« Cruising the Rhine | Main | Musings on Easter and other relationships »
June 29, 2005
More musical notes ....
Last Saturday evening the Abbey was host to an unusual recital on the Milton Organ. Billed as Four Hands and Four Feet, a musical feast for duets on the organ. The programme spanned four centuries and gave a number of real, and sadly, rarely heard treats from a repertoire that really deserves a wider airing!
Carleton Etherington, the Abbey's resident Director of Music and Choirmaster, was joined at the console by his friend and fellow musician Simon Bertram as they performed, in their words, "an entertaining range of works for four hands, four feet, and many bruises!" They understated the case. We were treated to musical fireworks of no mean order, a stunning feast of music from the 1570's through to the 20th Century. Works by Rutter and Langlais rubbed shoulders with Tomkins (16th Century English composer, in case you wondered!), Albrechtsberger, Merkel, Beethoven, and Hakim. The spread of composers ranged from the 16th Century to the 20th with Langlais' "Double Fantasy" the latest composition. The Hakim piece - "Rapsody for Organ Duo" in five movements - produced some real fireworks with a relentless and unusual "beat" and rhythm. Perhaps the most unusual piece, though, was written by Beethoven - for a mechanical movement to be inserted into a clock!
From the programme one learned that where Carleton had won the Paisley International Organ Competition Prize in 1992, Simon won second prize in the same competition. While Carleton was organist in St Bride's, Fleet Street, Simon was playing in Sacre Choeur alongside Naji Hakim himself and Michel-Jean Langlais, son of the composer Jean Langlais.
During the recital we also learned that Thomas Tomkins (1560 - 1641) had been married in Tewkesbury Abbey - a fitting reason to play his "Fancie for organ" on this occassion.
All in all a fascinating evening of music played by master musicians - and some even more interesting anecdotes later over a few pints in the local hostelry - The Bell!
Posted by The Gray Monk at June 29, 2005 10:00 AM