This is an archive of news articles from February 2007. Current news articles can be found here and an archive index can be found here. Information in this archive may no longer be valid.

• 27th February - Vasari Singers finish recording of Francis Pott's 'The Cloud of Unknowing'
  Vasari Singers, the award-winning London-based chamber choir, has finished recording the latest major work by leading British composer Francis Pott. The 80-minute oratorio The Cloud of Unknowing, featuring the internationally acclaimed artists James Gilchrist (tenor) and Jeremy Filsell (organ), will be released later this year on the Signum label. The recording took place in the chapel at Tonbridge School, Kent, making full use of the magnificent Marcussen organ - built in 1995 - it is a four-manual tracker-action instrument with 66 speaking stops, including two 32' stops and regarded as one of the finest organs in the UK.

  Speaking about the piece, Vasari's musical director Jeremy Backhouse, reports: 'With The Cloud, Francis has created something quite exceptional. The canvas is huge but the various strands are woven together with a virtuoso hand. The result is a work of rare insight, powerful emotional intensity and masterfully crafted music. For the choir it was a fitting monument to the scale of ambition we invested in our 25th Anniversary commissioning programme.'

  Pott's Cloud was commissioned by Vasari in 2005 to mark the group's 25th Anniversary, as part of a programme of 10 new commissions by the choir. The work was premiered as the closing concert at the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music in St Pancras Church, Euston, on 13th May 2006 to great critical acclaim.

  Backhouse concludes 'Our performance of The Cloud received such a powerful reception that it was clear we had to record the work as soon as possible. Working again with Francis (Pott), James (Gilchrist) and Jeremy (Filsell) has been an inspiration and we are thrilled to have recorded what I believe is one of the major works in contemporary music.'
  
  

• 27th February - Cambridge Academy of Organ Studies
  Cambridge Academy of Organ Studies
  March 17th 2007
  Performing the Organ Music of Dieterich Buxtehude (d. 1707)
  A study day with Dr Geoffrey Webber
  Venues: Gonville & Caius College, Magdalene College

  The Study Day will begin by looking at problems associated with the surviving sources of Buxtehude's organ music. How far can we trust them? Which of the various modern editions should one follow? The master-class will focus on questions of interpretation as suggested by contemporary performance practice, including the evidence of the sources themselves. The final session will explore the 'Sonata' in the Yale manuscript E.B. 1688 in both its transmitted version for organ, and its possible string origins as suggested in a new edition by Geoffrey Webber.
  Full price: 30.
  Students (full-time) 10.

  Applications to:
  CAMBRIDGE ACADEMY OF ORGAN STUDIES
  140 OXFORD ROAD
  CAMBRIDGE CB4 3PL
  email: andrewpj@waitrose.com
  
  

• 27th February - Largest Welte Philharmonic Pipe Organ to be showcased in Tunbridge Wells
  The unique sound of the largest Welte Philharmonic Pipe Organ in the UK and Europe will be showcased at a special recital at Canterbury Christ Church University's Salomons Campus in Tunbridge Wells on Thursday 22nd March 2007. The Organ Curator of the Royal Festival Hall, William McVicker, will perform a series of works, including 'The Dam Busters March' and 'By the Sleepy Lagoon' by Eric Coates, on the organ, which stands 17 feet high and 28 feet wide. During the concert, Mr McVicker will also talk about the blind organist, Alfred Hollins, who recorded rolls for Welte and give the audience the opportunity to view the organ's roll-playing mechanism and ask questions.

  The concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets are 15 per person. A pre-concert carvery meal is also available from 6pm in the dining room at Salomons at an additional 15 per person for two courses.

