as members.

Roger Green's invitation was to join him in an afternoon whose aim is to share music with each other and the event, an idea of Juliet Adams, was most enjoyable. Roger also said "Finding new repertoire is always a challenge so I offer you this opportunity where you can contribute in either or both of two ways:

First – if you have some organ music that you do not need please bring the copy along so that we can offer copies to other members. You may well find that you go home with more copies than you brought of course.

Second – please come and play a piece of music to your fellow members. It could be a piece that you have found useful in some way. Equally it could be a piece that speaks to you very personally. Please come and share it/them with us.

It should be possible to perform a wide range of music on the organ in the church. At the same time the organ is not overwhelming so please do not be put off playing us something. We cannot run this event without you! But if you don’t want to perform you will still be just as welcome.

So Roger's worry that "I shall look even sillier than normal if I am there with a pile of music to play to myself so please come and enjoy the music and cake!" eas completely unfounded and a lot of the repertoire was new ground for many of us. Also a great quantity of music was brought along for others to collect which was very much appreciated.

Here is the music played during the afternoon put into a musically adroit sequence by Roger:

• John Wearne Chorale Jesus Guido / Procession C S Lang
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Cortege et Litanie Dupre
• Barry Palmer Penguing's Playtime Nigel Ogden
• Tony Percival Andante Cantabile Sympony No. 6 Widor
• Martin Ellis Communion/ Stèle pour un Enfant défunt Op 58
• Hugh Singleton Toccata Gigout (1844 - 1925)
• Juliet Adams 'Be Thou My Vision (Slane)' ?
• Roger Green ''Sunrise' by Royal Marines arranged Green/li>
• Nicholas Jardine Chorale Ave Maris Stella from Aspects of Song of Solomon Dupre

In order to help your preparation and planning for what might be possible here is the organ specification and below some information on its rebuilding from the late John Harding, organist of the Church for 25 years.

PEDAL

Bourdon 16'
• Dulciana 16'
• Principal 8'
• Bass Flute 8'
• Fifteenth 4'
• Fagotto 16'
• Fagotto 8'

GREAT

• Open Diapason 8'
• Stopped Diapason 8'
• Dulciana 8'
• Principal 4'
• Saube Flute 4'
• Twelfth 2 2/3'
• Fifteenth 2'

SWELL

• Lieblich Gedact 8'
• Salicional 8'
• Voix Celeste 8'
• Geigen Principal 4'
• Fifteenth 2'
• Mixture 2 ranks – 19.22
• Trumpet 8'
• Tremulant
• Swell to Pedal
• Swell to Great
• Swell Octave
• Swell Sub Octav
e
• Swell Unison Off
• Great to Pedal
• 4 thumb pistons to each manual
• 2 extra thumb pistons to the Swell ‘Solo 1’ and ‘Solo 2’.
• 4 Toe pistons to the Pedal
• Reversible thumb pistons to Great to Pedal and Swell to Great
• Reversible toe pistons to Great to Pedal, Swell to Great, Pedal Fagotto 16 and Pedal Fagotto 8.
• General Cancel
• Balanced Swell Pedal
• Great and Pedal combinations coupled.

John Harding, a former President of SOA was the organist for 25 years covering the rebuilding of the organ, and who, together with the Minister of the Church, published a booklet containing the memories of those involved called: 'Memories of Rebuilding Together'. Unfortunately, both have since died. John Harding was a newly retired architect and splendid organist and was inspired to put the organ works on a shelf and have the console on an electronic umbilical cord.

John Harding himself has written about this part of the story:

“The question of an instrument for the new church building arose and I was asked to join a small Committee to discuss this and make recommendations. After some investigation, it was decided to use the two-manual pneumatic action organ of 1916 (built by Bishops) from the old building as the basis of a new instrument. As there was no space in the new worship area for a mechanical action instrument, it was decided to put the action and pipe work on a shelf at the rear of the worship area, convert to electric action and provide a movable console on the floor at the front.

I was appointed Organist of the Church and commenced my duties in February 1989 when the new building came into use. The opening Recital was given by Michael Nicholas, then Organist of Norwich Cathedral, in April of that year. In planning the instrument, some additions were made to the specification and provision was made for two additional pedal stops (reeds) which, after extra money had been raised, were added in 1994 and inaugurated in a Recital by Peter Wright of Southwark Cathedral.

I felt very privileged to have had a major hand in the design of an instrument in the church where I was to be the organist. The organ has been pronounced very suitable for the building and because of its modest size and movable console has been much used for organ classes by the Suffolk Organists Association, URC Musicians' Guild and also the Diocese.”>

NO MEETING IN DECEMBER

2017

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The AGM was held at 6pm with the President, Ann Little in the chair. She reviewed the events that have taken place during the year. The new Council was voted in with Andrew Cantrill-Fenwick and Paul Austen as new members. The death of Michael Simmonds, a member of Council was recorded. The remainder of the Council was voted in enbloc. Roger Green becomes President-Elect because of his current indisposition and we welcomed Martin Ellis, our new President who then laid out his calendar of events for the year.

Earlier in the afternoon, three churches were opened for members to play the organ: St. Mary's, Bentley; St. Mary, Belstead and St Peters, Copdock where Michael Osborne was pleased to receive visitors.

Thursday 20th April 2017 Visit to London. Freemasons Hall, Church of St. Dunstan, Fleet Street and the Temple Church

It is hoped that members can travel to London by car or train and then use the tube to the three venues to enjoy A FABULOUS DAY IN LONDON!

Itinerary

10.30-12.15pm Meet at Holborn Underground Station to walk to Freemason's Hall
2.15pm Church of St. Dunstan's in Fleet Street
3.45pm-5.15pm Temple Church

This is not a day to miss; we meet at Holborn Underground Station at 10.30am and walk to the Freemason’s Hall where we shall be able to hear and play the 50 stop Willis III/Harrison 3 manual organ (for the specification log into Grand Temple Freemason’s Hall organ). We shall have from 11.00am until 12.15pm there before going to lunch (own arrangements). There are plenty of food outlets in the area of Kingsway/Aldwych.

At 2.15pm we shall meet at the Church of St Dunstan in Fleet Street. In 2010, David Wells rebuilt the 3 manual organ which had last been rebuilt by Willis III in 1947. The opening recital was given by Thomas Trotter. We shall be able to play the organ and to have a cup of tea and biscuits (by kind provision of the Administrator) before crossing Fleet Street to the Temple Church, where George Thalben Ball was organist for almost 60 years, arriving there at around 3.45pm. We shall have an opportunity to look round this iconic medieval Church, restored after WWII in the 1950s, before 4.00pm when Martin Ellis, (an Old Templar and President designate of the Association) will introduce the fantastic 4 manual Harrison organ which received a rebuild in 2012/13.

Unfortunately neither the Director of Music, Roger Sayer, who was the soloist on the Temple organ for the music score for Hans Zimmer's soundtrack for 'Interstellar' nor Greg Morris is available that day. We have until 5.15pm to play the organ and we will be looked after by Liz Clarke, the music PA. There is a book about the organ on sale at the Church.

I am sure you will find this is a splendid opportunity to play some fine London organs so do come along!

Travel

Some people may want to travel by car to Newbury Park where there is plenty of parking space and from where you can travel to Holborn on the Central Line. Please purchase a Travelcard as it will prove cheaper than single tickets. By the way, you will find yourself having to drive to the Gants Hill roundabout returning east along the Eastern Avenue to gain access into Newbury Park Station.

If you are intending to travel by Greater Anglia from Ipswich, Manningtree or Colchester, the following is recommended:

To London

• Ipswich 0909
• Manningtree 0919
• Colchester 0929
• Liverpool Street arr.1019
• Central Line to Holborn Make sure you have a pre-booked Travelcard

From London

• Walk from Temple Church to Blackfriars Circle Line to Liverpool Street
• Liverpool Street dep. 1810
• Colchester 1900
• Manningtree 1911
• Ipswich 1923

The cost from Ipswich using red spotted hanky.com is £ 32.85 + £ 8.10 for a travel card. You will have to buy two single tickets unless you wait until the 1908 from Liverpool Street when a return ticket will cost c. £ 26 + £ 8.10.

