This is an archive of news articles from March 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.

• 21st March - Salisbury Cathedral's Organ Recital Series 2007
  David Halls, Director of Music, gives the opening recital in Salisbury Cathedral's Organ Recital Series 2007 performing the prestigious Alcock Organ Recital on Wednesday 25 April at 7.30pm.

  He has chosen a contrasting programme of music by German, English and French composers and, as ever, it includes some of his favourite pieces for organ. 'My recital opens with Mendelssohn's marvellous and joyous Sonata No 3 in A major Op 65, written unusually in only two movements, which I remember first performing for my finals recital at university.

  'This is followed by one of Bach's great masterpieces for organ, the magnificent Prelude & Fugue in B minor BWV 544 which, I think, is the key in which Bach arguably wrote his finest music. Bach's effortless counterpoint is exemplified in this prelude with its great energy, in complete contrast to the calm and grave beauty of the fugue.

  'Next I play Whitlock's Four Extemporisations which include a beautiful homage to Frederick Delius and an exhilarating fanfare.

  'As this recital is dedicated to my illustrious predecessor Sir Walter Alcock, who was Organist & Master of the Choristers at Salisbury Cathedral from 1916-1947, I shall play his charming Toccatina, a study in staccato written expecially for his classic book on organ playing.

  'For the last three pieces of my recital I turn to France. Franck's large scale and impressive Choral No 1 in E major, written right at the end of his life, is from a set of three which are unmatched in terms of their form and compositional richness. This is followed by the beautiful and tranquil Lied from Vierne's 24 Pieces en style libre, Op 31. I end my recital with an exciting, loud and exuberant toccata Les Cloches dans le Ciel (literally Bells in the Sky) by the little known French composer Ermend Bonnal.'

  Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Music and responsible for the series, added, 'David has chosen a wonderfully varied programme which will show off our famous Father Willis organ to the full. David's reputation for making this organ 'talk' is legendary and this recital is certainly not to be missed.'

  Tickets, price 8.00, are available at the door on the night.
  
  

• 21st March - Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow - Christopher Nickol
  Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow
  PROMENADE ORGAN RECITAL
  Christopher Nickol
  plays the 1902 Lewis organ
  Sunday 1st April at 3.00 p.m.

  1. WYLLIE; North of the border.
  2. BACH; Toccata, Adagio and Fugue BWV 564.
  3. RUBINSTEIN; Melody in F.
  4. MENDELSSOHN; Sonata No. 4 in Bb major Op. 65 No.4
  Allegro con brio - Andante religioso - Allegretto - Allegro maestoso e vivace.
  5. RAWSTHORNE; Hornpipe Humouresque.
  6. VIERNE; Final from Symphony No.1 Op.14.
  www.glasgowmuseums.com/venue/showEvent.cfm?venueid=4&itemid=773