Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2023 i Choir & Organ

What a joy it must be to compose for the BBC Singers! To know that this world-class professional ensemble, who can perform with equal finesse music from Byrd to Boulez, will be able to sing pretty much anything you write for them with supreme polish. With amateur choirs it is of course a different matter, as they vary greatly in size and both musical and technical ability; and it would be a foolhardy composer who ignored that fact. There are too many tales of disastrous, or at best lacklustre, premieres in the annals of choral history – who hasn’t heard of the catastrophic first performance in 1900 of Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, which was too difficult for the Birmingham Music Festival chorus, and cast the composer into a fit…

ST MARGARET’S CHURCH, WESTMINSTER ABBEY, is to launch a new choir for girls aged 11-17. Choristers will receive free singing and music theory tuition as well as a generous scholarship; no previous experience of choral singing is necessary and applications are invited from girls from any school or background. The choristers will sing alongside the professional singers of the St Margaret’s Consort at the evening service in St Margaret’s on Sundays during term-time, as well as at some Wednesday Evensong services in Westminster Abbey. There will be occasional additional services, such as at Christmas and Easter, and over time the choristers will take on other projects including concerts, tours and recordings. The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, said: ‘The worship of the Abbey is our reason…

Janet Wheeler: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis Choir of Ely Cathedral, Glen Dempsey (org)/Aldhouse 4 June, Ely Cathedral, UK Kim André Arnesen: Holy Spirit Mass [RP] Bielsko Chór Kameralny, Bielska Orkiestra Kameralna/Obstarczyk 7 June, Kosciól Chrystusa Odkupiciela Czlowieka, Bielsko-Biala, Poland Jörg Widmann: Kantate Sols, Thomanerchor, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Johannes Lang (org)/Reize 8 June, Thomaskirche, Leipzig, Germany James MacMillan: Fiat Lux Elissa Johnston (s), Christopher Maltman (bar), Pacific Chorale, Pacific Symphony Orchestra/St Clair 15 June, Segerstrom Concerto Hall, Costa Mesa, CA, USA Janet Wheeler: Be This Thine Ark Lincoln’s Inn Chapel Choir, Hackney Children’s Choir, William Whitehead (org)/Shaw 15 June, Lincoln’s Inn Chapel, London, UK Dobrinka Tabakova: Arise Lord into thy rest [RP] Dobrinka Tabakova: Turn our captivity [RP] The Sixteen/Christophers 20 June, National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland Grace-Evangeline Mason: A Memory of…

June 1976. For those who remember, it was an unusually hot summer. Oxford’s college lawns were parched. I was sitting in Dr Lumsden’s New College rooms, staircase 3 in Old Buildings. Handover time. I was given a number of sheets of neatly written advice. A heads-up on the job. Vignettes of the people I’d be working with, advice on the terrain, a calendar. All very simple. No heaving filing cabinets. No back office. Efficient and immensely helpful. A direct and uncluttered style. His inimitable style. For David Lumsden to turn his back on one of the most attractive musical jobs in the country – organist and tutor in music at New College Oxford – was a bold decision. In building on the legacy of H.K. Andrews, David had brought New…

CD LA MUSICA ORGANISTICA NELL’ ITALIA UNA E MOLTEPLICE Luigi Fernando Tagliavini, organ by Giuseppe Serassi (1764), Duomo di Guastalla (Reggio Emilia) Tactus TC 860004 ‘The playing is full of vitality and authority’ (see review, p.58). WIN This is a recording of a recital that was devised to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy as a political entity, so the programme includes much Italian repertoire as well as pieces by other European composers. Above all, it presents a wonderful opportunity to hear the great Italian organist Luigi Fernando Tagliavini performing on a restored historic instrument. Courtesy of Tactus, we have 3 copies to give away; quote code ‘TAGLIAVINI’. CD CECILIA MCDOWALL: DA VINCI REQUIEM; SEVENTY DEGREES BELOW ZERO Kate Royal (s), Benjamin Hulett (t), Roderick Williams (bar), Wimbledon…

La Musica Organistica nell’ Italia Una e Molteplice (Organ Music in a United, Many-Sided Italy) Luigi Fernando Tagliavini, organ by Giuseppe Serassi (1764), Duomo di Guastalla (Reggio Emilia) Tactus TC 860004 [56:54] This is a historic recording of a live recital given in 2011 by the great Italian organist Luigi Fernando Tagliavini (1929-2017), on an organ whose restoration he inaugurated in 1979. The programme, devised to celebrate the 150th anniversary of political unity of Italy, contained works by composers from various parts of the country in addition to European pieces: Verdelot, Storace, Frescobaldi, Tarquinio Merula, Fabrizio Caroso, Lebègue, Pachelbel, Verdi, Bellini and Donizetti. While audience and stop-change noises are audible, the playing is full of vitality and authority – a lesson in creating vital musical performances from historical printed and…