18th March 2017 Past Presidents' Composite Recital at St Clement's Congregational Church, Ipswich. 2.30pm

A very select audience was entertained by six Past Presidents of the Association and refreshments were kindly provided by ladies of the congregation. We were very warmly welcomed by The Revd. Gillian Lester-Brown and the Elders to St. Clement's, an independent church in the great congregational tradition.

Stephen Hogger introduced Simon Pulham of Bishops and he spoke about this hidden gem, a Bishop & Son organ, possibly the finest two manual in Ipswich. This was built at Westbourne Mills, later Cromer Road in Ipswich which after the required demolition of the old premises in London, had become the principal works for the firm in 1897. Around 1880, Edward Hadlow Suggate, a young man who was employed as a tuner recognised the parlous state of the business and raised the capital to buy out the Bishop family. He and then his daughter, Hilda Mary Suggate, were to run the business for the next hunded years.

The organ has remained almost completely original save the electric blowing. This organ from the Suggate period is a two manual pneumatic organ of 18 speaking stops and with excellent tonal qualities in a spacious building with a fine acoustic. Our Past Presidents Ann Little, Stephen Hogger, Juliette Adams, James Crowe, Andrew Garfath-Cox, and John Cooper gave voice to the instrument introducing and playing a variety of pieces. The music played during the afternoon was:

• Ann Little: John Bull (1562/63 - 12 March 1628) - Voluntary Whitlock (1 June 1903 – 1 May 1946), - On an old French Air Grayston Ives (1948) Intrada
• Stephen Hogger: Berceuse Louis Vierne (8 October 1870 – 2 June 1937)
• Juliette Adams: Hermann Schroeder (26 March 1904 – 7 October 1984) Four pieces
• James Crowe: Sir Charles Villiers Stanford (30 September 1852 – 29 March 1924) On a theme of Orlando Gibbons Noel Rawsthorne (born 24 December 1929) Londonderry Air James Healey Willan (12 October 1880 – 16 February 1968) On a theme of Orlando Gibbons Song 13
• Andrew Garfath-Cox: J S Bach (31 March 1685 - 28 July 1750) Chorale Prelude 'Ich ruf zu dir Herr Jesu Christ' BWV 639
• John Cooper: J S Bach Prelude and Fugue b minor BWV 544

For those who would like to hear more of this organ, a CD, An Edwardian Album, was produced by Stephen Hogger with John Cooper FRCO as the soloist, ably assisted by June Molloy. It has a broad variety of music including Hollins 'A Song of Sunshine'. Michael Simmonds was the Recording Engineer and Terry Hepworth, the Editor and the concept was masterminded by Simon Pulham. It has a very informative well designed accompanying booklet by Maximilian O'Donnell, Simon Pulham, and Stephen Hogger.

25th February 2017 "Who Needs Feet?"

An illustrated talk by Andrew Cantrill at Bentley Village Hall. 7.30pm

Our member, Drew Cantrill had prepared for the few who came a really perceptive and informative talk with excellent photos, video clips and music which enhanced his excellent and persuasive portrayal that there is music for 'manuals only' that are well worth investigating. To some, it would be a surprise to see that the technology of organ building and the addition of the pedal board (the use of feet would be a first for almost any other musical instrument) crept so slowly across the continent to our country.

No instrument has changed as much as the organ over its long history, but full pedalboards didn’t become commonplace across Europe until the middle of the 19th century! The use of the pedals grew out of Renaissance choral music, and the Norrlanda organ in Sweden is the earliest proof we have - dating from 1370. The North Germans took pedal technique to a new level of virtuosity, almost 300 years before the arrival of the concave & radiating pedalboard patented by Fr Willis in Britain in 1855.

Some composers of music for manuals only have been unjustifiably neglected. Music by Byrd, Bull, Cabanilles, CPE Bach, Wesley and Vierne can be just as satisfying to play as repertoire for manuals and pedals.

The raffle, tea and cakes were organised by the Bentley friends of our President, Ann Little. The other members who were present were Stephen Hogger, Martin Ellis and his wife Miriam, Paul Austen, Robert Waller, Gillian Wildney and Andrew Garfath-Cox.

2016

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Saturday 26 November 2016 Lunch at the Arlington, Museum Street,Ipswich

Guest speaker: David Wakefield. Music afterwards at the Unitarian Meeting House

Robert Waller reports: 12 members gathered at the Arlington for the this year's Annual Dinner with our guest speaker, David Wakefield.

As the number of members who came was few, we were fortunate enough to be in a separate room which made it a more intimate affair.

The food was good but did take a while to serve.

We invited our guest speaker to give his talk at the Arlington rather than the Meeting House. After an introduction by Ann Little, we were delighted to hear David describe how he first heard the organ as a 10 year year old and was delighted to be given a go on the organ. He joined the Navy, then in the submarine core. While in the Navy, he explained how he took every opportunity he could to play the organ for services on ships and submarines. He reminisced about the loading of a small organ through a hatch to get it on the sub! He retired from his career with the Navy after the conflict with Argentina and at some time worked for the RSCM. His continued interest in organ playing lead him when he retired to decide to have tuition on the organ and he has been a regular attendee for many years at the St. Giles Organ School until recently under the direction of Anne Marsden Thomas.

After his interesting talk, the group moved to the nearby Unitarian Meeting House where our president, Ann Little, treated us to a short recital with a French flavour which was well received. After this we retired to the church hall for tea.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ann for a splendid meeting which was enjoyed by all

Ann's recital pieces:

• Lento No4 from an Album of soft voluntaries. L Boellman
• Mére Marie de l'lncarnation No 2 of 'Suite Carmelite' J Francaix
• Noel Grand Jeu et Duo no 10 of 12 Noels Louis Claud Daquin
• Antienne Salve Regina No 3 of 'Mariales' Naji Hakem
• After an Old French Air No 1 of 'Reflections' Percy Whitlock
• Pasticcio No 10 of 'Organ Book' Jean Langlais

For those interested in the menu, this was the choice:

The set menu either two courses for £14.95 or three courses for £18.95.

Starters

A Home Made Soup of the Day

B Home Made Fishcakes

C Chicken Goujons with Garlic Mayonnaise

D Seafood Gratin

E Duck Liver Parfait with Toasted Brioche and Caramelised Onion Chutney

F Moules

Main Courses

G Fish and Chips

H Courgette, Wild Mushroom and Mascarpone Tagliatelle

I Home Made Burger in a Brioche Bun with Skin On Fries etc.

J Puy Lentil Moussaka

K Half a Roast BBQ Chicken with Skin On Fries and Grilled Corn on the Cob

L Moules served with Fries

Desserts

M Cherry Bakewell Cheesecake

N Sticky Toffee Pudding

O New York Cheesecake

P Ice Cream

Q Sorbet

Saturday 22 October 2016 Ladies Composite Recital

An excellent recital was given by two ladies: our President, Ann Little and Juliette Adams, member of Council at St John's Church, Felixstowe. It was a great shame that there were only five in the audience! Stephen Hogger, our Secretary says he hopes that there will be some better attendances at future events as they take a lot of organising and notes that the expenses are the same for fifty as they were for five.

24 September 2016 Mid Suffolk Afternoon Organ Crawl

This event didn't take place. However on this date there was a visit from the Norfolk Organists Association, our friends over the border, who welcomed SOA members Martin Ellis and Andrew Garfath-Cox to their gathering in St. John's Church, Felixstowe with a welcome by Jeremy Prentice, organist of the church.

Thursday 11 August 2016 IAA Recital The Ipswich Corn Exchange 1.00pm

This second recital given by members of SOA, the previous one was two years ago, was this year performed by our distinguished members John Cooper and Peter Crompton. A very popular and successful recital on the Corn Exchange's Lewis organ. Peter and John played superbly to a very crowded audience. They thoroughly deserve our appreciation for keeping the importance of the Corn Exchange organ, and any improvements that can eventually be made to it, firmly in the public eye. Other than Peter and John, the SOA members spotted in the audience were Roger Pulham, Philip Speirs, Ann Little, Stephen Hogger, Juliette Adams, Bob Smith, Martin Ellis, June Molloy, Barry Palmer, Andrew Garfath-Cox and, our almost 102 year old member, Lilian Caudle with her daughter Rosie. All went extremely well. We were most grateful for the work done by Bishops to make the organ ready for this recital and I am sure all the audience were appreciative of this effort.

