Saturday 2 November 2024 Birthday Concert Old Independent Church Haverhill

Michaela Cottee, a member of SOA, organised a gathering of her friends to come along to celebrate with her, her 60th birthday. Ten organist friends were among this number and Andrew Stevens, a local organ builder and tuner ensured that the organ ( this famous Suffolk Binns organ with its renowned ear splitting rank of pipes Trumpets en chamade) sounded at its best for the afternoon's entertainment.

Each organist, some from the Essex Association of Organists and some from further afield played a short programme of pieces which were to last together no longer than 10 minutes. During the course of the afternoon, a splendid variety of pieces were heard and each person introduced his choice of pieces. Among the ten performers was a very impressive and intelligent 14 year old, Krystian Kaniecki, who played his pieces with great maturity and sensitivity. He has only been playing the organ for a year and a half.

Michaela had laid on afternoon refreshments for everyone and she was thrilled that at the end her friends joined in singing 'Happy Birthday' accompanied on the organ by Lyndon Ford who had come up from the South Coast for the occasion.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable, sociable afternoon and many thanks to the Church for their hospitality and to Michaela for the generous gifts she gave to each of us players.

Saturday 19 October 2024 Masterclass with Peter Crompton Organist Emeritus at The Royal Hospital School 2.30pm

Our President, Robert Waller, writes:

The journey to Holbrook was much longer than expected as the strand beside the River Orwell had flooded and this meant taking a large diversion via A137. Nevertheless, thankfully, all the participants were able to make it on time for the start. There were 15 of us present which included a couple that had come specially to hear Peter's recital. Members present who listened were Ann Little and Juliette Adams and ? and also the parents of the two young men.

The afternoon began with Peter Crompton welcoming us all to the event. He said it would be in three parts, first the four participants playing the pieces that they had selected to play, then looking at the art and practice of hymn playing that is an essential attribute of the church organist and that he would finish with his recital.

Four people had enrolled to perform, Tony Dunn, Jamie Robinson, Nicholas Jardine and Freddie Richer. Peter asked for a volunteer to step forward to begin the first part of the afternoon and our SOA member Tony Dunn was picked. Tony has in recent years taken up the organ after a long break from it during his career. He has had lessons with a number of excellent teachers.

Tony Dunn

Tony’s first choice was: Récit de Nazard Louis-Nicolas Clérambault (1676 – 1749) a French baroque composer Peter assisted with choice of stops and after hearing the piece he suggested more forward movement and talked about making more of the phrasing.

Jamie Robinson

Next up was Jamie Robinson, a 22 year old studying at a Music Conservatoire who chose as his first piece the sixth part of Messiaen's suite 'Les Corps Glorieux.' Apparently this whole suite was Messiaen’s favourite composition. Joie et Clarté des Corps glorieux. Olivier Messiaen (1908 – 1992) I think we were all taken aback by the technical skill of this young player. On hearing this piece Peter emphasised the importance of rests in music especially with such a broad acoustic in this chapel at RHS.

Nicholas Jardine

Another member of SOA, and a recent President of the Association , Nicholas , played next. He chose as his first piece a piece by Bach which bears the name ‘Dorian’ because of it modal quality. The notes of the scale starting on D would be all white notes on a keyboard. It is a minor scale with a raised sixth note giving the characteristic tone to the music. Toccata in D minor BWV 538 ‘Dorian’ Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750). Peter emphasised the value of phrasing and also spoke about the importance of timing and sensing an awareness of it.

Freddie Richer

Freddie recently joined the SOA and is 17 studying at Kesgrave High School. He has recently achieved a distinction on piano at grade 8. He brought along a piano piece: Sonata in C K513 Domenico Scarlatti (1685 – 1757). He had remarked that he had only played an organ a few times but was up for the challenge because he was drawn to the organ by the quality of sounds. He is clearly maybe one to watch for the future and nurture!

We then heard three of our performers play their next choice.

Tony Dunn

Tony’s second choice was Grand Choeur by César Franck (1822 – 1890) This was a chance to demonstrate the fiery reed stops available on this magnificent Hill, Norman and Beard organ. Peter made the suggestion to make the articulation more deliberate.

Jamie Robinson

Jamie played Impromptu No. 1 by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 – 1912) Peter complemented him for the way he approached the organ that he had not played before specially the use of the swell pedal and suggested how he could do it more subtly. His playing really astounded Peter.

Nicholas Jardine

Then Nicholas played the Gigue Fugue G major BWV 577- Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750) Peter suggested playing with more staccato so as to keep the piece consistent throughout.

Hymn playing Jamie Robinson

Peter demonstrated how to play hymns and commented on some common problems. Often the introduction is played at a different speed to the hymn itself. He also emphasised the importance of rests between verses so the congregation can get their breath and also different ways of introducing hymns. Jamie Robinson chose the tune Coe Fen with the words ‘How shall I sing that majesty’. The tune 'Coe Fen' was written in 1958 by Ken Naylor (1931-1991). He taught music at The Leys School, which abuts directly on to Coe Fen in Cambridge, from 1953 to 1980. The playing of this majestic hymn in a chapel with such a big acoustic verified the fact that the problem arises when listening to the sound you are making tends to make you slow down. Peter discussed the importance of gradually leading the hymns by increasing the volume encouraging the congregation to sing! He also showed how the use of staccato and legato adds variety to the meaning of the words.

The afternoon concluded with a short recital where Peter was adeptly aided by one of the RHS pupils who had volunteered for the task. Peter showed his mastery of the instrument with which he obviously feels entirely at home in the recital.

