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After a great weekend in Wells Cathedral accompanying Priory Voices last November, the singers have invited me to accompany four services in Durham Cathedral the weekend after Easter.

So, here we go – the hotel’s booked and the music of Stanford, Dyson, Noble, Howells and Darke etc., is beginning to flow through the fingers.

Durham Cathedral has one of Harrison and Harrison’s finest organs and is located in the firm’s home town.   I’m going to enjoy trying to use every stop on the organ, in context, before the final closing voluntary at Evensong on Sunday.  The French Horn, Cornet de Violes, Harmonic Flutes and Orchestral Reeds on the Solo will need ample opportunity to “escape the box”.

But, one must be careful not to unleash the Bombarde Organ artillery inappropriately.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  Whitlock’s Fanfare may help tick a few “appropriate” boxes. And with two Pedal Open Woods and four Great Open Diapasons…  We’ll cope!  Did I mention two 32ft reeds??

ABRSM Exam tomorrow and need a pianist?  Look no further: muhley.com can support you.

[PS Remember to bring your piano accompaniment sheet music with you.  Yesterday, without music, I provided three Grade 1 Violin accompaniments after watching them on You Tube!]

GOOD LUCK!!!

On Passion Sunday, 2nd April, I’m at the 4-manual console of St Albans Cathedral’s Harrison and Harrison organ accompanying the Abbey Girls Choir and Lay Clerks in the 11.15am Choral Eucharist and at a special Passiontide Service at 6.30pm.

Besides some splendid hymns and anthems it will be a good chance to render Bach’s incomparable O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groβ from the Orgelbüchlein.

After a busy week accompanying Adoramus Choir in Cockfosters, Habs Girls’ School Senior Choir and Chipperfield Choral Society, this coming week offers less pure choral work and more varied accompanying.

A trip to St Peter’s, London Docks to play for their evening Ash Wednesday High Mass is a highlight with other work (orchestra, wind band, A level tutoring and organ lessons) interspersed.  The week concludes with a half day accompanying Bugsy Malone.
So long as I don’t get the music muddled…..

This weekend the local RSCM Chamber Choir (St Albans, Hertford and Bedford Area) will practise for their forthcoming Evensong in St Albans Cathedral on Saturday 25th February at 4pm.  30 singers drawn from choirs in Herts and Beds will be put through their paces in Preces and Responses by Philip Radcliffe, Herbert Howells Evening Canticles in G and Walton’s wonderful unaccompanied masterpiece Set me as a seal.  I’m conducting with Claire Cousens (DoM Rochester Grammar School) at the organ.

I enjoyed three years as a pupil of HH (pictured) whilst a student at the RCM and his Mag and Nunc in G has a supremely nostaligically English feel to it. Psalm 81 and a Wesley hymn complete the Evensong package.

I have two “Concert” moments on the organ bench this week.

One is providing interlude music on Saturday for a former pupil’s 50th birthday party in St Mary’s Church, Redbourn.  This follows a sit-down three-course meal and fills the time between lunch and a generous afternoon tea.  I hope I’m awake. I might even improvise at the piano, too.

The other is a lunchtime Organ Recital in Marlborough Road Methodist Church, St Albans  on Tuesday 24th at 12.30pm.  I’ve decided to play some lesser-known pieces that I believe are worthy of performing.  Do come if you can.

I’ve already kicked off this term’s tuition with some A level coaching and AS performance recording.  Tomorrow, the organ lessons  resume for two talented students.  And I return to Haberdashers Girls for the rest of the Spring Term to accompany their Senior Choir weekly rehearsals as they prepare Haydn’s Nelson Mass for their end-of-term concert.

Friday 6th January is the Feast of the Epiphany and I’m once again at St Mary-at-Finchley for their Choral Eucharist at 8pm which will be enhanced with (of course) incense.  This church has a fine choral tradition led by BBC Singer, Alison Fisher. The organ is an effective two-manual Willis located in the west gallery. Besides the Incense, I dare say there will be Gold and Myrrh, too, if you look hard enough.

What better way to see in the New Year than by playing for services on St Albans Cathedral’s magnificent Harrison and Harrison 4-manual organ.

On Sunday 1st January 2017 I shall be sat at the organ console for the 10am Eucharist and for Carols at 4pm.  It is likely the celebratory Cymbelstern stop (a rotating star with six untuned bells, situated at top of the central, east-facing case ) will feature on both occasions, but only once (briefly) per service.

I’m accompanying Radlett Choral Society for their Christmas Concert in Christ Church, Radlett.  Some new carol arrangements by their conductor Alex Flood, interspersed with some old favourites!

Mulled wine and mince pies served from 6.45pm.