tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31407469324651234882024-02-18T21:49:42.459-08:00Marathon Man24-Hour Organ Marathon at St Edmund's Church, Northwood Hills from noon to noon Monday July 15th-Tuesday July 16th 2013London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-14487754076301082302013-07-28T11:19:00.001-07:002013-07-28T12:04:06.139-07:00Marathon photosHere are a few pictures of the children's experience, recital and post-recital supper.<br />
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<br />London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-30119021951686717862013-07-25T09:08:00.001-07:002013-07-26T08:35:33.810-07:00Marathon Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>ALLELUIA!</b> It was with
Handel’s appropriate words that an eventful St Edmund’s 24-Hour Organ Marathon
came to a conclusion. Entitled <i>A Musical
Alphabet</i>, the event had begun at noon with an A (an Andrew Lloyd-Webber medley)
and ended with a Z (<i>Zadok the Priest</i>
with a wonderful added choir of four sopranos and altos). In between – allowing
for breaks – there was around seventeen and a half hours of solid organ and
piano music.</div>
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While each hour was generally devoted to a letter of the alphabet,
there were seventeen requests performed whenever the requester was present.
These formed quite an eclectic list and ranged from music by Handel, Howells
and Widor to Fats Waller, <i>Those
Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines</i> and <i>Halfway Down the Stairs</i> by Robin the Frog!</div>
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In the afternoon around ten children attended the Children’s
Experience. Smoothies were prepared in the kitchen which were most appreciated
in the July heatwave. I gave a short explanation of how the organ works and
played pieces from <i>James Bond</i> and <i>Harry Potter</i>. Alex performed <i>Doomsday</i> from <i>Doctor Who</i> and several children had a go on the instrument. The
rest of the afternoon session was devoted to letters A to F, with composers
such as Albinoni, Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Elgar and Faure. The session ended at
6.45pm with a forty-five minute break before the evening recital.</div>
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<i>From Advent to Trinity </i>(or,
more accurately, Christ the King to St Edmund’s Day) featured fifteen pieces of
music from the liturgical year. Starting with Walton’s <i>Crown Imperial</i> and ending with Widor’s <i>Toccata</i>, I celebrated Christmas (Bach), Epiphany (Peeters),
Passiontide (Parry), Easter (Bach’s <i>Toccata
& Fugue in D Minor)</i>, Ascension (Messiaen) and Remembrance (Paradis). I
also performed<i> Suite Gothique </i>by
Louis Boellmann. After the recital there was an excellent buffet supper
provided by Aline with Terry on the bar. It was a beautiful evening and tables
and chairs were placed outside for <i>al
fresco</i> dining which I have not witnessed before at St Edmund’s. I took the
opportunity to have some food and take a break.</div>
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At 10pm the music restarted with the letter G featuring Grieg’s <i>Peer Gynt </i>suite. An hour later I
performed, in reverse order, the top twenty hymns as voted for in a 2005 <i>Songs of Praise</i> survey. There was a
lively atmosphere with much singing and swaying of hands although nobody
guessed which hymn was number one (<i>How
Great Thou Art</i>). As midnight came and went the numbers thinned out but
there were never fewer than two people supporting me and would like to especially
thank those who gave up their sleep to support me. Particular mention must go
to Ann who was present for practically the whole event and kept me going when
things got tough. The following seven night hours were devoted to composers I
to R with a variety of music ranging from Mozart and Mendelssohn to Scott
Joplin and Queen’s <i>Bohemian Rhapsody</i>.</div>
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By 7am I was flagging badly so I was grateful for Jenny’s bacon
sandwiches and strong coffee to revive me! I picked up a little as I moved from
S towards the end of the alphabet. A sizeable audience amassed as I commenced
the last hour with Handel’s <i>Water Music</i>
and moved on to his most famous coronation anthem. At the end I received a
standing ovation and we all enjoyed a welcome glass of champagne. I was then
whisked off home to bed!</div>
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I found it
much tougher than five years ago and this will certainly be my last marathon in
its current format. Currently over £5000 has been raised towards the
organ restoration appeal and money is still coming in. The 110 year old instrument has been <i>in situ</i> at St Edmund’s for almost a
quarter of a century and is currently in need of some serious attention. </div>
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Many thanks
to everyone involved in organising, sponsoring and attending this event.</div>