Peter had chosen these pieces carefully to demonstrate the versatility of the organ and this variety of pieces was greatly appreciated by those present.

• Prelude in C Edward Bairstow (1874-1946)
• Adagio in E Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
• Hymne d’Actions de graces “Te Deum” Jean Langlais (1907-1991)
• Carillon de Westminster & Impromptu Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
• Toccata (from Suite pour orgue) Denis Bédard (b.1950)

Afterwards we gathered for refreshments in the music department foyer with hospitality offered by Edward Allen, Director of Music at RHS. I have had reports back already from those that took part saying how much they enjoyed the event. I would like to thank Peter and Edward for making this afternoon event possible and look forward to future events at the Royal Hospital School.

Saturday 21 September 2024 Drinkstone and Thurston

Our member Peter Tryon, who had invited us to visit his piano workshops, unfortunately is in ill health. However we visited nevertheless All Saints Church, Drinkstone IP30 9SX. Peter Bumpstead met us at 11.30 and the sun was shining and pleasantly warm for September. Peter gave us a demonstration of the variety of organ stops and described the major construction work he had undertaken to restore this historic instrument to good health. He explained that at least half of the pipework was quite ancient and had been made here locally in Suffolk. The organ's antiquity was clear from the unusual range of notes on the keyboard stretching down to F below the normal bottom C. Sadly at present there is no longer a pedal board as it suffered from woodworm making it unsafe to play. Robert Waller, our President who had organised this outing to mid Suffolk, was joined by Miriam Ellis, Barry Palmer, Nicholas Jardine and Andrew Garfath-Cox. We had ample time to try the instrument ourselves with some manual only pieces but also where there was a pedal part this became a duet for two organists and sometimes a registrant too. The main chorus pipework sounded extremely well with the church building enhancing the sound reverberation. It is similar to the Thamar work at Framlingham.

All Saint's Church, Drinkstone

Peter Bumpstead

• Voluntary in G Stanley

Nicholas Jardine

• Dulcis Amica Dei Anonomyous
• Chorale 'In Dulci Jubilo' Friderich Zachau (teacher of Handel)

Barry Palmer

• 'Guide me O thy Great Redeemer' arr. Greg Howlett

Robert Waller

• Cantabile Pasini
• Prelude on 'Repton' Richard Pancheff

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• Adagio Morten Marvik
• New Era Nigel Ogden

At 13.00 we continued to The Victoria Pub, Thurston, Norton Road, Thurston IP31 3QH for lunch. A very convivial lunch was enjoyed together with excellent service by the staff.

In the afternoon at 14.45, we visited St. Peter's Church, Thurston IP31 3TH and we played there on the organ until four o'clock. This was the last organ from the famous firm of Henry Willis and Sons with tracker action on two manuals and a pedalboard with lever swell pedal. It was a pleasure to play with very light tracker organ action which allowed the manuals to be coupled without almost any noticeable difference to the touch. The 1901 instrument is in excellent working order and was fully in tune having had a recital played there the previous evening. We thanked Robert for arranging a splendid day in two very beautiful places and Miriam who had listened throughout the day thanked us all for the great variety of music that she heard us play.

Saturday 21 September 2024 RCO Study Day at RHS

This was not an SOA event but Edward Allen invited our members to another RCO Study Day in the Autumn at RHS. Nicolas Danks, Director of Studies and Director of Music at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge lead this RCO Study Day and gave a recital on Saturday 21 September 2024.

Harrison Cole at Eye Parish Church

Saturday 31 August 2024 Harrison Cole at Eye Parish Church

This was not an SOA event but Tim Patient, the organist of the church, Peter Lee, Organist Emeritus and Harrison Cole are members of SOA.

Andrew Garfath-Cox reports:

A large gathering listened and applauded with enthusiasm to Harrison's excellent choice of organ music with no transcriptions! Mostly of the romantic period of composers from these islands in the 19th and 20th centuries all which sounded so lovely with his accomplished selection of just the appropriate registration for the different pieces and within them too. It was a masterclass on how to manage a large instrument seamlessly to delight the aural palette and Tim Patient commented that Harrison are found combinations of sounds he had never heard before. The audience was welcomed by Tim, Organist of the church who introduced Harrison. This was the second visit of Harrison to the church having played in last year's recital series.

We have been privileged to see Harrison, as a member of SOA since his school days in Woodbridge and Ipswich, develop his exceptional talent, graduate from Trinity College, Cambridge where he was an organ scholar during his student life. He stayed in Cambridge with the Choir of Gonville and Caius, under Matthew Martin for the past year and has now been appointed as Assistant Organist for the Choir of King's College, Cambridge starting in the Michaelmas Term which begins on the 1st October 2024 with responsibility for accompanying the choir for the daily office and training of choisters. Our congratulations to him for securing such a prestigious post where we will hear him on Christmas Eve accompanying the famous King's College service of Nine Lessons and Carols. He is now 24.

During this period Harrison has recorded Durufle's Requiem at St Eustache in Paris with the Trinity Choir; With Caius' choir he has made a recent recording of music by Michael Haydn with the Academy of Ancient Music; he has travelled to Australia with the choir of King's, worked with the Slovenian Philharmonic Choir and Stephen Layton in Ljubljana.

