Organ Recital in The Great Hall
With glorious sunlight streaming through the windows of the Great Hall, and Pimm’s flowing freely in the vestibule, the organ recital on Tuesday afternoon was a truly summery occasion. This was the third organ recital this term, the previous two having taken place in Aldenham and Abbots Langley in the first half of term.
Eight boys played at the recital, providing the audience with a whole variety of music, from Louis Marchand to Brian Solomons. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was much Bach, and works by the great master both opened and closed the concert. In addition, there were several performances of music taken from by César Franck’s LOrganiste, music which will be played on the Organists’ Tour to the Netherlands in October. Ethan G (U3rds) opened the recital with one of Bach’s Eight Short Preludes, and was followed by Adam K (3rds), who was also performing at the Third Form performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream later in the evening. Aarnav H (4ths) performed two items, before Ivan N (L6ths) played Bach‘s famous Toccata in D minor. Milan A (4ths)followed this with two modern pieces, by Rawsthorne and Hurford. Steven K (U3rds) played three contrasting pieces from each the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries. Ben C (Divs)performed another of Bach’s Eight Short Preludes, as well as two shorter items. The recital closed with the substantial Fantasia in G major (Pièce d’Orgue) played wonderfully by Dominic D (4ths).