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London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-70779339227692542372013-07-15T03:09:00.001-07:002013-07-15T03:09:13.727-07:00Audio Test<a href="http://audioboo.fm/boos/1502303-marathon-test-2">http://audioboo.fm/boos/1502303-marathon-test-2</a><div><br></div>London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-13451500498293940752013-07-15T02:18:00.001-07:002013-07-15T02:18:11.853-07:00T0It's here! Everything's set up and less than two hours to go until the start. Chilling (in the heat!) with a cuppa.London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-49226531549317590862013-07-14T09:29:00.001-07:002013-07-14T09:31:37.756-07:00T-1The official Marathon brochure can be viewed <a href="http://www.mark-hammond.co.uk/marathon.pdf">here</a>London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-28765786918094045262013-07-12T23:33:00.000-07:002013-07-14T07:55:12.115-07:00T-2Request Number seventeen - Robert Prizeman's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBlbLPpoumA" target="_blank">Songs of Praise</a>" from the BBC TV series (updated 14/7: performing at 0300)London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-67619394977056161632013-07-12T08:38:00.001-07:002013-07-12T11:13:37.880-07:00T-3Webcam was tested today and is working fine - go to <a href="http://www.mark-hammond.co.uk/">www.mark-hammond.co.uk</a> from noon on Monday.<br />
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Remember you can also contact me during the marathon on Twitter - #hammondmarathon or follow me @hammondmarathon<br />
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I will also try to put up some audio clipsLondon Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-90910453587357880392013-07-12T03:29:00.001-07:002013-07-12T03:29:23.920-07:00T-3Testing the webcam<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCibsIzxbgW5Yjx0zIWWu_WKbJAanMS1-ZVUHLZ55H_F37w9lNDOzykj6yzVOSsPAvnuyDmB7dOrLKWkBm0Pw0d5ikkhsSly3xKu60SZR1gmokc4ne6LaOmQM5EK64iiIGETEfb23Ixw/s640/blogger-image--819102550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCibsIzxbgW5Yjx0zIWWu_WKbJAanMS1-ZVUHLZ55H_F37w9lNDOzykj6yzVOSsPAvnuyDmB7dOrLKWkBm0Pw0d5ikkhsSly3xKu60SZR1gmokc4ne6LaOmQM5EK64iiIGETEfb23Ixw/s640/blogger-image--819102550.jpg"></a></div>London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-35414241083478530752013-07-11T12:59:00.002-07:002013-07-14T10:56:59.055-07:00T-4Latest requests are <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpTeslni6tA" target="_blank">La Rejouissance</a> from the Fireworks Music by Handel, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQaXh28tzyo" target="_blank">Toccata</a> from Symphonie No 5 by Widor, "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPgS26ZhqZs" target="_blank">Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines</a>" by Ron Goodwin, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqpL6dEp5D8" target="_blank">RAF Fly Past</a> by Walford Davies and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XarAdHPg9BM" target="_blank">Sortie in E Flat</a> by Lefebure-Wely.<br>
<br>
This brings the number of requested pieces to sixteen. Requested times are given where known; otherwise it's a case of waiting until the person or persons turn up!<br>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>1200 </b><i>Phantom of the Opera</i></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> (Lloyd-Webber)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Mon afternoon </b></span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Halfway down the stairs</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"> by Robin the Frog, </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No 2 (H.Howells) & Prelude and Fugue No 2 in D Minor (J.S.Bach)</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>1840 </b>Prelude No 15 in D Flat (D.Shostakovich) – theme to </span><i style="line-height: 18px;">Ever Decreasing Circles</i></div>
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<br></div>
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<b>Recital </b><span style="line-height: 18px;">Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No 1 (H.Howells) & Toccata (Symphonie No 5) (C.Widor)</span></div>
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<b>2200</b> "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines (Ron Goodwin), RAF Fly Past (Walford Davies) & Sortie in E Flat (Lefebure-Wely)<br>
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<b>0000 </b><span style="line-height: 18px;">La Rejouissance" from Music from the Royal Fireworks (G.F.Handel) & “Promenade” from “Pictures at an Exhibition” (M.Mussorgsky)</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Updated 13/7: 1300) Intermezzo from <i>Cavalleria Rusticana</i> (Mascagni)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Updated 13/7: 2200) <i>Ain't</i> </span></span><i style="font-family: inherit; "><span style="line-height: 115%;">Misbehavin’</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; "> & <i>Honeysuckle Rose</i> (Fats
Waller)</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(updated 14/7: 1700) “Fanfare” from “Four
