Download Lecture-recital by Dr John Kitchen

Tayside Organists’ Society
Lecture-recital on the life & music of Niels Gade
by
Dr John P Kitchen
St Mary Magdalene’s Episcopal Church, Dundee
14 March 2017
Review by Ron Oliver
On Tuesday 14th March, the Society welcomed Dr John Kitchen to Mary Magdalene's Church in Dundee,
where he delivered a lecture-recital on the organ music of Niels Gade.
John Kitchen is one of Edinburgh's finest musicians. As well as his Edinburgh City Organist duties at the
Usher Hall, he is director of music at Old St Paul's Episcopal Church, in the heart of the city, amongst other
musical appointments. He recently retired from his position as Senior Lecturer at Edinburgh University in
music after 27 years in the post, and records extensively for the Priory and Delphian record labels.
John chose Niels Gade as his subject as 2017 marks the bi-centenary of the composer's birth in Copenhagen.
The composer Niels Gade is not well known outside his native Denmark, but he was a contemporary of Felix
Mendelssohn, and after Mendelssohn's death in 1847, Gade was appointed to the vacant position of
conductor of the famous Gewandhaus Orchestra.
It is traditional at weddings in Denmark, that the music for the first dance of the newly married couple is a
waltz composed by Niels Gade.
Although a prolific composer, he wrote very little music for the organ, and it was this aspect of his output on
which John concentrated.
The opening part of his address was an elocution lesson on how to pronounce Gade's name, but John was
soon into the details of his life, describing his style of music, and his place in the musical establishment of
his day, and this was done in John's entertaining manner, with the humour and interest we have come to
expect from this popular visitor to TOS.
John is one of the finest exponents of the organ and this was demonstrated when he moved to the console
to provide musical illustration of his talk.
The music of Niels Gade is mainly light and tuneful and this was reflected in John's playing. There are also
some rousing pieces and excellent registration of the organ showed the whole range of Gade's music.
The Funeral March for Admiral Suenson was pleasant to listen to, and anyone would be pleased to be
carried in to such an accompaniment.
A Prelude on Lobet den Herren (Praise to the Lord) was played with great vigour, and would make an
excellent 'last verse'.
John brought proceedings to an end with the equally thrilling Moderato in F, from a set of Tonestykker (tone
pieces).
Those present enjoyed a wonderful evening of interest and entertainment on the organ music of Niels Gade,
delivered by a musician and lecturer of the highest quality.