John played: Piece d’Orgue BWV 572 by J.S.Bach; Village Variations by Andrew Carter; and Humoresque by Pietro Yon. Peter played: Mohrentanz by Susato; Pavane by Faure; Sortie by Bedard; A Memory by Friml and the concert concluded with Toccata from Symphony 5 by Widor.

Saturday 6 August 2016 7pm Christ Church, Tacket Street, Ipswich IP4 1AU

Recital by our member Tony Percival. Admission is free and there will be refreshments at the interval.

Tony will be playing music by Andriessen, Bach, Vierne, Boellmann, Rheinberger and Faure. Admission is free with a retiring collection and refreshments at the interval.

Tuesday 12 July 2016 2pm St. Peter's Sudbury

Talk by Roger Green on his newly published book on the relationships between organists and priests. A members' recital on the Grand Lewis Organ will follow open to all. Unfortunately this event is being postponed to a later date.

Saturday 4 June 2016 10 am

West Suffolk Visit to Newmarket and Bury St. Edmunds.

• 10.00 am St. Mary's Newmarket Rushworth and Dreaper(3 manuals) welcomed by the organist Mark Rodman BEM
• 11.30 am All Saints, Newmarket James J. Binns (2 manuals) welcomed by Brian Thatcher
• 1.15 pm Lunch: Cote Restaurant Abbeygate Street
• 3.00 pm St. Mary's Bury St. Edmunds welcomed by the Director of Music Adrian Marple

Music played at St. Mary's, Newmarket

• Andrew Garfath-Cox Reflection Daniel Bishop
• Robert Waller Cuckoo Saint-Saens
• Stuart Matheison Pavane Ravel / To a Wild Rose McDowell
• Michael Bayley Two German Folktunes: Up tempo / Waltz
• Barry Palmer Paean - A Song of Triumph Oliphant Chuckerbutty
• Roger Green In the Sunshine Roger Green / Aka Tonbo Roger Green
• Michaela Cottee Verset Leon Boellman / Christe lux William Blitheman
• Robert Waller Fanfare C S Lang
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Concerto Intermezzo R G Hailing

Music played at All Saints, Newmarket

• Roger Green Elizabethan Dances II arr. Roger Green
• Robert Waller Eventide Alec Rowley
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Piece d'Orgue BWV 572 J S Bach
• Michael Bayley All the Things You Are Jerome Kern / Wien bleibt Wien J Schrammel
• >Michaela Cottee Herzliebster Jesu, was hast Du verbrochen Helmut Walcha
• Barry Palmer St. Anthony Chorale Haydn arr Rawsthorne / The Lord's my Shepherd Jessie Irvine
• Stuart Matheison Gymnopedie No.1 Erik Satie / Sonatina Thomas Attwood
• Andrew Garfath-Cox England's Glory Nigel Ogden

Music played at St. Mary's, Bury St. Edmunds

• Gilbert Jackson Herzlich thut mich verlange J S Bach / Lament Guilmant / Fugue C major BWV 553 JS Bach
• Adrian Marple Sonata No.III Mendelssohn / Knightsbridge Eric Coates
• Juliette Adams Jesu Christus, unser Heiland BWV 665 J S Bach
• Geoffrey Boyle Offertoire Grand Jeu + Plein Jeu Couperin
• Robert Waller Prelude New Commonwealth Vaughan Williams
• Roger Green Trumpet Voluntary Jeremiah Clarke
• Michael Bayley Fine and Dandy arr Robin Richmond / The Loxam Bounce Arnold Loxam
• Barry Palmer Fanfare for a Bride Noel Rawsthorne
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Prelude on Darwall's 148th Percy Whitlock / Vesper Voluntaries No 1 and 11 Elgar
• Stuart Matheison Largo G F Handel

Saturday 21 May 2016 2pm

AGM 21 May 2016

The AGM will be held in the Lecture Room of St. Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds at 3pm

The afternoon will start at 2pm with an organ recital by James Thomas, Organist and Master of the Choristers

James played the following programme:

• Sonata No.7 in F minor Op127 Josef Rheinberger
• Le Cygne Camille Saint-Saens arr. Alexandre Guilmant
• Chorale No.2 Cesar Franck

Members enjoyed listening to James's fine playing and the rendering of Guilmant's arrangement of Le Cygne was exquisite. We are most grateful to James for opening our 82nd Annual General Meeting so impressively with all the different colours of the organ artfully included in his choice of programme.

The main organ at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral was built by Harrison and Harrison of Durham in 2010, much of the old organ was unreliable and when it was removed from the organ chamber, much of it was disposed of. Its replacement has four manuals and 59 speaking stops encased in the Quire case and the Transept case each decorated to match its position in the cathedral. Before it was ready for its inauguration on Advent Sunday, 28 November 2010, each of the 3500+ pipes had to be 'voiced' both on their own and in combination with others. The fine result was a brand new organ for the cathedral, the newest cathedral organ in England.

Saturday 23 April 2016 12 noon

ANNUAL LUNCHEON The Fox Inn, The Street, Newbourne, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4NY 01473 736307 12.15pm for 12.45pm

The Association’s Annual Luncheon took place at this attractive hostelry in the pretty village of Newbourne, close to the River Deben some 20 minutes’ drive (7½ miles) from Ipswich. The President welcomed the twenty-one members who had come to this most enjoyable and cheerful social occasion especially thanking James Crowe for his meticulous organisation and his choice of a splendid location. The President also welcomed,in particular, Gillian Cleaver who had come with her helper Mary. Gillian has been a stalwart member of the Association for very many years. After more than 3 hours of convivial chatter, the members departed fully satisfied with their chosen fare and the hospitality shown by the staff of the Inn.

The Fox is a wonderful 16th-century building set in pretty grounds with a secluded rose garden and a well-stocked pond. It is one of Suffolk’s best-kept secrets. It is at the centre of the Newbourne community who always provide an enthusiastic welcome. The Inn offers fine food with typical dishes on the menu, including classic Fritto Misto, Sea Bass fillets, Shepherd’s Pie, “This little Piggy” and the house’s famed Seafood Gratin. A wide range of perfectly conditioned ales such as Adnams, St. Austell Tribute and Woodfordes Wherry as well as a great selection of wines.

Our members were able to opt for either a 2-course or a 3-course meal. Each course had multiple choices, and the cost of £20.00 or £25.00 respectively was fully inclusive of a large (250ml) glass of wine (or soft drink) and the service of tea and coffee.

Many members met again in the evening at 7.00pm, where our member and Past President Peter Crompton played an organ recital at the Royal Hospital School, which was a thrilling conclusion to our most pleasurable day.

Saturday 23 April 2016 7.00pm

Peter Crompton Organist Emeritus Royal Hospital School played the Grand Organ in the school's chapel with many members of the SOA present gathered in a large and appreciative audience. Peter's appealing programme warmed the audience on this rather cold April evening. His page turner was our student member Ben Banks, Crompton Organ Scholar at RHS. Members Andrew Cantrill, Tony Dunn and Gillian Wildney, Michaela Cottee and Dave Kinnersley, who had other duties during the day, were present.

• Sortie Bedard
• Toccata in F major BWV 540 JS Bach
• Pomp & Circumstance March No. 4 in G major Elgar
• Aria Manz
• Toccata on Vom Himmel Hoch Edmundson
• Adagio for Strings Barber
• Impromptu Vierne
• Te Deum Hymne d’Actions de Graces Langlais
• The Ride of the Valkyries Wagner

Saturday 19 March 2016

High Suffolk Stradbroke, Eye, Occold and Bedingfield and lunch at The Black Horse Thorndon Stradbroke

James Crowe organised a splendid tour of four churches and the following members were present: Ann Little, Gillian Wildney, David and Janet Brand, Bob and Anne Smith, Christopher Moore, Roger Green, Peter Tyron, Peter Crompton, Barry Palmer, Martin Ellis, Robert Waller, Gilbert Jackson and his mother, Andrew Garfath-Cox, Tony Dunn, Michael Bayley and James Crowe. Unfortunately Michaela Cottee was unable to be with us.