J.S. Bach, arr. Harold Feller: Sinfonia zur Ratswahlkantate Edition Walhall EW1248, €10.00 Maureen Howell: Partita on Truro Morning Star MSM-10-468, US$17.25 Edwin T. Childs: Hymn Portraits – 12 Settings for Organ Morning Star MSM-10-344, US$29.00 Heinrich Scheidemann, ed. Pieter Dirksen: Choralfantasien Breitkopf EB8938 €34.90 There are numerous arrangements available of the famous opening Sinfonia to Bach’s BWV 29, and Harold Feller’s offers no stunning textural surprises, although in terms of difficulty it’s somewhere between the Guilmant and Dupré versions of the movement (give or take the odd passage of octaves). It works well enough, if you like that sort of thing, but the inherent absurdity of transcribing for organ solo a work whose entire timbral raison d’être lies in the distinction between organ and orchestral sound is the ever-present elephant…

ASSOCIATES American Guild of Organists American Institute of Organbuilders Association of Canadian Choral Conductors Chorus America Cornell University International Society of Organbuilders Leicester Chorale Mount Royal University Oberlin College Conservatory Thornton School of Music USC To find out more about becoming a Partner or Associate, email choirandorgan@rhinegold.co.uk…

John Eliot Gardiner has been named principal guest conductor emeritus of the Philharmonia Orchestra. In the BBC Music magazine Awards 2023, the Choral Award went to a recording of Handel’s Theodora, performed by Lisette Oropesa, Joyce DiDonato and the Il Pomo d’Oro Choir conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev [Erato 5419717791]. Hannah Gill has succeeded Ghislaine Reece-Trapp as co-chair, alongside Anne Marsden Thomas, of the Society of Women Organists. Elizabeth Stratford has been appointed director of Salisbury Cathedral’s Chamber Choir. Stratford is also the organist and master of the choristers at Arundel Cathedral. The Stay At Home Choir is rehearsing for its third remotely recorded album, for release in autumn 2023. The choir was launched during Covid-19 and brings together online over 30,000 members from more than 82 countries around the world.…

The 47th St Magnus International Festival runs from 16-23 June in Orkney. The programme includes the world premiere of a new play by local writer David McNeish about Thora, the mother of St Magnus; Baroque instrumental music with Florilegium; and the Festival Chorus and Ensemble performing Fauré’s Requiem, conducted by Matthew Hamilton. Full details of the festival programme at stmagnusfestival.com. The Royal College of Organists (RCO) is running Towards CRCO and ARCO aural (8pm-9pm online, 8, 15, 22, 29 June and 6 July). The course is led by Robin Harrison for those preparing for or considering CRCO and ARCO, or ABRSM grades 7–8, as well as those wishing to refresh their aural skills. Details and booking at bit.ly/3Hd4oHz. The RCO is presenting a French Romantic Music Performance Class (10am-1pm, 24…

David Hill: Welcome Bob! What are your earliest musical experiences? Bob Chilcott: I started learning the piano at 5 and sang at the local church where Andrew Davis was assistant organist. It was before he went to King’s. The vicar suggested to my parents that I should do the choral trial for King’s: my parents didn’t have a clue about such things – but I got in! That was where it all started. I think my first love was Russ Conway … DH: The man who played in octaves! Les Dawson tried to take him off and got it all wrong – hilarious! Were your parents musical? BC: No, not at all, but they liked music and supported it. DH: King’s College, Cambridge has been a thread through your life:…

The original Baroque organ in the Basilica of St Elizabeth, Wrocław, was built by Michael Engler, an extremely talented craftsman coming from a Hungarian family of organ builders by the name of Ägler.1 In the mid 18th century the Ägler family had moved to Wrocław in search of a quieter and safer place to work; they were Lutherans and, in their home country, had been exposed to religious persecution. In Silesia they found a friendly environment in which to live and work, and changed the spelling of their family name to Engler. In 1688, the most eminent member of the family, Michael Engler, was born. As he was the son of a man who bore the same name, he is known as ‘Michael Engler the Younger’. He received a thorough…

Damijan Močnik: Johannespassion Siobhan Stagg, Lydia Teuscher (s), Attilio Glaser, Rok Ferenčak (t), Gabriel Rollinson (b-bar), Tadej Osvald (b), Slowenischer Philharmonischer Chor, Münchner Rundfundorchester, Max Hanft (org) /Ivan Repušić (dir) BR Klassik 900343 [59:12] There are several Passion settings closer to our own time and following in the wake of Bach’s supreme examples: Martin (Golgotha), Penderecki (St Luke Passion), Pärt (Passio) and MacMillan (St John Passion). This version by Slovenian Damijan Močnik (b.1967) is my first encounter with this composer’s work, who in his homeland is a leading figure in that country’s vibrant choral scene. Commissioned in 2011, the work has universal appeal – not only with its familiar story but also its use of Latin text and musical features such as allusions to Gregorian chant, early polyphony and organum.…