He has also enjoyed playing live in concert music by some of the nation's leading composers including Francis Pott, Jeremy Thurlow and Judith Weir with the said composers in attendance. Thos who read Organists' Review will also have enjoyed the article about Harrison in the article 'Introducing: Up-and-coming organists' on page 48 of the June 2024 edition where he mentions two important influences in his musical life who, sadly, are no longer alive: Martin Ellis, a former President of our Association and the Assistant Director of Music at Woodbridge School, John Stafford.

So what did you miss in this recital? Well, before I mention the music programme which was in two halves, at the interval there was tea and coffee and a quite amazing spread of cakes and biscuits. Harrison started with a rousing rendition of Imperial March Op 32 by Sir Edward Elgar which Harrison said was written for the Silver Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897 actually her Diamond Jubilee! She lived a long time!

This was followed by a delightfully tuneful piece by William Wolstenholme and Harrison reminded us that he had been blind from birth mentioning too Arthur Hollins another great blind composer and so it wasn't only composers in Europe who had this characteristic from birth but still flourished. Next Harrison said the reason for the composition of the Trio Sonatas was that Bach composed them for his sons. Fearsomely difficult with three independent parts to sope with, Bach certainly set his sons a formidable challenge. Harrison chose to play Trio Sonata No 5 in C and he did so faultlessly and with great musical interpretation so all the lines were beautifully phrased and clear to the ear. Next was the Adagio in E by Frank Bridge. Harrison reminded us that although it is a most tuneful and the beautiful arc of sound from very, soft to a tremendous crescendo, which this organ delivered with great impact, and then to very, very soft at its conclusion, its underlying form in actually a fugue!

The first half of the recital had not reached its climax yet! The soft strings of the Bridge were replaced with a very exciting toccata by Jiří Ropek, a Czech composer. No rest here for the player with complicated rhythms and a powerful tune in the pedals this was a thrilling way to conclude before taking tea.

After the interval, the audience regained there seats after much convivial chatter. I had the good fortune to speak to Peter Lee and his wife Carol who is Organist Emeritus of this church and played a vital part in the acquisition and installation of this lovely instrument with its splendid console of three manuals which can be moved around the church as required. I also met a lady, Margaret Kitson, who has raised a very large sum of money for the purchase (but AT NO COST!) for the installation of a new Binns orgsn which we will be able to visit and play very soon at Dedham.

Harrison took the four remaining pieces in two pairs. The first pair only paired as a contrast perhaps because they were written centuries apart and one was Welsh, the other English! Certainly their styles are very distinct: the lusicous harmonies of Delius and the dissonces and piquancy of Tomkins. Frederick Delius in from the North of England and Harrison played Two Aquarelles i Lento, ma non troppo ii. Gaily, but not too quickly, written in 1917. The association of the pieces are obviously with running water and they were divinely beautiful. Thomas Tomkins's pieces were written after Tomkin's sadness at the execution of Charles I, and after the destruction of his organ at Worcester Cathedral. They were i A Sad Paven for these Distracted Tymes ii. Voluntary in D written in 1649 just before the New Commonwealth.

Harrison then spoke about the final pair which brought the concert to a spectacular climax. We were treated to the glory of this romantic period of organ composition with the inner two movements from Percy Whitlock's Organ Sonata in C minor which Harrison reminded us that this had been inspired by Sergei Rachmaninov and you can definitely feel that style in the outer two movements but the shorter two inner pieces are wonderful compositions. And finally a tour de force by the Irish comoposer Charles Villiers Stanford of his Fantasia and Toccata in D minor Op57. This incredibly powerful piece with plenty of Bachian overtones was played by Harrison with panache.

Tim Patient thanks Harrison for his outstanding performance and valuable commentary on the pieces that he played and well after six o'clock we left delighted by what we had heard and the clapping took some time to recede. Harrison is a musician par excellence and we were lucky to have him with us to give us a really enjoyable August afternoon of some of the loveliest music in the repertoire.

Saturday 20 July 2024 Visit to the City of Norwich

Our President, Robert Waller had arranged a full day of organ crawling in the city of Norwich. It proved to be one of the hottest day of the year so far and we were glad of the cool atmosphere inside the church buildings. Our day started at 10.30am at the Old Meeting House, Colegate Street where we were greeted warmly by one of the Trustees of the building, Chris Lambert, who had generously provided tea and coffee and biscuits for our visit. The Organist, Prudence Goldsmith, also gave us a very warm welcome and she gave a demonstration of the organ with three pieces of music drawing different registrations of stops which you can read about here. A number of members came and played or listened and also a member of the Norwich Association of Organists, Colin Hazell, who lives on the border with Lincolnshire joined us. He stayed with us for the whole day giving us the opportunity to hear many Bach compositions expertly played. It waas particularly pleasing to see again Brian Bartlett who is still playing the organ in the Roman Catholic Church of St. Thomas in Woodbridge. We had plenty of time for much music to be played as follows:

The Old Meeting House

Colin Hazell

• Pastorale J S Bach / Fantasia in C major J S Bach

Philip Speirs

• Air and Gavotte S S Wesley / Reflections Daniel Bishop (1981 - )

Tony Dunn

• Cornet Voluntary in A minor John Blow / Erbarm dich mein, O Herre Gott BWV 721 J S Bach

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• Trio (Op.29 No.16) Johann Rinck (1770 - 1846) / Priere Titus Grenyer ( ? - )

Robert Waller

• Celtic Lament/ Processional both by Noel Rawsthorne (1929 - 2019) / Prelude on Rockingham C S Lang

