Download September 2016 - Members` Night

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.