Joseph Haydn (arr. Morten Schuldt-Jensen): Die Schöpfung SAM-Klang (Hal Leonard), p/b vocal score, £15.99 Two years ago, I wrote about Joe Hickman’s reduced woodwind version of The Creation. As I said at the time, the objection to Dr Hickman’s arrangement of Haydn’s wind parts is obvious – they’re not Haydn’s wind parts. Indeed, Carus’s series of ‘great choral works in small scorings’ has purists up in arms. But those of us at the sharp end, who are trying to do our best for choral societies and their audiences, have to make compromises. Instrumental textures can be thinned so that the choir can be clearly heard, and budgetary constraints can be respected. Covid-19 and its attendant lockdowns have changed the world of amateur singing, and if smaller choral societies want to…

ORGELFESTIVAL HOLLAND takes place in Alkmaar from 23-30 June. The festival has three components: the academy of workshops, masterclasses and concerts open to organ students, professional organists and advanced amateurs; the 14th International Schnitger Organ Competition 2023 open to organists born after 30 June 1988; and a programme of concerts and recitals. The shortlisted competitors are Adam Detzner (US), António Pedrosa (NL), Giulia Ricci (CH), Hyewon Jeong (DE), Jonathan Lee (UK), Karol Szutka (PL), Luca Akaeda Santesson (FR), Martien de Vos (NL), and Susanna Soffiantini (CH). The international jury comprises ECHO organists Reinhard Jaud (Innsbruck), Jean Ferrard (Brussels), Pieter van Dijk (Alkmaar), Bernard Foccroulle (Brussels), Luc Ponet (Leuven), Maurizio Croci (Fribourg), Roberto Antonello (Treviso), João Vaz (Lisbon/Mafra), Clemens Lucke (Freiberg), Yves Rechsteiner (Toulouse), Brita Sjøberg (Trondheim), and Frank van Wijk…

THE 32ND ST ALBANS INTERNATIONAL ORGAN COMPETITIONS have announced the shortlists of competitors for the Interpretation and Improvisation competitions 2023. The competitions for 2023 are open to organists of any nationality born after 14 July 1990. Competitors were finalised by a pre-selection jury in a fully anonymised process. The competitions’ international jury comprises Bine Bryndorf (DK), Franz Danksagmüller (AT/DE), Pieter van Dijk (NL), David Hill (UK), Rie Hiroe (JP), Jean-Baptiste Robin (FR) and Todd Wilson (US). The 16 shortlisted Interpretation competitors are Julian Emanuel Becker (DE), Ben Bloor (UK), Jerrick Cavagnaro (US), Quentin du Verdier (FR), Samuel Gaskin (US), Kasumi Hamano (JP), Himawari Honda (JP), David Kiefer (DE), Johannes Krahl (DE), Hyelin Lee (KR), Charles Maxtone-Smith (UK), Magdalena Moser (AT), Sunkyung Noh (KR), Joshua Simões (UK/PT), Lars-Simon Sokola (DE), and…

A DUBLIN ‘MASTERPIECE’ As part of the Pipeworks Festival in Dublin, John Kitchen is to give a recital on the organ in the Public Theatre at Trinity College, Dublin (6pm, 24 June). Featured in the 2019 C&O calendar, the II/19 instrument was designed and built in 2017 in 18th-century English style by Goetze & Gwynn in historic cases dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The pipework is entirely new apart from the original open diapason pipes in the case, which had been silent since the 1830s; these diapasons are once again speaking. In the November/December 2018 issue of C&O, 2018 Kitchen wrote: ‘In 1684, Lancelot Pease built a single-manual instrument for the original Chapel; alterations and necessary repairs were made in 1701 by John Baptist Cuvillie, who also added…

In today’s digital age, social media has become an essential tool for musicians to promote their brand, connect with their audience, and grow their fanbase. However, with so many platforms available, it can be overwhelming to navigate and effectively utilise them all. Here are some tips and tricks on how to maximise your social media presence, all of which I have learned through my personal experience as a Colombian bolero singer living in England. Identify your target audience: Before you start posting on social media, it’s crucial to identify your target audience. Who are you trying to reach, and what kind of content will resonate with them? When I first started promoting my music on social media, I made the mistake of trying to appeal to everyone. I quickly realised…

2022 was a big year for Vaughan Williams, and choral programmes overflowed with performances of his music. So this year would be an excellent time to schedule some of his music, safe in the knowledge that you won’t be out-Vaughan Williamsed by every other local choir. A good way to do that would be to offer your audience Four Last Songs, Jonathan Wikeley’s admirable arrangements of the solo-and-piano songs that RVW wrote towards the end of his life (SATB & pno; Oxford University Press 9780193564169, £9.25). All the poems are by the composer’s wife Ursula, the outside two on themes inspired by Greek mythology, the inner two both – in their way – love songs. For the ‘Greek’ pair, Wikeley has chosen to retain the composer’s original piano accompaniments, absorb…