A Recital at St. Peter Mancroft at 1pm then beckoned us to walk to this church where an hour long recital was played on the Peter Collins organ by Anthony Gritten entitled Kneller and his relatives. A virtuoso performance of this singularly baroque music of the seventeenth century was performed and the pieces played can be read about here. Here we met up with Roger Pulham, our Treasurer, and Michael Flatman of the Norwich Association of Organists

At 2.30pm, we reconvened at The Octagon Chapel, very close by to the Old Meeting House and found there a versatile two manual Norman and Beard organ with a welcome by Vicki, a member of the congregation. Here is the music that was played here:

The Octagon Chapel

Robert Waller

• Flourish for an Occasion Noel Rawsthorne

Colin Hazell

• Canzona in D minor J S Bach

Anne Abbott

• Concerto Prelude in D Claude Balbastre (1729 - 1799) / Sonatina BWV 106 J S Bach / Communion Christopher Tambling

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• Folk Tune Percy Whitlock / The Throne Room John Williams arr. Titus Grenyer

Stephen Hogger

• An improvisation

Tony Dunn

• Nimm von uns, Herr, der treuer Gott BuxWV 207

At 3.30pm we learned that Evensong by a visiting choir had just begun so we made our way to the cathedral so we could play the newly entirely refurbished by Harrison and Harrison with its splendid new console at the close of Evensong. we were met by the Assistanct DOM, Robbie who gave us a fulsome welcome and showed us some the varied combinations of the 100 stops that this organ has available. It was a thrilling experience to play such a wonderful instrument in this quite magnificent cathedral where all the staff are so welcoming and so willing to be helpful. The seven of us clambered up the steep staircase. Our delight was the awesome sight of the four manual console with its curved left and right jambs. Robert played first, then Colin Hazell, Anne Abbott, Andrew Garfath-Cox and Tony Dunn. Stephen Hogger and his partner Max were also with us. We pu the organ through its paces and in this wonderful acoustic the organ sounded really impressive.

Norwich Cathedral

Robert Waller

• Berceuse Noel Rawsthorne / Soliliquy Helaey Willan /Celtic Lament Rawsthorne

Colin Hazell

• Prelude and Fugue in E minor J S Bach

Anne Abbott

• Salve Regina arr. Anne Abbott / Bach/Vivaldi Concerto in A minor 1st Mvmt. J S Bach

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• Choral Song and Fugue S S Wesley

Tony Dunn

• Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr BWV J S Bach

Our thanks to all those people we met during the day who had allowed us to play three lovely instruments and to Robert, our President, for making the day run so smoothly. It was a very enjoyable experience!

Concert at St Mary's Church Woodbridge on Wednesday 19 June 7.00 for 7.30pm {See here}

This was not an SOA event but at this free Summer Organ Concert, we heard four performers, two of them pupils at Woodbridge School, Alexander Crawford and Noah Davis who had been taught by Robin Walker and also the new Director of Music at St. Mary's, James Davy.

The two pupils were outstanding, Alexander playing 'Joie et claret des corps glorieux' with Robin Walker helping with the registration of the church organ to get a really french flavour and Noah played Bach's choral prelude 'Valet will ich dir geben' BWV 736. Our new events calendar was put into their hands with the membership application and we hope they will join our Association as we hope James Davy will too. Such talented playing by two boys who have not yet reached GCSE level, gives great hope for the future of public enjoyment of organ music and a major mission of our Association whose funds are available to develop those interested in improving their skill at any level.

James Davy, who is now also Organist at Royal Hospital School, played William Wolstenholme's Allegretto in E flat and the remainder of the programme was played by Robin Walker who is leaving for pastures new in Kent. He has been a valuable teacher with a great sense of humour and will be much missed by the Ipswich Choral Sociaty as their conductor and by own member, Tony Dunn, who has benefitted enormously from his excellent knowledgeable instruction and encouragement over several years. Robin played W. Russell's Voluntary II, Avro Pärt's Spiegel im Spiegel where he suggested we allow ourselves to become mesmerised in the music and completed the recital with Holst's Jupiter for the Planets Suite. This was a very talented performance of a thrilling arrangement of this suite by Arthur Wills and Robin conjured artfully from just a two manual instrument such a variety of voices and timbres.

The purpose of the concert as well as to give a fitting farewell to Robin was his generous gift of an organ prize and cup to Woodbridge School at a very well attended concert.

Sunday 16 June 2024 at 16.30 at The Royal Hospital School.

An Annual event, organised by Edward Allen, Director of Music at the School, on the Grand Chapel Organ of RHS with Peter Crompton, a former President of the Association, is never an event to be missed. Peter did not disappoint with a very full programme of wonderful organ music given to a large and appreciative audience.{here is the programme} at RHS on the Grand Organ on

Saturday 8 June 2024 Visit to North Essex

The first visit of Robert Waller's presidential year was a most enjoyable day out visiting three splendid churches all meticulously organised by Tony Dunn who lives and plays for several churches in this area. All three churches were very spacious buildings each with entirely different instruments.

At St. Nicholas, the two manual Kenneth Tickell tracker action was a delight to play with immediate response to one's touch and with a good number of stops with sweet sounding flues and rich reeds which blended very well together. It also had (which all should!) a fully adjustable bench which allowed us all to be placed at the organ very comfortably.