Extemporisations” (P.Whitlock)</span></span></div>London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-37658233836641037742013-07-09T01:42:00.001-07:002013-07-09T01:42:09.538-07:00T-7Music sorted into alphabetical order and advertising board out.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW8QIntgk3ncGbL4g6yjZ4bHWQjfCy-NXP5vvykbdeqrA30el3-hk6tuSJACKdJ_0BpULI1Eb22i7IFFIyvWhG4lSdJBKL96uuI2KGriTkpZiH77KMRLqlgGb7cpPJLygdqJ_UfheZ4E/s640/blogger-image-763600936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW8QIntgk3ncGbL4g6yjZ4bHWQjfCy-NXP5vvykbdeqrA30el3-hk6tuSJACKdJ_0BpULI1Eb22i7IFFIyvWhG4lSdJBKL96uuI2KGriTkpZiH77KMRLqlgGb7cpPJLygdqJ_UfheZ4E/s640/blogger-image-763600936.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDY5AJHconTD_2gL7yUGAlSdiD4HXQ-rI04SstwZkLb9kMBKMNfeCdd4glCwF04HSG1m0wZM-8AO4W_Xmm9esnT8QLD2kep52RaQPwwlqFlZdVjZ-g52rynl0DNeDhknPX3bxO-VCbU4/s640/blogger-image--104540223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDY5AJHconTD_2gL7yUGAlSdiD4HXQ-rI04SstwZkLb9kMBKMNfeCdd4glCwF04HSG1m0wZM-8AO4W_Xmm9esnT8QLD2kep52RaQPwwlqFlZdVjZ-g52rynl0DNeDhknPX3bxO-VCbU4/s640/blogger-image--104540223.jpg"></a></div>London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-48862390640155798552013-07-08T06:49:00.004-07:002013-07-08T06:50:52.351-07:00T-7 L to Z<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">L is for.....</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Lefebure-Wely,
Liszt & Lemare. I shall also be playing some of Michel Legrand’s film music
on the piano</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">M is for.....</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Messiaen,
Mulet & Mendelssohn. I will also be playing some of Mozart’s best-known
piano music</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">N is for.....</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">I shall be
improvising on a new work, plus music by Ethelbert Nevin & Ivor
Novello</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">O is for.....</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Oratorio. I
shall be playing selections from Handel’s oratorio The Messiah, including the
Hallelujah Chorus</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">PQ are for.....</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Pachelbel,
Peeters, Paradis and Puccini. I shall also play music performed at the Queen’s
coronation</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">R is for.....</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Ravel
(Pavane), Rachmaninov (Vocalise) and Rutter. Plus music inspired by Romeo and
Juliet</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">S is for.....</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sibelius,
and I shall be performing his most famous work, Finlandia. Plus music by
Schumann & Schubert</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">T is for.....</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tchaikovsky</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">(Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty).
Plus music from Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">U is for.....</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">United
Kingdom and I shall be featuring traditional music from England, Wales,
Scotland and Ireland</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">V is for.....</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Vierne (24
Pieces in Free Style), Verdi (Aida), Vaughan Williams and Vivaldi (Four
Seasons)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">WXYZ are for.....</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Water
(Handel’s Suite), Walton, Wesley, Wagner & Whitlock. I shall also play
traditional wedding music and round off the marathon with Zadok the Priest</span></span></div>
London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-78939447905273879002013-06-30T09:23:00.001-07:002013-07-08T06:57:41.620-07:00T-15My latest requests are the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTHTDrqkeF0" target="_blank">Promenade from Mussorsky's Pictures at an Exhibition</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vETnDk_sc0E" target="_blank">Fanfare from Four Extemporisations</a> by Percy Whitlock and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZX3rd0b9rc" target="_blank">Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No 1</a> by Herbert Howells.<br />
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I've one more week until the end of term and then next week I can turn my mind to the marathon.London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-19565942853809832512013-06-26T07:34:00.001-07:002013-06-26T07:34:22.190-07:00T-19 IJK are for...Jacques Ibert, Scott Joplin (The Entertainer), Aram Khachaturian, Siegfried Karg-Elert & Albert Ketelbey.London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-56409916199674687622013-06-26T07:33:00.003-07:002013-06-26T07:38:05.347-07:00T-19 H is for...Hymns. In 2005 Songs of Praise carried out a survey of the nation’s favourite hymns and during this hour I shall perform the top twenty in reverse order. Each hymn will be followed by a brief improvisation. What do you think will be number one?<br />
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The list of hymns (in alphabetical order) is as follows:<br />
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Abide With Me<br />
Amazing Grace<br />
And Can It Be<br />
Be Still For The Presence of the Lord<br />
Be Thou My Vision<br />
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind<br />
Great Is Thy Faithfulness<br />
Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer<br />
How Great Thou Art<br />
I Vow To Thee My Country<br />
In Christ Alone<br />
Jerusalem<br />
Love Divine All Love's Excelling<br />
Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace<br />
O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go<br />
Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven<br />
Shine Jesus Shine<br />
The Day Thou Gavest<br />
Thine Be The Glory<br />