Stradbroke All Saints

We were welcomed by Douglas Chittock playing the 1873 Holdich organ who started the morning with • Meditation from Thaïs Jules Massenet and • Trumpet Voluntary Jeremiah Clark

• Pedal Key action Stop action Compass-low C Compass-high f1 Keys 30
1: Bourdon Pedal Pipes 16
• Great Key action Stop action Compass-low C Compass-high f3 Keys 54 2: Open Diapason 8 3: Stop Diap & Clarabella 8 4: Principal 4 5: Flute 4 6: Fifteenth 2 7: Mixture 1 1/2
• Swell Key action Stop action Compass-low C Compass-high f3 Keys 54 Enclosed 8: Dulciana Diapason 8 9: Stopped Diapason 8 10: Principal 4 11: Twelfth 2 2/3 12: Fifteenth 2 13: Trumpet 8

Members then played

• Robert Waller • Stabat Mater Alan Viner
• Tony Dunn • More Palatino J.P. Sweelinck
• Gillian Wildney • Air on a G string J.S. Bach
• Gilbert Jackson • Prelude in G minor BWV 558 J.S. Bach
• Barry Palmer • Christ be our Light Bernadette Farrell • There is a hope Stuart Townend
• Michael Bayley • Dance of the Honeybees Benjamin Richmond
• Ann Little • Toccata from BWV 564 J.S. Bach
• James Crowe • Improvisation on the hymn-tune Chorus Angelorum
• Andrew Garfath-Cox • Wedding Day Ronald Watson

St. Peter and St. Paul, Eye Parish Church

Our hosts were Peter Lee and Colin Bartlett. Peter demonstrated the instrument with an improvisation that built to a climax from very soft stops. Colin gave a survey of the organs in the church over the last 500 years and the circumstances that led to the removal of the Walker organ and recent replacement by the 1888 J. J. Binns organ from St. Mark, Woodhouse, Leeds, a redundant church in Leeds which has been renovated and installed in 2015 by E. J. Johnson and Son (Cambridge) Ltd. A plaque is attached to the new detached console provided in memory of Ethel Annie Casebow (1923-2012) née Ethel Everard of Everard Shipping Co.

Organ specification

• Pedal Organ. Contra Bourdon 32 Open Diapason 16 Violone 16 Sub Bass 16 Flute Bass 8 Principal 8 Violoncello 8 Contra Posaune 32 Trombone 16 Posaune 16
• Great organ. Bourdon 16 Open 1 8 Open 2 8 Dulciana 8 Harmonic Flute 8 Wald Flute 4 Ocatve 4 Twelfth 2 2/3 Fifteenth 2 Mixture 3 ranks Trupet 8 Clarion 4
• Swell Organ. Bourdon 16 Open Diapason 8 Salicional 8 Voix Celeste 8 Stopped Diapason 8 Harmonic Flute 4 Ocatve 4 Piccolo 2 Mixture 3 ranks Contra Fagotto 16 Cornopean 8 Oboe 8 Vox Humana 8
• Choir Organ. Open Diapason 8 Viol d'Orchestre 8 Lieblich Gedact 8 Dolce 8 Suabe Flute 4 Clarionette 8 Tuba (unenclosed) 8 Cymbelstern

Members then played

• Robert Waller • St John Damascene Noel Rawsthorne
• Gilbert Jackson • Lament Alexandre Guilmant
• Andrew Garfath-Cox • Festive Trumpet Tune David German
• Tony Dunn • Toccata and Fugue in D minor J S Bach
• Michael Bayley • East Anglian March Richard Webb• Prelude in E flat J Stuart Archer
• Gillian Wildney • Reflection Daniel Bishop
• Roger Green • Allegro Festivo Noel Rawsthorne
• Martin Ellis • Scherzo in E Gigout
• Ann Little • The Fifers Francois Dandrieux • Aria Noel Rawsthorne
• Peter Crompton • Tu es Petra Henri Mulet
• Peter Tryon • Fugue from Sonata No.6 Mendelssohn

Lunch at the Black Horse Thorndon

St. Michael Occold

The Churchwarden, Stephen Hubner, welcomed us and we played the single manual Bevington four stop organ and short one octave pedalboard organ of unknown date.

Organ specification

Manual Key action Stop action Compass-low C Compass-high f3 Keys 54
• 1: Open Diapason 8 2: Dulciana 8 3: Stopt Diapason 8 bass 4: Principal 4

Members played.

• Michael Bayley • March from Die Zauberflote Mozart
• Gilbert Jackson • Offertory in B flat Alexandre Guilmant
• Andrew Garfath-Cox • Celtic Lament Noel Rawsthorne
• Ann Little • Unter der Linden grune Sweelinck

St. Mary Bedingfield

We were welcomed by the organist Jean Waddell who has played at this church and two others for more than 50 years to play their Norman and Beard two manual organ. At the end of the session, we repaired to the Village Hall across the road where afternoon tea was served with an abundance of homemade cakes prepared by the ladies of the church for our enjoyment.

Organ Specification

• Pedal Key action Stop action Compass-low Compass-high Keys 1: Bourdon 16
• Great Key action Stop action Compass-low C Compass-high g3 Keys 56 2: Wald Flute 4 ? 3: Flauto Traverso 8 ? 4: Open Diapason 8
• Swell Key action Stop action Compass-low C Compass-high g3 Keys 56 Enclosed 5: Principal 4 6: Lieblich Gedact 8 7: Horn Diapason 8

Members played

• Tony Dunn • Prelude BWV 556 J S Bach
• Gilbert Jackson • No. 1 for Eight short preludes and fugues BWV 553 J S Bach
• Robert Waller • Mary at the foot of Jesus Quentin Thomas
• Barry Palmer • Be Still My Soul an arrangement of Finlandia by Sibelius • All Glory Laud & Honor Melchior Teschner
• Gillian Wildney • Aria Dr. Blow
• Andrew Garfath-Cox • Canzona Second movement of Organ Sonata in C minor Percy Whitlock
• Michael Bayley • Royal Windsor John Farman

Saturday 5 March 2016

The Thirtieth London Organ Day Southwark Cathedral German Masters

This IAO event ably planned by the Artistic Director, Tom Bell and organised by the staff and volunteers of the IAO. The spirit of the day was inspired by the centenary of the death of Max Reger and we were to hear works by other German masters J S Bach, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Rheinberger, Schumann and Schmidt too. Tom said he had chosen Southwark Cathedral because of the wonderful TC Lewis organ of the cathedral and a German connection. Thomas Christopher Lewis (1833-1915), one of the leading organ builders of late 19th Century Britain was heavily influenced by the work of Heinrich Edmund Schulze (1824-1878) last of five generations of German organ builders.

Our SOA members turned out in full strength with David Banister, Michaela Cottee, Martin Ellis, Andrew Garfath-Cox, Ann Little, Anthony Percival and Mike Pluck present. Peter Wright, Organist of the cathedral opened with Prelude in B minor BWV 544 and gave information about the organ and the fact that with no choir school, nevertheless his predecessors and he himself had kept the music of the cathedral at a high standard. He then played Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue from Sonata No 8 of Rheinberger and concluded with Reger's Dankpsalm Op 145 No 2, a most impressive work. He reminded us that they aim to repair and restore this great instrument particularly wishing to update the console. This would allow more performing aids to be incorporated helping, especially on a day like this one, the setting up of combinations of stops more easily. He encouraged us to give any donation that might help towards this project.

The day continued with a splendid recital by Henry Fairs: first, a delightful arrangement of JSB's Prelude and Fugue in B flat minor by Reger, next a very quiet reflective piece, Melodia by Reger, followed by the Allegro Maestro written in 1855 by JPE Hartmann, a Danish composer from his Sonata in G minor, then the Four Sketches of Schumann and finishing his excellent playing with the great work of Reger: Phantasie and Fuge über den Namen B-A-C-H.