At All Saints, we found an electronic organ with two manuals and a full pedalboard which had all the extra sounds that one associates with this genre of older technology. As one played the sound coming from several different locations was rather disconcerting but there was sufficient power to accompany a laarge congregation and with careful selection of the stops some very pleasant sounds were available. A disconsolate Lewis pipe organ stands beside the chancel but the church hasn't the funds to bring it back into working order we understood

At St.Peter ad Vincula, the organ is in the west gallery with a very beautiful decorated organ case. There are three manuals with a good selection of stops on all divisions. Unusually the bottom manual was the Solo division, the Great and the Swell in their normal positions and with a radiating concave pedal board and thumb pistons. In the body of the church the organ sounded very well indeed but the detached console beside the chancel being a long way from the organ pipes gave a significant delay to the organist's ears and this latency can be quite disconcerting to players who are used to an immediate response from the keys as we had just experienced on the tracker action organ at the first church. Also the console was placed beside a very large pillar so sight of the congregation was obscured as was the sound of the organ too.

We thank Tony Dunn for organising this day for us and providing refreshments. At lunch we lunched at The White Hart Hotel, Coggeshall with Tony Dunn's wife too. Our President, Robert Waller was able to join us in the afternoon. This is the first of may events he has arranged for us this year and we hope that more members will come along to join in these enjoyable occasions.

With fewer members however we noted Tony Dunn's directive: 'Bring plenty of music' and so here is the excellent selection of music that was played during the day.

St. Nicolas, Witham

Michaela Cottee

• Christe Te Lux - William Blitheman (1525-91)
• Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen - Helmut Walcha (1907-1991)

Hugh Singleton

• Aria form 'Xerxes' - George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
• Adagio from Violin Sonata in G minor - George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
• Der Tag ist so freundenreich BWV 628 - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
• Prelude in G major BWV 568 - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• Cantilene - Josef Rheinberger (1839 - 1901)
• Recessional on St Theodulph - Kenneth Grange (/ - /)
• Aria - Paul Manz (1919 - 2009)

Tony Dunn

• Nun bitten wir der Heiligen Geist BuxWV 208 - Dietrich Buxtehude (1637 - 1707)
• Nun bitten wir der Heiligen Geist BuxWV 209 - Dietrich Buxtehude (1637 - 1707)

All Saints Stisted

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• Forlana - Gerald Finzi (1901 - 1956)

Hugh Singleton

• Andante religioso from Sonata No IV - Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)

Michaela Cottee

• La Gnossienne - Erik Satie (1866 - 1925)

St. Peter ad Vincula Coggeshall

Tony Dunn

• Fanfare for the Common Man - Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990)

Robert Waller

• Postlude in D - Healey Willan (1880 - 1968)
• In Green Pastures - Harold Darke (1888 - 1976)

Andrew Garfath-Cox

• Rubrics 'The peace may be exchanged' - Dan Locklair (1949 - )
• Trumpet Voluntary - Gordon Young (1919 - 1998)
• Lento from Canterbury Improvisations - Sidney Campbell (1909 - 1974)
• Andante espressivo No III from Sonata in G, Op. 28 - Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934)
• Elegy - Paul Fey (2000 - )

Michaela Cottee

• Chaconne - Johann Pachabel (1653 - 1706)
• Rorate Caeli - Jeanne Demessieux (1921 - 1968)

Hugh Singleton

• Pavan - Alec Rowley (1892 - 1958)
• O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen - Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
• Freu dich sehr, O meine Seele - Siegfrid Karg-Elert ((1877 - 1933)

Steven Hogger

• an improvisation

Saturday 11 May 2024 2pm AGM at Christchurch, Tacket Street, Ipswich IP4 1AU

Our current President, Alan Loader, handed over the baton to the President Elect, Robert Waller. A good number of members attended with many apologies for absence. All appointments to the Council were accepted and voted in nem.com. A Cream Tea with a beautifully baked selection of cakes followed proceedings! We then heard an excellent recital from Richard Cook, Assistant Director of Music at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral who has recently become a member of the Association.

He played:

• Imperial March - Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
• Praeludium in C, BuxWV137 - Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
• Fountain Reverie - Percy Fletcher (1879-1932)
• Serenade - Derek Bourgeois (1941-2017)
• Choral No. 3 in A minor - César Franck (1822-1890)

Richard Cook is currently the Assistant Director of Music at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, where he is the principal accompanist for all the cathedral choirs. From January to October 2020, he held the position of Acting Director of Music at the cathedral during which time he established the Cathedral Girls' Choir. Prior to this he was Sub-Assistant Organist and Director of the Voluntary Choir at Worcester Cathedral, playing an active role in the running of the music department and accompanying the cathedral choirs. This position afforded the opportunity to participate in the Three Choirs Festival, and during the 2017 festival he played the organ for Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius with the Philharmonia Orchestra in the presence of HRH the Prince of Wales. In 2019, he was a repetiteur for the Three Choirs Festival Chorus.

Richard was educated at St Edward's Comprehensive School in Romford, Essex, and subsequently received a prestigious scholarship to read music at Birmingham Conservatoire. During this period, he was Organist and Director of Music at All Saints' Church, Bromsgrove, and latterly Organ Scholar at St Mary's Collegiate Church, Warwick. Richard has accompanied the National Children's Choir of Great Britain, and has directed and participated in various singing outreach projects across the country.

Saturday 16 March Recital 7pm at Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House, Friars Street, Ipswich IP1 1TD

Although not an SOA event, Robert Waller, our President Elect has now been organist there for 50 years and in celebration of his long and valuable service, members of the congregation organised a party with an organ recital by Robert as described on this programme sheet.