  For more information or to book please contact 01892 515152. The Salomons Campus is situated on Broomhill Road, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
  
  

• 27th February - Robert Hebble agrees to $1,000 donation towards the 1969 Virgil Fox master class tapes
  Robert Hebble has agreed to donate $1,000 toward the production of the 1969 Virgil Fox master class tapes (http://www. VirgilFoxLegacy.com, see Masterclass Audio) so that they are available on Mp3 CDs. That means that soon, when Winston Willis gets all the work done (from reel-to-reel tapes that are superior to the cassette tapes that we had to use for the website production), you will be able to purchase the 21-hours or so of master classes. You will be able to play them either on your computer or, better, downloaded onto a small MP3 player (which I understand can be bought for about $40; of course, an iPod would also be appropriate, but for a bit more-if you don't already have one).

  Winston will spend hundreds of hours producing these and making them sound better, so $1,000 is just a beginning. Therefore, there will be a pre-release price of $100 for the complete set, half of which will go toward the production of the Mp3 CD edition, and we invite you to participate.

  When officially released in April or May, purchasing the set will cost $50; so for the $100 pre-release price, some interesting recordings of Virgil (radio broadcasts, etc.) will be included as an enhancement. Also, you'll help to make something important happen, which always makes one feel good.

  Pre-release checks are to be made out to Anchor-International Foundation, and $50 of each set purchased is tax-deductible (we will acknowledge your contribution by letter). Credit cards can be used by calling 1/212 799-9300. Winston doesn't know exactly when they will be done and ready (once copied, production will take only a few days; they will only be purchased online), but most likely they will be ready in April or the beginning of May.

  Many people have asked for these, so I hope some of you will come forward and be supportive of the enormous effort that is going into making them available. Sales alone won't cover production expenses, assuming that 100-200 sets will eventually sell.
  Richard Torrence
  jrtorrence@aol.com
  www.VirtualPerformances.com
  www.VirgilFoxLegacy.com
  
  
  

• 27th February - Ludlow secures Shaun's services as new music director
  THE news that Shaun Ward, the 28-year-old director of music at Holy Trinity, Hereford, is shortly to make the move to St Laurence's Church, Ludlow, is a blow for the thriving city parish - but a boon for his new one. In under five years, he has enhanced an environment at the Whitecross church.

  Shaun leaves as his legacy a burgeoning choir of 30, which includes a dozen children.

  Three of his prodigies have gone on to pursue a musical education at Hereford Cathedral, while others have gone on to university.

  What he has succeeded in creating is an environment which is deemed cool' enough to encourage teenagers back into the choir stalls.

  A more recent development has been the creation of a Friday evening singing group for four to seven-year-olds, led by Alison Houlbrooke, which will act as a feeder for the choir.

  'There's a huge sense of family and a real sense of community which evolves from these singing sessions,' Shaun said. 'The building becomes alive with parents coming and going, and the little kids looking up to the older ones.' Around 30 people applied for the Ludlow post and the two-day interview process was overseen by a panel of seven. One of Britain's 20 Greater Parishes Churches Group, St Laurence's proved a cherry too ripe to refuse when he was offered the job of director of music.

  'It's a great challenge,' said Shaun. 'The church currently has about 10 junior singers who sing once a month but the nearby primary school has a strong musical tradition.'

  St Laurence's boasts a newly restored 1764 Snetzler organ, which will be officially inaugurated by the renowned Birmingham City organist Thomas Trotter on April 22.

  Unfortunately, Shaun is forced to leave behind his own 1911 organ, which is built into the hall of his Eaton Bishop home.
  
  

• 25th February - Christopher Nickol at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery Glasgow on 4th March
  Kelvingrove Art Gallery Glasgow - Sunday 4th March at 3.00 pm Christopher Nickol plays the 1902 Lewis organ
  1. MATHIAS: Processional.
  2. BACH: Passacaglia in C minor BWV 582.
  3. ELGAR: Salut d'amour.
  4. BUXTEHUDE: Prelude & Fugue in G minor BuxWV 149.
  5. FRANCK: Cantabile (from 3 pieces).
  6. WIDOR: Finale (from Symphony No.2).
  Admission free
  Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum
  Argyll Street
  GLASGOW
  G3 8AG
  0141 276 9515
  www.glasgowmuseums.com/kelvingrove

  Christopher will also be giving 30-minute recitals of light music at 1.00 p.m. on the following Thursdays: March 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th.
  