What A Friend We Have In JesusLondon Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-56924575235505266562013-06-26T07:27:00.001-07:002013-06-26T07:27:10.928-07:00T-19 G is for... Edward Grieg (Peer Gynt), Alexandre Guilmant (Grand Choeur), Eugene Gigout (Toccata), Armstrong Gibbs, Percy Grainger, and Charles Gounod (Ave Maria).London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-57109423406437945012013-06-26T07:26:00.000-07:002013-06-26T07:26:03.866-07:00Recital - From Advent to Trinity<br />
1 Crown Imperial (W.Walton)<br />
Walton had originally written Crown Imperial for the coronation of King Edward VIII which was scheduled for 12th May 1937. However, Edward had abdicated the previous year and the coronation was held on the scheduled day with King George VI. Walton derived the march's title from the modernisation of a phrase from William Dunbar's poem "In Honour of the City of London": "In beawtie berying the crone imperiall". Crown Imperial was also used at the 1953 coronation and at the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Cambridge. The structure was influenced by Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance marches, where the main theme appears three times, twice in the middle – soft then loud - and finally fortissimo at the end. At St Edmund’s, I generally perform Crown Imperial on the feast of Christ the King, the Sunday before Advent.<br />
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2 O Come, O Come Emmanuel (C.Hand)<br />
Colin Hand was born in Lincolnshire in 1929 and studied at Trinity College, Dublin. As well as being a composer and performer, Hand has worked as a lecturer and examiner. The French melody of this Advent hymn dates from the 15th Century although the Latin text is much older. Here the melody appears as a canon between the oboe and the pedals.<br />
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3 In Dulci Jubilo (J.S.Bach)<br />
The melody of “In Dulci Jubilo” appeared in "Piae Cantiones" ("Devout ecclesiastical and scholastic songs of the old bishops"). This 16th Century Finnish collection of mediaeval Latin songs is the original source of such well-known Christmas carols as "Unto Us A Boy Is Born", "Of The Father's Love Begotten" and "Good King Wenceslas". John Mason Neale discovered this forgotten collection in 1853 and made the English translations of many of these carols so familiar to us today. This chorale prelude - one of three arrangements by Bach - is always played at the end of the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge, as well as after Christmas services at St Edmund’s.<br />
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4 The Three Kings (P.Cornelius)<br />
Peter Cornelius was a German composer who became friends with both Richard Wagner and Franz Liszt. His most famous work is “The Three Kings”, the third in a set of six Christmas Songs dating from 1856. Originally for voice and piano, it is now best-known in the choral arrangement with bass solo. The choir sing the Epiphany chorale chorale “Wie Schon Leuchtet der Morgenstern” (“How brightly shines the morning star”) while the soloist sings a counter-melody. In my arrangement for organ solo, the soloist’s line is played using the swell oboe but played on the pedals while the choir chorale is played on great flutes.<br />
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5 Chorale Prelude of “Stuggart" (F.Peeters)<br />
The Belgian composer, organist and teacher Flor Peeters (1903-1986) held the post of chief organist at St Rumbold’s Cathedral in Mechelen for most of his life. He wrote over three hundred chorale preludes. His arrangement of “Stuggart” – the melody written by the German baroque composer Christian Friedrich Witt to the epiphany words “Bethlehem of noblest cities” – alternates the four lines of the hymn with a more elaborate treatment in between.<br />
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6 Chorale Prelude on “Aus Der Tiefe Rufe Ich” (J..S.Bach) <br />
“Aus Der Tiefe” was published in the 1677 German hymnal “Nürnbergisches Gesang-Buch” as a setting for Christoph Schwamlein's text based on Psalm 130 "Out of the Depths I Cry", the melody being attributed to Martin Herbst. The familiar Lenten words of “Forty days and forty nights” were written by the Victorian George Smyttan. This two-movement partita is probably not by Johann Sebastian and is sometimes attributed to his son Johann Christian.<br />
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7 Prelude on “Rockingham" (C.Parry)<br />
Hubert Parry was born in Bournemouth. Tragically his mother died just twelve days after his birth and Hubert was brought up at Highnam Court in Gloucestershire. He developed a love of music from an early age and played the organ in the local church from the age of eight. Hubert was educated at Eton and went on to read law and modern history at Oxford, his father discouraging a musical career. Hubert initially worked as an underwriter at Lloyds of London, studying music in his spare time. Eventually he left the insurance business and in 1883 was appointed Professor of Composition (and later Director) at the Royal College of Music where his pupils included Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst. The hymn tune “Rockingham” (to Isaac Watts’ Passiontide hymn “When I survey the wondrous cross”) was written by Edward Miller. Miller was a flautist in Handel’s orchestra and was organist at St George’s Minster in Doncaster for over half a century. This is the second of Parry’s fourteen Chorale Preludes which date from his final years.<br />
