Following the success of the concert at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall, three of our young organists went to Temple Church last week to give a lunchtime organ recital as part of the church’s series of concerts.
We were delighted to be assisted on the day by the Assistant Organist of the church, Charlie Andrews.
Having rehearsed in the morning, the recital began at 1.15pm with Dominic D (L6ths) playing the Fantasia in G minor by J.S. Bach, an impressive work which showed off both Dominic’s understanding of the music, and the versatility of the organ. He then played Vaughan Williams’s prelude on the hymn-tune Rhosymedre, the middle and most agreeable of a set of three such preludes he composed based on Welsh Hymn Tunes. Vaughan Williams, despite having an FRCO, was a somewhat reluctant organist, resigning from his first and last post of organist of St Barnabas, South Lambeth over a disagreement about his being a non-communicant. Dominic’s performance of this piece was very lyrical and, I think, featured the organ’s unusual but beautiful horn stop.
Ethan G (4ths) then took to the bench playing the spurious Prelude in B-flat attributed to Bach. A lively performance, this features a memorable pedal solo in the middle. This was followed by a much more modern work, Flor Peeters’ Koraal, a firm and decisive piece of the modern Dutch school. The last performer in the recital was Steven K (4ths), who played John Ireland’s enchanting The Holy Boy, which, though usually associated with the Nativity, was a welcome moment of calm between the Peeters, and the final work by Rutter. The Toccata in 7 was a joyous and lively way to end the recital. We were delighted to be invited back to Temple for next year, which we hope to do!