  

• 10th February - Malcolm Archer to move to Winchester College
  Malcolm Archer is moving from St Paul's Cathedral at the end of July and taking up a position at Winchester College responsible for the music in the chapel there.
  
  
• 10th February - Christ Episcopal Church long-range capital project completed
  Christ Episcopal Church in Bradenton completed a long-range capital project that included renovating the approximately 17,000-square-foot sanctuary of the 1957 building and installing a majestic 75-rank, 68-stop, mechanical action pipe organ from Orgues Ltourneau Lte. The Quebec-based company is an internationally known leader in pipe-organ design, construction, restoration and tonal finishing. (source)
  
  
• 10th February - 2007 Limerick Festival of Church Music
  As part of the 2007 Limerick Festival of Church Music 2-4 March 2007, we are hosting a Pipe Organ Day in conjunction with the Pipe Organ Society of Ireland (POSI), where you will have an opportunity to play and listen to some of Limerick's finest pipe organs. The date of this Organ Day is Saturday, 3rd March 2007, from 9:30am-6:30pm. It is expected that some additional organs will be open for visits on Friday 2 March 2007. Our guest of honour at this year's festival is the world acclaimed organist and composer, Br. Jean-Paul Lecot (Lourdes, France) who will give an organ recital at around 5pm on the Hill organ at St. John's Cathedral Limerick.
  For further details contact:
  Norbert Kelvin
  n.kelvin@ucc.ie
  tel +353 21 490 3079
  Secretary, Pipe Organ Society of Ireland
  
  
• 10th February - Organ Classes
  ORGANpromotion - Germany www.ORGANpromotion.org - info@ORGANpromotion.org

  Organ class Dialog-Seminar 'Olivier Messiaen'

  Albert-Schweitzer-Orgelforum weekend Friday 1st June to Sunday 3rd June 2007 in Knigsfeld (black forest)
  Dr. Wolf Kalipp, Dr. Michael G. Kaufmann, Prof. Dr. H.J. Busch, Dr. Gottfried Schz, Prof. Dr. Werner Zager, Franz Raml, Prof. W. Baumgratz, Students of the conservatories of Stuttgart, Trossingen, Straburg (in cooperation with Gesellschaft der Orgelfreunde GdO)

  South german organ academy (Fascination south german baroque organs) Thursday, 2nd August to Sunday 5th August 2007 musical practise in South germany on historical instruments of Gabler, Riepp, Holzhey in Weingarten, Ochsenhausen, Rot, Ottobeuren. Course Director: Franz Raml

  Ottobeuren Organ Festival 'Harald Vogel' (Fascination south german baroque organs) Wednesday 26th September to Sunday 30th September 2007 course, concerts, lecture, organ visiting, exhibition Masterclass: Buxtehude, Scheidt, Sweelinck Instruments: choir organs of K.J. Riepp (1766), Marienorgel Steinmeyer/Klais V/121

  Akademiedays Regensburg Thursday 11th October to Saturday 13th October 2007 courses, recitals, lectures, exhibition organ: Peter Planyavsky (in cooperation with the conservatory of church music Regensburg)

  Master class Sigfrid Karg-Elert in Leipzig Wednesday 17th Oktober and thuryday 18th Oktober 2007 Organ Master class with Prof. Stefan Engels at Groen Saal der Hochschule fr Musik und Theater in Leipzig (in cooperation with the conservatory Leipzig and Karg-Elert-Gesellschaft)

  Workshop Orgel building Friday 2th November 2007 "From the Blockwerk to the Stockwerk" Workshop at the Bistro-Organ in Mnchen-Grbenzell with Orgelbaumeister Markus Harder-Vlkmann and Dr. Jrgen Scriba

  International Cesar-Franck-Symposium in the Philharmonie in Essen (February 2008 10.-13.2.08) Concerts, conference, lectures, Workshops u.a. Daniel Roth, Joris Verdin, Jon Laukvik, H.J. Busch, J.M. Fauquet, Kurt Lueders, P. Jost, M.Ralph
  
