Organ recital information.

Howard
The Royal Albert Hall has a mighty organ and there are concerts on it from time to time. I have also heard great recitals at Winchester cathedral, which is a bit far for you. What about Chichester?

I think the acoustic in the great cathedrals serves the instrument really well.

Thanks Chris.
We have been to Winchester a fine cathedral, in deed when we were there the organ was being "tuned". Yes these are the venues to hear them in. I was wondering if there may have been a central resource for Church/Cathedral concerts.

Three good websites you might like to try for listings are:

The Organ Mag
The London Organ
Organ Recitals

Cathedral websites will also include listings of special concerts and events, and of course music lists for their Services.

All Cathedrals, and some Parish Churches, will have regular choral/organ services. Some weekly, some daily still. Traditionally all Cathedrals would offer Choral Evensong each day.

If Michael is reading this thread, he will be a fund of knowledge.

James

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
...I'm thinking big pieces in big places.
TIA
Howard

You'll not be wanting to miss these Proms, then.

21 July **
Messiaen L'Ascension (also includes Messiaen's stunning Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum for woodwind, brass and percussion)

3 August (organ recital)
Demessieux Te Deum
Messiaen Verset pour la Fête de la Dédicace
Dupré Symphony for organ No.2
Naji Hakim Pange Lingua
Messiaen Prelude
Improvisation

10 August
Messiaen Messe de la Pentecôte

17 August **
Messiaen La Nativité du Seigneur (also includes Messiaen's Apparition de l'église éternelle for organ)

24 August
J S Bach organ recital
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV565;
Canonic Variations on 'Vom Himmel Hoch' BWV769;
Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, ‘St Anne’, BWV 552;
Chorale Prelude on ‘Vater unser im Himmelreich’, BWV 682;
Chorale Prelude on ‘Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir’, BWV 687;
Duetto No.2 in F major, BWV 803

** These concerts define big organ music in a big place (the Albert Hall).

I'd second most of Jeremy's list (I'm especially looking forward to hearing Preston's recital on the 24th August), as he says, the Albert Hall is probably the biggest in the country and the recently restored organ is quite a piece of kit too. However, I would add a caveat that Messiaen's organ music (indeed, any of his music) is not necessarily to all tastes, though personally I love it.

regards, Tam

Howard,

Go to www.organrecitals.com and sign up for their weekly newsletter and then you will receive listings of many recitals each week... (though not necessarily all in big venues).

The Albert Hall organ is impressive since its restoration, but, as you get into organ music, you will learn that no two organs are alike... the organ in the Royal Festival Hall is very large, but sadly out of full commission until 2011... but its sound is a million miles away from that of the Royal Albert Hall.

Norwich Cathedral has a fine organ and there is a free recital every Bank Holiday Monday at 11 am.

For the biggest thrill ever.... catch the Eurostar over to Paris and take a listen to the organs in Notre Dame Cathedral and St Eustache....if you go on a Sunday you will hear the instruments for sure... but check their websites for recital information.

I have been attending recitals for about 47 years now and every single one is different... it is an addictive passion if it really gets to you.

I have to say I am more than happy with the way my Naim system portrays pipe organs.....very convincing indeed.

Let us know how you get on.

Thanks guys a lot of good info. I wonder if it's possible to get any of the prom tickets? I'll give it a go.

Howard

The Proms tickets go on sale a week today and it's essentially done by ballot, more details here. I wouldn't think most of those listed will sell out, if you book the Messiaen it will likely be a class A Prom (in that it has music considered challenging) and as long as you book at least one in that category you get treated with priority over all those who haven't (a strategy that works remarkably well - it got me a front row centre stalls seat for Gotterdammerung last year).

regards, Tam

We have put in for 2 tickets for Prom 50 Sunday 24th Aug 16:00 Bach T&F in D minor etc. Draw on 21st April, so we'll see then.