Saturday 9 March 2024 Organ crawl to Haverhill, Clare and Lavenham

A number of members performed on these three instruments with tea and refreshments provided by our President Alan Loader and his partner. The other members present during the day were Stephen Hogger our Hon. Secretary who had at one time been organist of the church in Lavenham and he spoke about the changes that had taken place to make it a 4 manual organ during his time with the incorporation of another organ for the Solo division. Also with us were William Glasse, Robert Waller (President Elect) and our Hon. Membership Secretary, Paul Austen. Although there was a keen east wind blowing, we were blessed with a very sunny day as we drove between each of the churches through beautiful undulating countryside so typical of Suffolk.

At our first stop, the Old Independent Church, Christopher Moore improvised in his own inimitable way showing the many combinations of stops on this three manual organ by which he brought forth in his hands and feet such a variety and power of sound and sonorous tunefulness from the softest strings to loud reeds, to extremely loud full tutti (aided by the Trumpets en chamade!)and back again to a gentle conclusion. His introduction was much appreciated. We are fortunate to have in our Association someone of such exceptional talent. The building is exceptional and has a fine acoustic which fills the whole building and is a delight to listen to especially seated in the gallery level with the organ pipes and those en chamade pipes which would awake the dead!

Here is the playlist for the day:

Old Independent Church, Haverhill

• Tony Dunn Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist BuxWV208 Buxtehude
• Steven McDonough Andantino Lennox Berkeley (1903 - 1989)
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Elegy Paul Fey(1999 - ) + Tuba Tune Norman Cocker(1989 - 1953)
• Paul Austen Fugue in D minor from 48 Preludes and Fugues J S Bach (1685 - 1750)
• Tony Dunn Voluntary in G Henry Purcell (c.1659 - 1695)

St. Peter and St. Paul, Clare

• Tony Dunn Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist BuxWV 209 Buxtehude + Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott BuxWV207 Dieterich Buxtehude (1637 - 1797)
• Steven McDonough Fanfare Kenneth Leighton (1929 - 1988)
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Cantique de Jean Racine Fauré + Sonata in C# minor (1st movement) Basil Harwood (1859 -1949)
• Alan Loader An improvisation

St. Peter and St. Paul, Lavenham

• Roger Green Exit pursued by Gentle Contemplation + Exit pursued by Freedom both by Roger Green
• Steven McDonough Chant de Mai Joseph Jongen (1873 - 1953)
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Prologue William Walton (1902 -1983)
• Tony Dunn Toccata in C BWV564 J S Bach (1685 - 1750)

Thursday February 2024 Visit to St Edmundsbury Cathedral

Our host was Richard Cook, Assistant Director of Music Evensong to whom we offer our most grateful thanks especially for his help at turning pages and enabling us to sound at our best with his registration management.This followed a beautifullysung Choral Evensong and an excellent organ voluntary at the end by the organ scholar which was unfamiliar to us all.

It was a pleasure to see and hear Ann Little our Life Member and a former President of the Association who played a number of well known hymns. She was brought along by James Crowe. Roger Green came too. A splendid evening arranged by our President Alan Loader.

Tony Dunn played. Andrew Garfath-Cox played two pieces, the first the Songs of Praise Toccata by Robert Prizeman and folowed it with Grand Choeur Dialogué by Gigout

Saturday 26 November 2023 Christmas Tree Festival in Stowmarket

Our second year at St Peter and St Mary Parish Church is becoming an annual event with a further invitation for next year by Maggie Moore, the Churchwarden, who welcomed us. It is our opportunity as an Association of organists to display our wares to the general public. And in the warm and convivial atmosphere of the church people sat sipping their coffee and eating the cakes by most welcoming members of the church community, we were able to give them a feast of music. Nicholas Jardine had made all the arrangements for our provision of five hours of music for the many visitors who were clearly impressed by the forest of beautifully decorated Christmas trees and most complimentary about the music. From the start at 9am the organ, manufactured by Hele and Sons of London and Plymouth and tuned ready for the occasion by Bishops of Ipswich played a huge variety of music for the Christmas season even though we hadn't yet reached Advent.

Each playing for an hour, the performers were Nicholas Jardine who played for the first hour and the last, then Andrew Garfath-Cox, Robert Waller, Stephen Hogger and Juliette Adams. We were pleased to see our fellow member Brian Crawford there too.

Saturday 18 November 2023

Another recital by our member, Tony Dunn, is coming up at 6pm in All Saint's Church, Stisted CM77 8AW near to Braintree. Read here

Saturday 4 November 2023 A talk by Gary Cole

Our next upcoming event to hear the founder of Regent Records speak about the art of music recording. Click here.

Saturday 7 October 2023 Masterclass with Daniel Moult

This Masterclass was well attended and each performer was given most valuable advice by Dan. He is a very accomplished internationl performer himself but also an excellent teacher, usually of his students at the Birmingham Conservatoire, but on this full day, with us. He is a mine of valuable information about performance issues and to every person who played he was very supportive and encouraging and engaged his whole audience with his good humoured comments and extensive knowledge of the instrument.

Our President, Alan Loader had organised the event and it was pleasing that members came to witness Dan, this tour de force of the organ world, engaging equally well with all ages of participant who all played with considerable skill and musicianship across a range of music that they had chosen to play. Members present were Juliette Adams, James Crowe, William Baldry, Miriam Ellis, Brian Crawford, Simon Clark and Hugh Singleton and, of course, those who had chosen to perform below. Both the location and the warm weather was ideal so that everyone could be comfortable and sit as close as they wished to the organ console and the three manual organ coped well with the demands put upon it with music from the time of Walther to Langlais.

• Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan - Walther - Janet Looser
• O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig - Bach - Thomas Strudwick
• Praeludium in G minor - Bruhns - Robert Waller
• Andante in F - Lefebure-Wely - Fiona Bodmer
• Passacaglia in C minor - Bach - Andrew Garfath-Cox
• Andante in C - Wesley - Tony Dunn
• St. Anne Prelude - Bach - Nicholas Jardine
• Trio Sonata No. 4 - Bach - Logan Williamson
• Te Deum from Suite Gregorieenes - Langlais - Archie Thompson

It was a most enjoyable occasion enjoyed by everyone and Alan Loader thanked Daniel Moult for coming, also all those who played too and the incumbent and congregation of St. Matthew's Church.

Saturday 7 October 2023 MASTERCLASS with Daniel Moult at St. Matthew's Church Ipswich

That was a wonderful opportunity to advance your skill with one of the best organists in the country who has an infectious enthusiasm for the instrument. Click here to see poster and here for specification of the organ.

15 July 2023 Organ Crawl: North East Suffolk

Three churches were visited:

The event was organised by Alan Loader, our current President and the Secretary, Stephen Hogger and it was well attended by ten members on a very breezy day which though the forecast was for showers proved fortunately to be entirely clement and sunny. This didn't deter Andrew Leach who brought his bike by train and cycled between the churches probably faster thn we were able move around by car.

At all three churches we were given a very warm welcome.

At Lound we were greeted by the organist, Kevin Turner and by the church warden Judith Hobbs. Kevin told us of the woes of electro-pneumatic as the church were insisting in 1996 that it should be put back to its original condition. With the advice of Paul Hale, who said 'Why restore something that is flawed', fortunately it is now electromgnetic action and with the recent work done on the organ it is now a reliable instrument without ciphers and enjoyable to play. Tuning of this organ is very difficult as the only access to the case is through removal of the front dummy pipes. It is a most beautiful church with a very fine screen before the chancel and the 'medieval' wall painting of St. Christopher, patron saint of travellers reveals on closer inspection that it really is contemporaneous with today.

After leaving the catholic church we drove the short journey to Kirkley where a few of us visited Britten's childhood home for many years which is currently being used for holiday accomodation and where Alan Loader + Dave had sojourned. Each bedroom with ensuite bathroom was named after a composer - Bach/ Handel/ Brahms/ Elgar to name a few but the only other reference to the musical association (no piano upright or grand) with one of our foremost composers of the last century was a treble clef in the metal work of the main garden gate looking toward the sea.

At Kirkley, we were invited into the church by Rev Helen Chandler (Rector), John Overton (husband of Rev Helen & one of the organists there) and Terry Hepworth (the 'senior' organist at Kirkley). Certainly this is a large late Victorian church with a very wide span for the nave requiring the power of the large 4 manual organ but it seemed to be shoehorned into a corner with some divisions facing into the nave and the others into the chancel. Unfortunately the stops of the pedal division were unplayable and this made all the music sound rather bass light even when couplers to the different manuals were drawn and with heavy action. Climbing onto the organ stool felt precarious! We learned that the Trumpet on the Great had been removed to another place and a very loud Tuba substituted but it would have needed full organ to accompany it satisfactorily. In fact, the church use a small two manual organ with pedal board whose sound is enhance by resonators standing in the chancel but we were not to hear it being played.

At the garden party in June Rosemary Caudle was talking with Tony Dunn expressing her interest in playing the organ by transferring her skills from her grade 8 piano technique. (Rosemary's mother was a former member of the Association and died recently at 105!) Tony volunteered to show her music when they next met for two manual instruments. Tony fullfilled his promise and Rosemary and Tony had a seminar together discussing and observing music that he had brought along to show her. Hopefully we can bring along more organists by this means!

So the members who came along were: Alan Loader (President) + 1, William Baldry (Past President), Stephen Hogger + 1, Andrew Garfath-Cox, Rosemary Caudle, Tony Dunn, Andrew Leach, Roger Pulham

Here are the pieces played:

At Lound
• Tony Dunn Le Cygne Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Greensleeves an arrangement by Ralph Vaughan-Williams (1872-1958)
• Andrew Leach Misere(2) William Byrd (1540-1623)
• Alan Loader Offertoire Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély (1817-1869)
• Roger Pulham Choral Prelude on 'New every morning' Hubert Parry (1848-1918)
• Stephen Hogger improvised
• William Baldry Alla Marcia John Ireland (1879-1962)

At Our Lady Star of the Sea
• William Baldry Allegro Marziale e ben marcato / Andantino Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
• Tony Dunn Praeambulum octavi toni Franz Xaver Murchhauser (1663-1738) / Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist BuxWV 208 Dieterich Buxtehude (1637-1707_
• Andrew Garfath-Cox New Commonwealth Ralph Vaughan-Williams (1872-1958)/ Absoute Eugène Gigout (1844-1925)
• Alan Loader Chimes Bernard Rose (1916-1996) / Intermezzo Petro Mascagni (1863-1945)

At Kirkley
• Stephen Hogger Festivo Martin How (1931-2022) / Prelude to 'They Walk Alone' Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
• Alan Loader Interlude Harold Darke (1888-1976) / Toccata Georgi Mushel (1909-1989)
• Andrew Garfath-Cox Elegiac Prelude Gerard Bales (1919-2002)
• William Baldry Allegro giacoso Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
• Tony Dunn Fuga Johann Pachabel (1653-1706)