The afternoon performances were equally enjoyable with a recital by Tom Bell with a fully Brahms programme which included Nos. 2, 4, 5 and the very beautiful piece No. 10 from Elf Choralspiele Opus post.122 together with two Praeludium and Fugue, one in g-moll, the other in a-moll. Graham Barber gave a talk putting Reger in the context of the musical, cultural and political events occurring during Reger's short life with slides, excerpts of recorded music and also those which he played on the piano. This was followed by the work of Tom Daggett, an organist and educator who is developing most enthusiastically an outreach programme for St. Paul's Cathedral and who holds the Order of the British Empire Organ Outreach Fellowship. His aim is to reach thousands of children in schools who may have had no experience of seeing an organ or hearing the huge variety of music that an organ can play and getting them to sing so that they can become part of this cultural heritage and participate in an enjoyable group activity. The final recital of Reger, Franck, Schumann and Schmidt's Toccata in C-dur was played with consummate skill by Bernard Haas, now Professor of Organ at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich.

Our splendid day immersed in the music of the German Masters and listening in particular to the great variety of styles that Reger used in his composition of organ music, which we learned was only a part of his expansive oeuvre, gave us new insights and reminded us that Reger's harmonic language is not solely just black ink on the manuscript. The next London Organ Day is on 4 March 2017 at The Dutch Church and the theme is Stylus Phantasticus with the music of Buxtehude, Bach, Sweelinck and Frescobaldi.

Saturday 13 February 2016 2.30pm

Desert Island Discs Interview of John Cooper by Juliette Adams at St. Mary at Stoke Church Hall, Ipswich IP2 8DA

We are very delighted that we will have the opportunity to hear John Cooper FRCO give his thoughts on church music and related topics from his extensive wealth of experience. John will be interviewed by Juliette Adams in a format similar to Desert Island Discs and the afternoon will begin at 2.30pm in the church hall of St. Mary at Stoke, Belstead Road, Ipswich IP2 8DA. There will be refreshments and we ask that donations be made to cover our costs of the afternoon. Juliette would be grateful if you could phone her on 01473 226664 to let her know that you will be coming (for catering, etc.) John has recently recorded a CD to mark the 100th aniversary of Bishops, local organ builders and this will be on sale. This is not an occasion to be missed and we welcome you to it. Read more about John.

This was a most interesting occasion and a very good turn out by members and guests. John Cooper with his wife Ute; our interviewer Juliette Adams, a member of Council; Geoff Cooley who had been John's assistant at St. Mary Le Tower; Stephen Hogger who dealt with playing the music John had chosen; Simon Pulham, organ builder from Bishops who brought along the CD of John playing the organ of St. Clement's Church, Ipswich in celebration of the 100th anniversary of that instrument which is maintained by Bishops; from St. Mary at Stoke, John and Brenda Barbrook; current members of Council, Andrew Garfath-Cox, Roger Pulham, Robert Waller, Peter Crompton, James Crowe with his wife, Fiona; Ann Little a former President; Philip Speirs, a former Treasurer with his wife Janet; Arthur and Pamela Jones; Barry Palmer; Gregory Frostick; June Molloy; Gillian Wildney.

Saturday 30 January 2016 1pm - 7pm

Bloomsbury Organ Day, at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue WC2H 8EP

Philip Luke, a member of SOA encourages all members of SOA and friends to attend an afternoon of organists' delight. Admission is free until 6pm. This year's subject is METAMORPHOSES (partitas, passacaglias, variations...). With afternoon recitals, presentations, and displays, then at 5pm the famous Bloomsbury Buffet (£5) and concluding with the celebrity recital by John Scott Whiteley, Organist Emeritus of York Minster at 6pm (£5). One of the presentations will be given by our esteemed Treasurer and former President Roger Pulham.

John Scott Whiteley, educated at Royal Holloway College, University of London and the Royal College of Music after which he was awarded scholarships to study with Maestro Fernando Germani in Siena and Professor Flor Peeters in Malines. He will be a familiar figure from his Bach recitals on TV wearing his dark overcoat and dark glasses!

For those who do not know the organ, it is a fine-sounding 3-manual, 52 speaking stops, with a 32’ reed and tuba, a sensitive amalgamation of two Binns organs, which some SOA members have played during previous trips to London.

We were welcomed by the organiser of the Bloomsbury Organ Day, Philip Luke, Organist of the church and his wife Carol who manned the admission desk for tickets for the recital and the splendid buffet tea. His inspiration for the day was that music is not a random succession of sounds, cobbled together with little thought, but a much more logical progression of ideas based often on just a few basic ideas and his challenge to the performers and presenters was to show the various processes by which a long and complex piece can be built up from a composer's or designer's initial ideas. By the end of the event we were in no doubt that this is the case and the talent of those who demonstrated these structures in beautiful music or design was second to none.

The generosity of the church in allowing such an event was much appreciated by the large number of attendees at these lectures and recitals in the afternoon which concluded with the magnificent recital by John Scott Whiteley. All the performers had given considerable thought on how to present the theme of Metamorphosis and equally John's artfully chosen programme was no exception. He took as his first theme =Metamorphosis through sequential development= using earlier and later forms of the Prelude and Fugue in D major BWV 532 including his own reconstruction of the form of a Prelude which would have predated Bach's own elaborate one. His second theme was =Metamorphosis through sequential composition= Here we were brought the work of Philip Glass showing the power of repetition in musical development in his compositions Metamorphoses I, II and III. Already by this point in the recital we had been entertained and educated by a highly inspirational performance but we were now to be inducted even further with two mighty compositions which would illustrate his third theme =Metamorphosis of themes through transformation=. The first piece was Priere (Op.20) by Cesar Franck and then Franz Liszt's Fantasia and Fugue on Ad no, ad salutarum undam. John's wealth of knowledge shone in his introductions to each of these three themes of metamorphosis delivered with his characteristic good humour. Notwithstanding the full programme that he already played, the thrilled audience applauded with such pleasure that John gave us an encore of a piece by Saint-Saens.

Highlights of the day were: the opening talk by Philip Norman introducing the theme of the day with very apposite excerpts to show how music is developed and metamorphoses; six students of the RCO Academy under the leadership of Ann Marsden Thomas who played masterfully; two further excellent recitals by Joshua Stephens playing Bach, Buxtehude and Widor and Richard Brasier playing Schumannm Mendelssohn and Mathias; the Hermes Experiment; and an excellent talk and slide presentation by Roger Pulham about organ cases through different historical periods to the present day.

Saturday 23 January 2016 10.30am - 11.30am

Recital at Museum Street Methodist Church, Ipswich (entrance through Black Horse Lane) Martin Ellis (Organ) and Dominic Joyce (Bass Baritone)

 

Dominic is a former choral scholar of St Mary le Tower, Ipswich and both Martin and Dominic are members of SOA. Admission is free but there will be a retiring collection in aid of church funds. Tea and Coffee available from 10am.

PROGRAMME

• Toccata in D minor 1912 Gaston Bélier 1863 - 1938
• Two Chorale Preludes on melodies in the Silesian Lutheran Hymnbook 1912: Trio: Gottlob, es geht nunmehr zum Ende Sarabande: O Jesu Christ, mein Lebens Licht Sigfrid Karg-Elert 1877 - 1933
• From Oedipus 1692 : Music for a while Henry Purcell 1659 - 1695
• From Bible Songs Op.113 1910: A Song of Freedom (Psalm 126) Charles Villiers Stanford 1852 - 1924
• Toccata and Fugue in D minor BVW 565 Johann Sebastian Bach 1685 - 1750
• Ronde Française Op 37 1896 Léon Boëllmann 1862 - 1897
• From South Pacific 1949: Some Enchanted Evening Richard Rodgers 1902 - 1979 & Oscar Hammerstein II 1895 - 1960
• Sea Fever 1913 John Ireland 1879 - 1962
• From Myrthen (Myrtles) Widmung (Dedication) Op. 25/1 1840 Robert Schumann 1810 - 1856
• Chelsea Fayre 1913 Reginald Goss Custard 1877 - 1956
• Pomp and Circumstance Military March No.4 Edward Elgar 1857 - 1934

Saturday 9 January 2016 10.00am

Visit to St. Mary's, Saffron Walden (plus a Hauptwerk demo) and the 1821 Henry Lincoln organ at Thaxted Parish Church

Our hosts at St. Mary's Saffron Walden were Peter De Vile and Andrew Malcolm, Organist Emeritus. Peter had made the arrangements for us to play the four manual organ and supplied each of the group with a booklet describing the organs that had been installed in the church since 1451.

