An organ recital in progress: part 100

Dear SMM Community,
 

The 100th part of my online organ recital is here, and I hope that you enjoy it. It is hard to believe that I have now recorded 100 pieces for your enjoyment, but here is one of my favourite works for the instrument in celebration. I offer up these musical meditations as part of our parish efforts to find ways to keep you connected at this time. Recorded on my house organ, the instrument is a musical facsimile of the great 'Father' Willis organ at Salisbury Cathedral.

Today, I present César Franck's Pièce héroïque.

César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck (1822-1890) can be credited with bringing a level of sophistication to the composition of organ music not previously encountered in 19th century France. He worked closely with the organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll to ensure that his music would perfectly showcase the new genre of instrument–the ‘orchestral’ pipe organ.

Franck's Pièce héroïque has become especially popular, having been championed by concert organists such as Virgil Fox. Strangely enough, it is reported that Franck only ever performed the piece once, at the opening of the organ in the Palais de Trocadéro–perhaps it didn’t receive the enthusiastic reception it deserved.



With best wishes,
Andrew Adair
Director of Music

Pentecost XV - 5 September 2021

We celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday of Pentecost with a livestreamed mass.

10.00 am Said Mass (traditional language)

You can find the service HERE.

You can find the leaflet HERE.

An organ recital in progress: part 99

Dear SMM Community,
 

The next part of my online organ recital is here, and I hope that you enjoy it. I offer up these musical meditations as part of our parish efforts to find ways to keep you connected at this time. Recorded on my house organ, the instrument is a musical facsimile of the great 'Father' Willis organ at Salisbury Cathedral.

Today, I present Johann Sebastian Bach’s Fuga sopra il Magnificat.


Johann Sebastian Bach’s (1685-1750) Fuga sopra il Magnificat BWV 733 uses as its subject Luther’s Magnificat, a German variant of the Gregorian tonus peregrinus. Here Bach plays with the subject in fantasia fashion (with a taste of stile antico, as the title might suggest) before boldly introducing the tune as a cantus firmus in the pedals.



With best wishes,
Andrew Adair
Director of Music

Pentecost XIV - 29 August 2021

We celebrate the Fourteenth Sunday of Pentecost with a livestreamed mass.

10.00 am Said Mass (traditional language)

You can find the service HERE.

You can find the leaflet HERE.

An organ recital in progress: part 98

Dear SMM Community,
 

The next part of my online organ recital is here, and I hope that you enjoy it. I offer up these musical meditations as part of our parish efforts to find ways to keep you connected at this time. Recorded on my house organ, the instrument is a musical facsimile of the great 'Father' Willis organ at Salisbury Cathedral.

Today, I present Engelbert Humperdinck’s Abendsegen.


Engelbert Humperdinck’s (1854-1921) Abendsegen (Evening prayer) comes from act 2, scene 2 of his opera Hänsel und Gretel, and was transcribed for the organ by Edwin Lemare. In the forest, the Sandman appears to comfort Hänsel and Gretel, and to put them to sleep. He drops sand into their eyes, and as he departs, they struggle to keep their eyes open. Gretel reminds Hänsel to say their evening prayers, and they fall asleep.



With best wishes,
Andrew Adair
Director of Music

An organ recital in progress: part 97

Dear SMM Community,
 

The next part of my online organ recital is here, and I hope that you enjoy it. I offer up these musical meditations as part of our parish efforts to find ways to keep you connected at this time. Recorded on my house organ, today's instrument is a musical facsimile of the great 'Father' Willis organ at Hereford Cathedral.

Today, I present Samuel Sebastian Wesley's Voluntary in D major.


English cathedral organist and composer Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876) single-handedly raised standards in ecclesiastical English music through his tireless efforts and skill as one of the leading organists and choirmasters of his generation.



With best wishes,
Andrew Adair
Director of Music