Sunday 25 June 2023 Garden party Levington with tea and cakes

On a very hot afternoon we congregated in a beautiful garden immaculately planted and cared for by Ian and Margaret Angus with views of the River Orwell and right next to St. Peter's Church Levington. A splendid garden party with lovely cakes and sandwiches and tea made by several members was the first event organised by our new President Alan Loader. During the afternoon tea the President played some showtunes on an older Casio keyboard while members of the Association mingled with friends of Rushmere St. Andrew where Alan had been organist and organiser for many years of many series of afternoon concerts. The members who were present were: Alan Loader, Tony Dunn, Brian Crawford and his wife, Juliette Adams, Philip Speirs and his wife, Andrew Garfath-Cox, Miriam Ellis, Rosemary Caudle, Nicholas Jardine, and Christopher Moore.

After tea we walked across the lawns into the church where Peter Bumpstead, organ builder and organist of the church talked how the organ was originally acquired and some of the additions he is proposing to make very soon to this two-manual instrument with about 500 pipes: a reed on the swell and an 8ft stop on the pedals. He read to us a passage from Journal 101 which described the last visit to this church for an AGM in the Village Hall when Peter himself was a President of the Association.

After Peter had spoken, Christopher Moore, gave us a short recital of pieces from Byrd to Mathias, played with the mastery of a very talented and skilled musician and was ably aided by Nicholas Jardine. Both of these gentlemen had taken their life in their hands (and feet) climbing up the Jacob's ladder and through the tight hatch to reach the organ. The programme that Christopher had selected was able to demonstrate the range of sounds available from this modest instrument. What a wonderful opportunity to listen to this instrument and the audience clapped most appreciatively.

We had a most convivial gathering (how lovely to see strawberries and cream) culminating with a splendid recital too!

• A Fancie / William Byrd
• Sonata (3 movements) / G.B.Pescetti
• Voluntary in G / William Walond
• Humoresque / Pietro Yon
• Processional / William Mathias

Sunday 18 June 2023 4.30 pm RHS Holbrook a recital by Peter Crompton at RHS

Our member and a former President of SOA, Organist Emeritus Peter Crompton is back at the Grand Organ of the Royal Hospital School Chapel. Hear a Hill, Norman and Beard 4-manual wonder! Having spent almost 40 years in post at RHS, Peter knows the organ better than anybody else and his recitals always bring out the best in this breathtaking English-romantic instrument.

A very hot and sultry afternoon was brought to life by Peter's masterly playing. The first piece of the afternoon, Improvisation sur le Te Deum by Tournemire and its opening statement was enough to awake any creatures in a 10 mile radius of RHS. The immense power of the wonderful chapel organ, in its original state as crafted in 1933 in the same year that Royal Hospital School, Holbrook was founded after its move from Greenwich, is intensified by the acoustic of the majestic chapel. It needs the chapel to be full with the pupils present to mop up some of these decibels. Peter is a master of this organ and not unwilling to let it be heard when the music demands it. Fortunately, a good number of people attended the recital including SOA members which includes Peter himself, and also present were Geoffrey Boyle, Roger Pulham, Tony Dunn and Andrew Garfath-Cox who was Peter's page-turner. Andrew Stevens was on hand for last minute checks on the organ and we were welcomed by the Director of Music, Edward Allen.

You were promised a popular programme which would include Widor’s famous Toccata, Elgar’s Imperial March, Sousa’s Liberty Bell, Yon’s Humoresque and music by Mushel, Peeters, Tournemire & Walton and no one could have been disappointed as each piece could have not been performed better. Peter chose just the right registrations for his pieces on an organ whose range of tonal landscape from powerful reeds to soft strings is multi-faceted.

Here is the programme:

• Improvisation sur le Te Deum /Tournemire
• Nimrod (from Enigma Variations) /Elgar
• Imperial March /Elgar
• The Liberty Bell March /Sousa
• Humoresque "L'Organo primitivo" /Yon
• Carillon-Sortie /Mulet
• Toccata /Mushel
• Aria /Peeters
• Sortie /Bédard
• Crown Imperial /Walton
• Le Cygne (from The Carnival of the Animals) /Saint-Saëns
• Toccata (from Symphony for Organ No. 5) /Widor

Tuesday 13th June 2023 Lunchtime Concert at St. Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich

This recital by Harrison Cole, continuing his studies for a Masters in Music degree at Trinity College, Cambridge after graduating last summer with a first class honours degree, was sponsored by SOA. It was good to see a number of members of the Association present. Our Past President, William Baldry, who organises this series of concert welcomed Harrison back to a church in which he has performed many times before when he was a pupil at Ipswich School. The other members present were our Treasurer, Roger Pulham, Philip Speirs, Barry Palmer, Andrew Leach and Andrew Garfath-Cox.

Harrison played as his first piece a Suite by Peter Hurford called 'Laudate Dominum'. As Harrison pointed out each of the six pieces in the suite could be played individually in liturgical use but also makes a fine recital piece with huge contrasts in tempo, rhythm, stop registrations. He continued his recital with the Chorale Prelude by J S Bach BWV 654 'Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele'. Then Praeludium in E minor 'Little' by Nicholaus Bruhns, followed two french composers: Prière Op.20 by César Franck, a piece with great emotional depth and his recital concluded with the exciting Final from Symphony No. 1 in D, Op.14 by Louis Vierne.

Harrison's exceptional talent brought great pleasure to the audience and great pride to the Association that he is one of our members.