  

• 7th February - Carlo Curley
  International concert organist Carlo Curley is giving a recital in St Mary's Church Attleborough at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 10. The audience will be able to hear the recently-restored and enhanced organ put through its paces by a man who has been dubbed the Pavarotti of the organ. Organisers are promising brilliant playing from a larger-than-life personality. There will also be the opportunity to invest in a CD or cassette. Tickets are 10 from the Parish Office, Church Street, Attleborough NR17 2AH (01953 454977) or from 01953 498877. This is the first concert in a series of seven to inaugurate St Mary's recently-refurbished Norman and Beard Three Manual Pipe Organ. A season ticket is available at 50. The seven concerts are in aid of St. Mary's Heritage Appeal.
  
  
• 7th February - Recital at Adlington Hall, 2nd March, played by Nicholas Jackson
  'I thought some of you may be interested to know that there is a recital at Adlington Hall on Friday the 2nd of March at 8:00pm, played by Nicholas Jackson. This is a rare opportunity to hear this interesting instrument.'

  The programme is:
  Anon Estampie
  c 1280
  Anon Upon la mi re
  14th century
  Robert Whyte Ut re mi fa sol la
  16th century
  William Blitheman Eterne rerum alias
  d 1591
  Thomas Tallis Natus est nobis
  1505-1585
  Orlando Gibbons Fantasia in a
  1583-1625 Voluntary in a minor
  John Bull Salve Regina
  1563-1628
  Jan P. Sweelink 7 Variations on 'Est-ce Mars?'
  1562-1621
  Dietrich Buxtehude Jig Fugue in C
  1637-1707
  John Stanley Voluntary in D
  1713-1786 Adagio-Andante
  G.F. Handel Hunting Song (written at Adlington in 1741)
  1685-1759 Organ Concerto in Bb Op 4 No 2
  Allegro-Andante-Allegro
  
  ----- Interval -----
  
  Anon Batalla Imperial
  17th Century
  Nicolas Clerambault Suite sur le premier ton
  1676-1749 Grand plein jeu - Fugue - Duo - Trio
  Basse et Dessus de Trompette
  Dialogue sur les Grands Jeux
  Antonio Soler 16 versos para 'Te Deum'
  1729-1783
  
  
  

• 5th February - Le FESTIVAL DES GRANDES ORGUES DE SAINT-EUSTACHE
  Le FESTIVAL DES GRANDES ORGUES DE SAINT-EUSTACHE, dirig par Jean Guillou avec la complicit de Yanka Hkimova, rendra hommage cette grande dame de l'orgue et de la musique tout court (elle crivit aussi de la musique de chambre), lors d'un grand concert Saint-Eustache Paris le 5 juin 2007 en compagnie de plusieurs musiciens. Rendez-vous donc sur les ondes! et pour plus de renseignements: tl. : +33 (0)1 45 22 58 46 - http://www.orgue-saint-eustache.com/ Et http://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/accueil/
  
  
• 3rd February - New pipe organs for the Great Choir and West Gallery
  The firms of Dobson and Casavant Frres have been selected to build new pipe organs for the Great Choir and West Gallery, respectively. Check the Website of the Dobson firm and perhaps check the Casavant Web site from time to time as they do not seem to have information up as of yet.
  
  
• 3rd February - Andrew Nethsingha to move to St John's Cambridge
  Andrew Nethsingha is to leave Gloucester Cathedral, and move to St John's Cambridge in succession to the very short-lived David Hill
  
  
• 2nd February - Gian Carlo Menotti dies
  The death of composer Gian Carlo Menotti was announced today. He died in Monaco at the age of 95. Known mainly as an opera composer, he also founded the Spoleto Festival in Italy, later the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina and another in Melbourne, Australia. While many of us will especially remember Menotti for AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS (the first opera written specifically for television production, and based on a lovely Christmas story), we might also consider playing one of his compositions for organ this Sunday. RICERCARE was published by G. Schirmer in 1984, and has had fairly-wide circulation in America.