EDINBURGH ORGAN FESTIVAL 2009 ‘Bach & Beyond’

Saturday 9th May. 12.00. Four Organists , Two Organs and a Piano.

A large audience on  a wet Saturday had a real treat with a flourish of a start to the Festival. Highlights included a stunning performance by Chris Dyter and a first time piano piece by David Broughton, the resident organist at Saughtonhall.  We were also treated by the home organist Patricia Warren (pictured right with David Broughton) to a fine rendition of Bach’s Fantasia in G, rounded off with a fun session with in Ian Lawson playing a piece comprising three tunes by Burt Bacharach  (beyond Bach!)

 

Saturday 6th June. 12.00,

Our second recital of the series "Bach and Beyond" featured David Pipe, Assistant Organist at York Minster. David is a very talented young Organist with experience from Guildford and Southwark Cathedrals. His excellent and interesting programme ( emphasising Mendelssohn in the 200th anniversary of his birth and Handel in the 250th anniversary of his death) included Bach's Prelude and Fugue in Eminor, an unusual Dutch composer Jan Sweelinck with his 16th century composition, Handel's outstanding Concerto IV, Mendelssohn's Sonata V in Dmajor and ending with Cochereau's brilliant Suite de Danses (1974) featuring Sarah Naish on Drums.-

 

Saturday 4th July.  Church of Good Shepherd

On Saturday 4th July, an audience of over 60 in number enjoyed a fine recital by Brigitte Harris, Director of Music from St. Andrew's and St George's Parish Church Edinburgh, with a 'pastoral/dance theme' ranging from pre Bach of Byrd and Purcell, to a compatriot of Bach with Pachelbel's Ciacona in F, and then Haydn, Langlais, Franck, William Wolstenholme and ending with a lively stark blockbuster 'Toccata alla Rumba' by Peter Planyavsky. There was temptation to dance to some of the works, and much tapping of feet, plus the opportunity to think of  'the Shepherd in the fields' in the more pastoral works. The central Bach input was the fine Fugue in Eflat,BWV552 demonstrating Bach's major influence on all the composers after him

 

Saturday 1st August. 12.00, Church of Good Shepherd

Francesca Massey , Assistant Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral since 2007. Francesca entertained us to a wide repertoire from Brahms to Widor and narrated how the Bach influence has continued for many years since his death.

 

Saturday 5th September. 12.00, Murrayfield Parish Church

Chris Dyter, Resident Director of Music finished the series with a festival flourish. This included reprising some of the highlights of the 2009 festival.