A new organ built by TC Lewis & Co of Brixton was dedicated on a Tuesday evening in November 1885 with over a thousand people in the congregation which concluded with the organist playing Mendelssohn's Sonata No.3 and it was reported that 'loud were the praises...of the tone of the instrument, and the execution of the performer'. By 1910 with snow melting under the lead roof and dripping into the instrument costly repairs were essential and Norman and Beard of Norwich undertook the work with a detached console with pneumatic action. The vicar noted on discovery of the state of the old organ that 'it redounds greatly to the credit of the Organist that there are people in the congregation who say they cannot see or hear anything the matter with the organ'. In 1952, the organ console was moved to the rood screen still with pneumatic action!

In 1971, the organ was rebuilt by Hill, Norman and Beard now with electric action and several new stops including the Trompeta Real placed above the south screen. A further major overhaul by David Wells of Liverpool in 1996-1997 was celebrated by Dr. Martin Neary, Organist and Master of the Choristers of Westminster Abbey. In 1997 with the addition of a fourth manual, three electronic stops were added and this phase of completion was marked by a recital by Prof. Ian Tracey, at the time Organist of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, now Organist Titulaire.

The instrument now has four manuals, with five keyboard divisions (Solo, Swell, Great, Bombarde and Choir and the organ has a very solid foundation with the Trompeta Real continuing down to the pedal organ at 16 foot pitch.

On our arrival Andrew Malcolm gave a demonstration through excerpts from well known pieces listed on paper with the divisions of the organ that were being used. With this guide we were able to hear the huge variety of sound that is available from this instrument and later to see if we could match his splendid performance. Andrew then most kindly invited us to visit his home where we were able to play his beautifully constructed three stop tracker action two manual and pedal Skrabl organ in his music room with grand piano and also demonstrated the Hereford Cathedral sample set on his Hauptwerk organ.

We reconvened in the afternoon at Thaxted Parish Church were we welcomed by two ladies of the church, Sybil King, an indefatigable fund raiser and Ann Pickhaven, secretary of the fund raising committee who spoke to us of the effort involved in the refurbishment by Goete and Gwynn of the 1821 Henry Lincoln organ to full working order. It is the earliest surviving English church organ which retains all its original parts, and looks, sounds and plays as it did originally. It is not in its original home, which was St John’s Chapel Bedford Row in London, but was moved to Thaxted by Holdich in 1858. It was thrilling to play an organ that had been played by Gustav Holst who had lived in Thaxted. His composition, The Planets Suite, made playing a rendering of his tune 'Thaxted', associated with the words 'I vow to thee my country' de rigeur. The three manual Lincoln organ with its short keyboard on the top manual and straight pedal board only down to F did justice to the power and beauty of this well known tune.

At both churches, both magnificent architecturally with such contrasting instruments, the group had plenty of time to play a wide variety of music suited to each organ as below.

Hosts at Saffron Walden Peter De Vile and Andrew Malcolm

Opening by Andrew Malcolm Organist Emeritus with a demonstration of the organ with the following excerpts:

• Vierne Berceuse Swell strings. Solo Flute, then Gt. flute
• Drayton Pavane Swell flutes 8&4, Ped. 16, Solo Clarinet, then oboe
• Campbell Canterbury Improvisations Soft 8 flues, Gt,Sw,Ch coupled
• Couperin Chaconne Gt then Sw then Bombarde then Ch. choruses
• CS Lang Tuba Tune Tromba (rpt. plus Bombarde Open) Gt 8,4,2
• Karg-Elert Nun Danket Full Swell
• Campbell Gaudeamus Solo Trompeta, then plus Sw plus full Gt
• Peeters Ave Maris Stella Ends with full organ, minus Trompeta

Members then performed:

• Peter Tryon Fantasia & Fugue in G minor BWV 542 J S Bach
• David Banister Romance sans Paroles Bonnet // Sortie Lefebure-Wely
• Philip Speirs Reflection Daniel Bishop // Elegy Thalben-Ball
• Roger Green Three Liturgical Preludes George Oldroyd // Sortie II Roger Green
• Michaela Cottee St. Anne (40 Hymn Tune Preludes) CS Lang // Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen Helmut Walcha
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Aria Ian Tracey // Prelude on 'Darwall's 148th" Percy Whitlock// Sleigh Ride (arr. Thomas Trotter) Leroy Anderson
• Michaela Cottee Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr Sweelinck // Jesu meine Freude Partita 5 Walther
• Stuart Matheison Pavane (arr. Richard Lloyd) Ravel // Largo from Serse (arr. Noel Rawsthorne) Handel
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 Elgar

Afternoon in Thaxted Parish Church on the 1821 Lincoln organ with hosts Sybil King and Ann Pickhaven

Members played:

• Peter Tryon Trumpet Tune in D major David Johnson // Dansyre Tylman Susato
• Roger Green The Heavens Declare Benedetto Marcello
• David Banister Presto Pescetti// Hornpipe Henry Purcell // Adagio GF Handel
• Andrew Garfath-Cox 'Thaxted' from Planets Suite Gustav Holst // Aria Flor Peeters
• Philip Speirs Prelude CS Lang
• Michaela Cottee Trumpet Voluntary John Travers // Voluntary in D minor William Boyce
• Andrew Garfath-Cox 'Hyfrodol' Henry Coleman // Liebster Jesu, Wir sind hier BWV 731 JS Bach
• Stuart Matheison Nocturne from Midsummer Night's Dream Felix Mendelssohn // March from Scipio GF Handel // Gymnopaedie Eric Satie

2015

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Saturday 14 November 2015 2.00pm

'What shall we play?'

Museum Street Methodist Church Ipswich

A time to share ideas about the vast repertoire of Preludes based on Hymn Tunes. Bring with you compositions within this genre. Why not bring another organist who is currently not a member? The meeting will be held around the console which is up on the balcony - there is a Stannah lift for those who need it.

Why not make a day of it? In the morning at Museum Street too,

Martin Ellis is playing another popular recital at 10.30am.

We hope to meet for lunch in the same restaurant as we did for the AGM in May: @twenty5. A good time to share fellowship! The day will end with Tea and Cake at 4.00pm. Martin's recital PROGRAMME:

• Grand Choeur (alla Handel) in D Op.18 No.1 1866 Alexandre Guilmant (1837 – 1911)
• From Six Hymn Tune Preludes 1945: Prelude on ‘Werde Munter’ Percy Whitlock (1903 – 1946)
• From Dix Pieces 1892: Scherzo in E Eugène Gigout (1844 – 1925)
• Fantasia and Fugue in G published 1913 C Hubert H Parry (1848 – 1918)
• From Orgelbüchlein: O Mensch, bewein’ dein’ Sunde gross BWV 622 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)
• From Three New Impressions Op.142 1930: Valse mignonne Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877 - 1933)
• Prelude on the Hymn Tune Durness(Douglas Fox) 1977 Barry Ferguson (born 1942)
• From Suite Op.70 1959 Toccata Paul Creston (1906 - 1985)

Martin Ellis after his morning recital and his wife, Miriam, who had been page turner for her husband joined Michaela Cottee and Dave Kinnersley, and the President, Andrew Garfath-Cox, for a convivial lunch in the ancient beamed upper room of the restaurant @twenty5.

The afternoon was an opportunity to learn in a well attended session of the very considerable repertoire based on well known hymn tunes available to organists for the different seasons and festivals of the church's year. We listened attentively to a variety of pieces of varying levels of difficulty noting that simple pieces can truly be very effective in setting a tone to the theme of a service. It was an opportunity to compare styles of composition using the same hymn tune: 'Veni, veni Emmanuel' in an arrangement by Rebecca Te Velde with 'O come, O Come Emmanuel' by Gordon Young; 'Aberystwyth' by Healey Willan with 'Aberystwyth' by C Hylton Stewart.

We also learned new insights from discussion about some less well known composers such as William Wordsworth, who had been a teacher at Brentwood School, the very prolific output of two American composers Gordon Young, whose 'Prelude in Classic Style' is part of standard repertoire made know to British audiences by the late loved Carlo Curley and of Searle Wright. Our member, Roger Green, played two of his own pieces which were very well received with a positive expression of desire by those listening that he should publish them. He also reminded us that this collection might go alongside a book he is writing on 'Relationships: Organists and Vicars' where he appealed for evidence from the members present.

