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Tayside Organists’ Society Members’ Night 22 September 2016 Review by Ian McLagan The current season opened with six of our members who had willingly “volunteered” to entertain us with a recital of their own choice of music. Thanks to Ruth Irons and St Andrew’s Church, Dundee for the use of their organ and building at short notice. Ruth, the resident organist there, welcomed us and gave a brief history of the organ. She began the recital with three very different styles of pieces. Rawsthornes’s Processional certainly brought the organ to life. This was followed by her jazz arrangement of Rodrigo/Corea’s piece, Spain. Ruth has a passion for all things jazz and this came over in her playing. She concluded with Camelleri’s Wine of Peace, using the softer stops of the organ. Next to the console was Geoff Bolton, another of our newer members. He tackled J S Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in G major. His choice of stops, sheer mastery of the organ and thrilling passages of quick notes made this a really outstanding piece of work. Don Grieve came next. He chose an unusual and interesting variation of How Great Thou art by American composer Dan Miller. The balance between the manuals was excellent and this may provide inspiration for us to try it at the end of a service!!! In Hess’s Ladies in Lavender, he was accompanied by Sue Jarvis on the violin, or rather HE accompanied SUE!!! Again the balance between the two instruments was there to hear; two musicians playing as one. It is a pity this was not recorded as it was so easy to listen to. David J. Smith then returned to the organ seat he occupied for 27 years. He chose as his first piece William Bernard’s Intermezzo from the 4th Organ Sonata; this was a fitting tribute to David’s Organ Teacher, Mr Bernard. It felt as though the way David played it was exactly how Willie would have wanted it done. His choices of registration and tempo was very fitting to the mood of the music; resembling a musical picture of a walk in an Angus glen. Easy to listen to but difficult to play!!! His second piece was Guilmant’s Verset, known affectionately as Chopsticks for the organ. David’s interpretation certainly reflected the fun side of this work. Enter the Vice President and President of the Society!! Sally Carus began with Bach’s Little Prelude and Fugue in E minor. Her tempo and registration certainly brought this wellknown piece to life. Bourgeois’ Serenade Op 22 with its weird time signatures was next; this she carried off with confidence again using the stops on the organ to best advantage. She finished with Archer’s Festive Scherzo. Short and sweet was how she described it and that’s what she delivered!! President Alastair Davidson rounded of the evening. Were we saving the best to last??? I could not possibly comment!!! Alastair was another former occupant of the organ seat there, but since then, it has been moved! He too chose a Guilmant piece to start with, Communion No 1. Here too Alastair brought the piece to life with excellent registration and balance between manuals, not hurrying the pace when it is easy to do so. He then played Schubert’s Litany, another short and sweet piece with excellent balance and registration in the manuals, played to deliver that feeling. To close the evening he chose a work from a composer not generally used. Samuel Coleridge Taylor. His Impromptu No 1 in F brought the concert to a rousing finale. All performers looked as though they felt at home on the St Andrews’ organ and thanks to them for all their time and efforts to make this a success. Also BIG THANKS to the ladies who made the buffet; that just rounded off the evening nicely.