![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.larkreviews.wickedlemon.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/tom-for-web-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0The meeting on 9 October coincided with Hastings Week and so made a fittingly celebratory occasion both for the members and the church. Tom had chosen a broadly-based programme which aimed to show off the many attributes of what might appear to be a small instrument.<\/p>\n
He opened with two voluntaries by Blow and three short pieces by Clerambault. Though quietly focussed hey showed a fine command of tone and delicate texture.<\/p>\n
More warmth was evident in Bach\u2019s Chorale Prelude Jesus, meine Zuversicht<\/em> which was followed by an intimate reading of the Chaconne from Handel\u2019s G minor Organ Concerto. In Stanley\u2019s anniversary year it was good to hear the introspective voluntary No 2 in D minor followed by the popular Trumpet Tune. Across these two Tom was able to highlight the Cornet and the Hautboy.<\/p>\n Now we came to the tricky part. There is no Voix Celeste<\/em> on this baroque instrument, but by careful placement of the stop mechanism one can produce a creditable tremulo and string sound. Highly impressive!<\/p>\n Brahms\u2019 Chorale Prelude O Gott, du Frommer Gott <\/em>proved to be a romantic interlude before more challenging but warmly appreciated works. Alain\u2019s Le Jardin Suspendu <\/em>works remarkably well on this small instrument even if it needed a tactful third hand from Stephen Page to fill in the missing pedal. We then heard two works by the organist himself \u2013 a delightfully gentle Fantasia on o Lux Beata Trinitas<\/em> and the increasingly familiar Fanfare for the Snetlzer. <\/em>The atonal intensity of the writing of this latter work prepared us for the final two pieces by Messiaen. Force et Agilite des Corps Glorieux<\/em> has presence and power, while Priere du Christ Montant vers Son Pere<\/em> could surprisingly have been written for a chamber organ, so well does it sit.<\/p>\n The next meeting of 1066 Choir & Organ will be at the Manor Barn on Tuesday 20 November for an evening dedicated to Bath and William Herschel. Details from lark1066@aol.com<\/a>\u00a0 BH<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0The meeting on 9 October coincided with Hastings Week and so made a fittingly celebratory occasion both for the members and the church. Tom had chosen a broadly-based programme which aimed to show off the many attributes of what … Continue reading