Paul Jacobs to commemorate 100th Birthday of Olivier Messiaen News Item added: 27 November
As part of the commemorations of the 100th birthday of Olivier Messiaen on December 10, organist Paul Jacobs will give a free 8 pm performance that evening of the composer's magnum opus, Livre du Saint Sacrement, at Yale University's Woolsey Hall as part of the Messiaen Centenary Celebration at Yale. Mr. Jacobs's performance of the work last season at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Times Square was named by New York magazine as among New York's best classical music performances of 2007. In the coming months he will be recording Livre du Saint Sacrement for Naxos.For more information, call 203-432-4158 or visit http://www.yale.edu/music/messiaen
Robert Sirota's The New Jerusalem (2008) to be premiered at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York News Item added: 27 November
Robert Sirota's new hymn The New Jerusalem (2008) is to be premiered at a Service of Rededication at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York on Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 11.00am, celebrating the reopening of the entire length of the Cathedral after the fire of 2001. The Great Organ is to be played for the first time since the restoration. For more information about the service please visit
http://www.stjohndivine.org
Pipe Up! News Item added: 17 November
Pipe Up!is a Diocese of Salisbury scheme to encourage more youngsters to take up the organ. We have arranged a Christmas Concert to showcase the talents of the children on the 2008 course, and demonstrate the Peter Collins organ at St Mary's Church, Dorchester; one of the finest church organs in Dorset. Tutor Dr Richard Godfrey will introduce the concert, talk about the organ and finish by playing a number of classics. 11.30am, Saturday 13th December 2008, St Mary's Church, Edward Road, Dorchester. Easy walk from the South or West railway stations. Plenty of parking. Full details at http://www.atob.org.uk/pipeup.htm or phone 01305 259998
Harry Christophers and the Sixteen News Item added: 17 November
2009 will be a year of significant musical anniversaries. Not only those of Handel, Purcell and James MacMillan, but also the thirtieth anniversary of the award-winning ensemble The Sixteen and its founder, conductor Harry Christophers. To celebrate this extraordinary year The Sixteen will be undertaking an ambitious season of concerts at venues across the UK including Southbank Centre, Bridgewater Hall, Barbican Centre, Kings Place, and also abroad, focusing on these particular composers, with corresponding releases on its record label CORO.
Harry Christophers & The Sixteen will also be performing their 150th performance of Handel's Messiah on 3 December 2008 at 7pm at Barbican Hall. Speaking of this historic event Harry Christophers commented “I can say with total honesty, as I approach this 150th performance with The Sixteen, that I never tire of it – there is always something new and unexpected to find.”Tickets start at £9 Box Office: 020 7638 8891. http://www.barbican.org.uk/eticketing
Celebrated Edinburgh based choir, the Carlton Consort, presents a unique performance of works by Stravinsky News Item added: 17 November
On Saturday 22 November, the mixed voice choir the Carlton Consort will present a concert of some of Stravinsky's most rarely performed works. The performance will include Stravinsky's "Les Noces" ('The Wedding'), an extraordinary work that will see the Carlton Consort performing alongside four soloists, four pianos and six percussionists. The Calton Consort is conducted by Jason Orringe, which has built a formidable reputation for its performances of 20th century masterworks such as the Rachmaninov Vespers, Schnittke's Choir Concerto and Schoenberg's Friede auf Erden. The programme on Saturday 22 November will also include Britten's Choral Dances and Brahms' Liebesliederwalzer. Stravinsky's 'Les Noces' was his fourth Russian Ballet and written for Sergei Diaghilev in 1923. The piece was written directly after The Rite of Spring and contains all of the relentless, driving rhythms of the Rite. It is scored for a combination of choir, soloists, four pianos and six percussionists. The concert starts at 7.30pm on Saturday 22 November at Canongate Kirk, Royal Mile, Edinburgh. Tickets cost £8.00 and £6.00 on the door. For more information or to purchase tickets call Jason Orringe 0774 231 3907.
Dan and the Magic Musician screening at Bradford Animation Festival, Saturday 15 November, 10:30am News Item added: 2 November
A public screening of the short animated film commissioned by the Royal College of Organists and produced by the University of Bradford which is aimed at introducing children to the pipe organ in a fun way. In addition to the screening, there will be an opportunity to see how the film was made and to meet the film makers. Booking details at
http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk. To view the film free-of-charge visit http://www.DanMagic.org.
