John Scott LVO
On July 25th I was part of a packed and spellbound audience at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church listening to John Scott give a typically brilliant recital. Compelling, virtuosic technique, instinctively musical, artistry of the highest order. John completed the afternoon with an amazing performance of the Prokofiev Toccata and was met with richly deserved thunderous and extended applause.
I’ve been privileged to know John for many years. He wore his considerable talent as one of
theworld’s foremost organists and choir trainers lightly, was always self-deprecating and happy to talk to anyone interested in the organ and musical liturgy. Chatting to him and his wife Lily after the Bloomsbury recital confirmed the splendid news that they were expecting a baby in September and were both looking forward to returning to New York after a 5 week European and UK tour, including the opening of the Bridge organ in Christ Church Spitalfields and a recital as part of the 3 Choirs Festival in Hereford Cathedral.
Trained at Wakefield Cathedral as a chorister and organist, John achieved both ARCO and FRCO before going up to St John’s College Cambridge in 1974 as organ scholar under George Guest and continuing his studies with Ralph Downes and Dame Gillian Weir. His talent was quickly recognised and earned him a recital at the Royal Albert Hall in 1977 as the youngest organist to have played a Proms concert and in 1978 his appointment at St Paul’s and Southwark Cathedrals as assistant organist; this was followed by his becoming sub organist at St Paul’s in 1985 and then succeeding Christopher Dearnley as Organist and Director of Music in 1990 aged 34.
John’s tenure at St Paul’s encompassed many State occasions including the thanksgiving service for the new millennium, the 100th birthday service for Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and the service to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, for which he wrote the anthem Behold, O God Our Defender, based on Psalm 84. He also played a series of organ recitals covering the complete works of Bach, Buxtehude and Franck in addition to annual mixed programmes by him and celebrity visitors.
His move to St Thomas’s Fifth Avenue New York in 2004 provoked both acclaim and concern. Americans wondered why the post had not gone to a home-grown organist and the British lamented the loss of one of their key musicians, but John took all of this in his stride and went on to lead the famous men and boys’ choir absolutely to the top of their game. He also continued his career as an international recitalist and recording artist.
Like everyone in the organ world I was shocked and deeply saddened to awake on 13 August to the news that John, aged 59, had died of a suspected massive heart attack the previous day, only the morning after he returned to New York. I had at least the small consolation of having spent some time with him only 2 weeks earlier. The world has lost a consummate musician and a quiet, modest and wonderful man whose legacy will be many deep friendships and acquaintanceships along with his recordings, memories of superb recitals and choral services, and the ongoing talents and successes of the many musicians trained by him or who fell under his spell.
George Eliot wrote:
Oh may I join the choir invisible Of those immortal dead who live again In minds made better by their presence
I’m sure John’s place in the choir invisible was reserved long ago and is now fulfilled.
David Wakefield
Note: LVO - Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order, a honour bestowed personally by Her Majesty the Queen for services to the Monarchy
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