This enjoyable meeting was opened by the generous welcome of John Werne, organist of the church for the past 20 years and came about by a suggestion of Juliette Adams and organised by Martin Ellis and Miriam, who very kindly at the end of the two hour session provided the tea and cakes that concluded a very joyful afternoon of music and informative, amusing conversation.

• John Werne Prelude on 'Bread of Life' Gordon Young
• Roger Green 'Little Cornard' on the tune Hills of the North Rejoice Roger Green; 'Sine Domine' on Vaughan Williams tune for For all the Saints Roger Green
• Robert Waller Choral Prelude: Caswall Peter Hurford
• Michaela Cottee Veni, Veni Emmanuel Arr. Rebecca Te Velde 'O come, O come Emmanuel' Gordon Young
• Andrew Garfath-Cox 'This Endrys Night' George Oldroyd
• Martin Ellis Brother James' Air Searle Wright; 'Saffron Walden' William Wordsworth
• Juliette Adams 'Melcombe' Healey Willan 'Aberystwyth' Healey Willan
• Andrew Garfath-Cox 'Aberystwyth' C. Hylton Stewart; 'St. Peter' C Hylton Stewart
• Barry Palmer 'Great is thy Faithfulness' Arr. Marilyn Arison; 'It came upon a midnight clear' Noel Rawsthorne
• Other members present were: Paul Austen; Graham Eldridge; Dave Kinnersley; and a member of the church: Melanie Phillips

Saturday 14 November 2015 St Andrew's Church, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich 7.30 pm

This is another event that members might like to attend: Entitled 'A Voyage Round Our Organ', it will be an audiovisual exploration of the organ at Rushmere hosted by Mike Osborne, our organ builder, who will guide us (with the aid of a video camera) through some of the mysteries of its inner workings. Alan Loader (Organist and Director of Music), a member of SOA, will provide some appropriate musical illustrations. A modest admission charge of £5 to cover the cost of heating and refreshments, (wine and cheese in the Church Hall), with any profits going to the Organ Fund. The Voyage should last about an hour.

Saturday 24th October 2015 at 3pm Opening Recital by Ian Tracey,Organist Titulaire Liverpool Cathedral to Eye Church

Ian Tracey will be gving the first performance on the newly installed J. J. Binns organ built in the north of England in 1888 and now transferred to Eye. This majestic instrument will bring to this Suffolk parish one of this country’s finest examples of Victorian organ building. Thanks to their supporters and the skills of the organ builders, E. J. Johnson & Son (Cambridge), their dream is about to be realised! Eye Church will be producing a truly exceptional quality of organ music before this summer is out, to attract, encourage and stimulate organists from near and far. Let's turn out as SOA supporters to this event!

To a very large and appreciative audience including members of SOA, Professor Ian Tracey demonstrated the majestic Binns organ in celebration of its installation from its original home in Leeds with a splendid programme where he exhibited the range of tonal colours of this 3 manual organ with Tuba, Cymbelstern and 32 Contra Posaune. His highly imaginative choice of recital programme was injected too with his amusing anecdotes and his infectious humour. As an encore Ian played Widor's Toccata with panache and from memory. A truly brilliant world-class organist.

• Overture to 'The Occasional Oratorio' Handel arranged by W T Best
• Adagio in G Thomaso Albinoni
• Chaconne in D J S Bach in Goss-Custard arrangment
• Three Musical Clocks Haydn
• Capriol Suite Peter Warlock
• Suite Gothique (Choral, Menuetto, Prière, Toccata) Léon Böellman
• Elegy (Organ Symphony) Percy Whitlock
• Simple Gifts (Appalachian Melody) arranged Virgil Fox
• From 'Nutcracker Suite' Danse de la Fée-Dragée, Danse Arabe, Danse des Mirlitons Tchaikovsky arr. Tracey
• Lied to the Sun (Lied Symphony, Op. 66) Flor Peeters

Thursday 15 – Saturday 17 October 2015 SOA Autumn visit to North West of England: Liverpool Metropolitan, Chester, and Blackburn Cathedrals and Christ Church, Port Sunlight

Peter Crompton has arranged a superb visit for us to the North West. We shall play four of the most outstanding instruments in the British Isles: Metropolitan Cathedral, Blackburn, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Chester Cathedral and as a bonus we shall visit the restored Father Willis organ at Port Sunlight. And on the Saturday we shall attend Choral Evensong at 3pm which will be followed by an anniversary recital by Ian Tracey at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

Certainly not an occasion to be missed. Overnight accommodation will be in a Premier Inn. Travel: car or shared car.

Four 4 manual instruments played at Blackburn Cathedral, Liverpool Metropolitan, Chester and Port Sunlight. A truly magnificent event organised by Peter Crompton and Roger Pulham. We particularly thank the Organists for their splendid hospitality and inspiring playing: Samuel Hudson (Blackburn Catherdal), Richard Lea (Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral), Philip Rushforth (Chester Cathedral) and David Speechley (Port Sunlight URC Church). The event concluded with the Anniversary Recital at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral by Ian Tracey preceded by Choral Evensong, the third of our visit, for which the anthem was Brahms 'How lovely are Thy dwellings fair' beautifully sung by the very large choir and accompanied by Ian Tracey.

The Organs:

• Blackburn Cathedral (4 manual Walker)
• Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral (4 manual Walker)
• Chester Cathedral (4 manual Rushworth & Dreaper)
• Christ Church, Port Sunlight (4 manual Father Willis)
• Liverpool Anglican Cathedral (5 manual Willis)

Sunday 11 October 2015 All Saints, Newmarket Recital 4.00pm

Anne Page will be presenting an organ recital on the refurbished Binns of Leeds organ. This is a charity event in aid of St Nicholas Hospice, Bury St Edmunds.

Sunday 27 September 2015 Music at Rushmere > Sunday Afternoon Concerts

Andrew Cantrill, Organist of Royal Hospital School, played at St. Andrew's Rushmere for a recital in memory of Phyllis Dawson, precedessor for over half century to Alan Loader who is the organist at the church and organiser of this series of concerts. Andrew played a fine programme. The first three pieces were by Soler, Cabanilles and JS Bach. The next three were by American composers David Johnson, Gerre Hancock and Seth Bingham. The recital concluded with Allegro Maestoso (the first movement of Edward Elgar's Sonata in G), Edward Bairstow's Evening Song and Garth Edmundson's Toccata-Prelude 'Vom Himmel hoch'. Exactly one hour's glorious listening to a very fine player with an appreciative audience.

Wednesday 8 July 2015 All Saint's Church, Newmarket 12pm

In May, an email from Brian Thatcher of All Saints asked whether their organ could be played by any members of the Association as they were considering whether the space it was occupying might be put to a different use and had understood that to put it into good order would be very expensive. Andrew Garfath-Cox made a preliminary visit to discover a very sound James Binns of Leeds 1908 organ. Yesterday, Philip Speirs and Andrew played the following programme to a very appreciative audience who were thrilled to hear their instrument being performed upon. Peter De Vile had tuned the organ and it was a pleasure to play.

• Fanfare Francis Jackson (1917-) [PLS]
• Sicilienne Maria Theresa von Paradis (1759-1824) [AHGC]
• Andante in D Alfred Hollins (1865-1942) [AHGC]
• Andante in F Louis Lefébure-Wely (1817-1869) [PLS]
• Aria Noel Rawsthorne (1929- )[PLS]
• Fanfare William Mathias (1934-1992) [AHGC]
• Reverie Harvey Grace (1874-1944) [AHGC]
• A Trumpet Minuet Alfred Hollins (1865-1942) [AHGC]
• The Lord's My Shepherd Schubert arr. William Lloyd Webber (1914-1982) [PLS]
• Toccata in D minor BWV 565 J S Bach (1685-1750) [PLS]
• Introduction and March William Walton (1902-1983) [AHGC]

Saturday 23 May 2015 Unitarian Meeting House, Friar's Street, Ipswich

Robert Waller writes:

On the morning of the AGM day, a number of SOA members were able to try out the organ at the Unitarian Meeting house.

