We are grateful to the Director of Music, Dr Joseph Fort for permission to play the organ, though he was unable to join us. So Norman demonstrated the organ with Francis Jackson\u2019s Fanfare<\/em> and Howells\u2019s D flat Rhapsody<\/em>, showing the full range of sound on this four-manual romantic instrument. Following on, we heard Fanfare<\/em> by Kenneth Leighton, Elegy<\/em> by Walton, Prelude and Toccata on Victim\u00e6 Paschali Laudes<\/em> by B\u00e9dard, Prelude on an Old Irish tune <\/em>by C.V.Stanford, Nimrod<\/em> by Elgar, Fancy by Peter Hurford, Pr\u00e6ludium in C minor<\/em> from 12 Characterst\u00fccke<\/em> Op 156 by Rheinberger, Toccata in C <\/em>by Sweelinck, Voluntary in A minor<\/em> by William Boyce and two short improvisations.
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Director of Music and Organist of St Paul\u2019s Church, Simon Gutteridge, demonstrated the organ for us with music by Delius and a series of short, attractive characterful pieces to display the colours of the lovely Bevington organ. Chairman Irene Wolstenholme, Treasurer Peter Ramell, Tim Stroud and Martin Callingham arrived to enjoy the afternoon session.
A short ride on the Piccadilly Line brought the party to Covent Garden, where lunch and conversation in the grounds of the church were appreciated, amid roses in full bloom, visions of juggling in the main square, and the sounds of music coming from the church interior performed by a group visiting from Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Repertoire on the lovely tracker action organ included: Komm, heiliger Geist BWV 651<\/em> by Bach, (on the Eve of Pentecost), Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist<\/em> and Fuga alla giga<\/em> by Buxtehude, Prelude in F BWV 556(i)<\/em> by Bach, Liebster Jesu BWV 731 by Bach<\/em>, the slow movement of the Concerto in A minor<\/em> by Vivaldi, transcribed by Bach, O Lord whose mercies numberless <\/em>from Saul by Handel, Meditation on O Fili et Fili\u00e6 <\/em>by B\u00e9dard, Prelude on Vom Himmel Hoch<\/em> by Pachelbel, Communion<\/em> by Guilmant and Voluntary in A minor<\/em> by Boyce. Leading into music by Christopher Tye from the Mulliner Book<\/em>, was a further improvisation, complementing the Verse for Double Organ <\/em>by Christopher Gibbons played earlier in the afternoon.
One connection from decades ago was made when Norman met a former student who conducts the choir at Covent Garden. Nick Gallagher is to retire in the near future. His career began when singing in Noye\u2019s Fludde at Bolton School in the late 1970\u2019s when Norman was DOM. Apart from outdoor attractions, there many tributes in the church of famous actors of old, as well as younger famous names, remind us of all who have the skills to amuse and entertain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sincere thanks are offered to Norman for organising the day, to those who reliably helped with booking arrangements: Tom Bialecki in Knightsbridge; Simon Gutteridge and the Revd Simon Grigg, Rector of St Paul\u2019s Covent Garden for permission for our visit, to Esther for communications, as well as to the kind lady who took the group photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n