David Newton was fortunate as he was the first to arrive and spent over an hour exploring the organ stops.

Ann Little was next at the console and played the beautiful ‘Aria’ by Noel Rawsthorne followed by Bach’s ‘Christ lag in totesbanden’ ending with no doubt one of her favourite composers Sweelinck ‘Unter der Linden grüne’.

Geoffrey Boyle was next chose to play several pieces by the Spanish composer Antonio de Cabezón ‘Tiento du premier ton’, ‘Dic Nobis, Maria’ and ‘Veni Creator’. He ended with a lovely chorale by Flor Peeters ‘Come, Holy Ghost’.

Our President, Andrew, followed with a delightful piece by Arne, ‘A Maggot’ followed by a piece by Ralph Vaughan-Williams ‘Rhosymedre’.

Roger Green delighted us with some of his own compositions, one of which was called ‘Miscordia’.

Juliette Adams was last to play and played a slow movement from one of Bach’s trio sonatas.

As usual time had run out and we all went on to the restaurant ‘@twenty25’

Our grateful thanks to Robert for letting us have this opportunity to play this organ.

Saturday 18 April 2015 Visit to All Saints, Friern Barnet; St. Dominic's Priory, Haverstock Hill; All Hallows, Gospel Oak

Fifteen SOA members boarded a coach for a splendid day out organised by Roger Pulham to listen to and play three organs: a 2-manual, a 3-manual and a 4-manual in North London on Saturday 18 April 2015. With excellent performances of their respective instruments by our hosts David Patrick (All Saints), Martin Stacey (St. Dominic's), and Martin Kemp (All Hallows). Each of these organists gave us a most generous welcome.

ORGAN VISIT to LONDON 18 April 2015

All Saints Friern Barnet

Our host, David Patrick, played:

• Passacaglia John E. West
• Prelude on 'St. Mary' Charles Wood
• Toccata Brevis David E Gawthrop

• Ann Little Under der Linden Grüne Sweelinck (1562-1621)
• Tony Dunn Dialogue between Trompettes, Clairon and Tierces of the Grand Clavier and the Bourdon with the Larigot of the Positif Couperin (1668-1733)
• Martin Ellis Prelude and Fugue in C minor BWV 546 J S Bach (1685-1750)
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Sicilienne (arr. Vierne) J S Bach (1685-1750)
• Tony Dunn In Dir ist Freude J S Bach (1685-1750)
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Recessional: St. Theodulph Kenneth Gange (1939- )
• Michael Spencer Praeludium and Fugue in e-moll Nicholaus Bruhns (1665-1697)
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Fanfare William Mathias (1934-1992)

St Dominic's Priory, Haverstock Hill

Our host the organist, Martin Stacey, played:

• Praeludium and Fugue in G major BWV 541 J S Bach
• Folk Tune Percy Whitlock
• Symphony No. 6 1st movement Charles-Marie Widor

• Andrew Garfath-Cox Choral Song and Fugue S S Wesley (1810-1876)
• Martin Ellis Adagio in Eb Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
• Michael Spencer Psalm Prelude No 3 Set One Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
• Tony Dunn Herzlich thut mich verlangen J S Bach (1685-1750) Nun danket alle Gott Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877-1933)
• Ann Little Thema Met Variaties Hendrik Andriessen (1892-1981)

All Hallows, Gospel Oak

Our host the organist, Martin Kemp, played an Improvisation

• Martin Ellis Finale in Bflat William Wolstenholme (1865-1931)
• Stephen Hogger An improvisation
• Tony Dunn Elegy George Thalben-Ball (1896-1987)
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Choral No 3 César Franck (1822-1890)

Members attending:

Juliette Adams;Brian Bartlett; Michaela Cottee;Tony Dunn;Andrew Garfath-Cox;Graham Eldridge;Martin Ellis;Stephen Hogger; Dave Kynnersley; Ann Little;Tony Percival; Roger Pulham;Michael Spencer; Anne Smith; Robert Smith;

Andrew Garfath-Cox

20 April 2015

Saturday 7 March 2015 The London Organ Day

A good gathering of SOA members met at Central Hall Westminster for a splendid day of music organised by the Artistic Director, Tom Bell.

2014

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Saturday 15 November 2014 Visit to Long Melford, Cavendish and Foxearth.

We met at 10.00am for an informal social gathering in the Bizzy Beans coffee shop of the Cherry Lane garden centre opposite the entrance to Kentwell Hall. At a very well attended outing, organised superbly by Roger Pulham, a new member, Martin Ellis, with his wife, Miriam joined us. Other members attending were: Michael Bayley, Michaela Cottee with Dave Kynnersley, Tony Dunn, Andrew Garfath-Cox, Roger Green, Wolfgang Hauser, Anne Little, Barry Palmer, Roger Pulham, Bob and Anne Smith, Philip Speirs, Robert Waller, and Gillian Wildney.

At Long Melford, besides the three manual Walker organ, we were invited to play the seven stop organ in the Lady Chapel.

At Cavendish, we heard another astounding selection of music from English composers, Whitlock, Popplewell and Nigel Ogden's Penguin's Playtime, over to the USA for Paul Manz's Aria, and from Europe, Sweelinck, Reger, Bach and Vierne and then down under for June Nixon.

At St. Peter and St. Paul, Foxearth, the beauty of the decorated panels on the organ matched perfectly the glorious sound from the historic Father Willis organ reverberating from the chancel decorated with exquisite wall paintings and striking stained glass. This visit to West Suffolk in threatening wintry weather was a most convivial event and the opportunity to play some fine instruments inspired the fine playing of a very broad range of repertoire.

Andrew Garfath-Cox

Music played at Long Melford:

• Tony Dunn Prelude BWV 555 J S Bach
• Roger Green Liturgical Preludes George Oldroyd
• Robert Waller Flourish for an Occasion Noel Rawsthorne
• Wolfgang Hauser Festive Trumpet Tune David German
• Michaela Cottee Aria Brian Solomons
• Gillian Wildney Aria Andrew Carter
• Michael Bayley Etude Chopin Bye bye blues/ Round her neck she wore a yellow ribbon
• Ann Little Hymn: Hills of the North improvisation
• Martin Ellis Fantasia in G major BWV 572 J S Bach
• Barry Palmer Prelude in Classic Style Gordon Young
• Philip Speirs Voluntary in E minor John Stanley Andante in F Louis Lefébure-Wely
• Roger Pulham Voluntary John Stanley
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Spitfire Prelude William Walton

Music played at Cavendish:

• Michaela Cottee Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr Variation 1 Sweelinck Praeludium No.1 Cathedral Suite Gordon Young
• Prelude No.5 24 Pièce en style libre Louis Vierne
Tony Dunn
• Roger Green Prelude William Lloyd Webber
• Gillian Wildney Aria Noel Rawsthorne
• Wolfgang Hauser Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ J S Bach
• Ann Little Hymn: O come, o Come Emmanuel (improvisation)
• Bob Smith Bunessan Michael Higgins
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Elegy Richard Popplewell Aria Paul Manz
• Barry Palmer Penguin's Playtime Nigel Ogden
• Robert Waller Emily June Nixon
• Martin Ellis Werde Munter Percy Whitlock
• Michael Bayley Brave Little Boys March Ezra Rea
• Wolfgang Hauser Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott Reger

Music played at Foxearth:

• Tony Dunn Prelude in G major BWV 558 J S Bach
• Wolfgang Hauser Allegro Voluntary XIII Maurice Green
• Robert Waller Prelude on a Phyrigian Mode Thomas Tallis
• Roger Green Little Cornard Roger Green
• Michaela Cottee Voluntary in D minor No 7 Voluntaries for Organ and Harpsichord William Boyce
• Ann Little Hymn: Come thou long expected Jesus
• Gillian Wildney Liebster Jesu wir sind hier BWV 731 J S Bach
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Arrival of the Queen of Sheba Handel
• Michael Bayley The Druid's Prayer Gordon Davson
• Martin Ellis Folk Tune Percy Whitlock
• Barry Palmer Tuba Tune C S Lang
• Roger Pulham Finale from Sonata No 6 Mendelssohn
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Paean from 'Five short pieces' Percy W Whitlock

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