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8 Suite Gothique (L.Boellmann)<br />
Leon Boellmann is best-known for his four-movement “Suite Gothique”, although he wrote over 160 pieces in his short life. Boellmann was born in Alsace in 1862 and studied at the Niedermeyer music school in Paris. In 1881 he became sub-organist at the church of St Vincent de Paul and six years later became organist, a post he held for ten years until his early death on October 11th 1897 from tuberculosis at the age of just 35. The “Suite Gothique” was written in 1895. It opens with an imposing Introduction-Choral in C Minor which consists of harmonised forte chordal phrases that are first played on the great and pedals and then repeated piano on the swell. The second movement is a lively “Menuet-Gothique” in C Major. The third movement is the soft and reflective “Priere a Notre Dame” in A flat major before the return of C Minor and the thrilling climax of the “Toccata”, which always reminds one particular member of St Edmund’s of “The Adams Family!<br />
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There will be a five minute interval<br />
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9 Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (J.S.Bach)<br />
For the past seven years, I have played this piece before and after the Easter Day Eucharist. The musical world is divided as to whether the great composer actually composed the piece and it is indeed like nothing else that he ever wrote. There is no score in Bach's own hand and the earliest source is by one of his pupils, Johann Ringk, a character of allegedly dubious reputation. Peter Williams, one of the best-known Bach musicologists, suggests that the work was originally written for a solo violin and in the higher key of A Minor. The texture is much more characteristic of string writing and there was also a precedent for Bach transcribing violin pieces for organ. Several transcriptions have been made for solo violin as well as for piano and orchestra. The latter, by conductor Leopold Stokowski, was used to great effect in the 1940 Walt Disney film “Fantasia”. It has also been extensively covered by pop musicians.<br />
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10 Majestié du Christ Demandant Sa Gloire à Son Père (l’Ascension) (O.Messiaen)<br />
Olivier Messiaen was organist at the church of Sainte-Trinite in Paris for over sixty years from 1931 until his death in 1992. “L’Ascension” was originally written for orchestra in 1933 when Messiaen was just 25, and was described by the composer as “four meditations for orchestra”. The following year, Messiaen made a version for solo organ – three movements were arrangements of the orchestral pieces but he composed a new third movement. The opening movement, which translates as “The majesty of Christ demanding its glory of the Father”, bears the words from John: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you”. Each phrase ends with a perfect triad but otherwise extra notes are added to produce special sonorities instantly recognisable as Messiaen’s.<br />
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11 Prelude on “Picardy” (A.Rowley)<br />
Alec Rowley was born in 1892 and died in 1958. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music and later taught at Trinity College of Music. He was for many years organist at St Alban’s Church in Teddington. “Picardy” is based on a French carol thought to have originated in that region of North-West France to the words “Jesus Christ s’habille en pauvre” (Jesus came in garment lowly). It was arranged by Vaughan Williams in 1906 for the Eucharistic hymn “Let all mortal flesh keep silent” and I traditionally perform this arrangement at the festival of Corpus Christi.<br />
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12 Grand March “Fame & Glory" (A.Matt)<br />
Albert Matt was born in Ipswich in 1864. He trained as a trombonist and played in the Covent Garden Orchestra as well as teaching in a number of music colleges. His Grand March Fame and Glory, published in 1904, is undoubtedly his most famous work as it is played annually for the march past of The Royal British Legion at The Cenotaph in London every Remembrance Sunday as well as at St Edmund’s on the same day. Matt died in 1941 and is buried in Alperton Cemetery.<br />
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13 Sicilienne (M.Paradis)<br />
Maria Theresia von Paradis was born in 1759 and died in 1824. She was a composer, singer, pianist and organist and was blind for most of her life. She established a music school for girls and was also instrumental in establishing devices used by the blind to score music. Her compositions included operas, cantatas, piano concertos, sonatas and songs. She studied with Antonio Salieri and Mozart wrote a piano concerto for her. Her most famous ‘composition’ is the beautiful Sicilienne although it is of slightly dubious authenticity. The piece was 'discovered' by Samuel Dushkin and several scholars believe him to have actually written the piece.<br />
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14 Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No 1 (H.Howells)<br />
Herbert Howells studied the organ with Gloucester Cathedral organist Herbert Brewer and won an open scholarship to the Royal College of Music where his teachers included Charles Stanford, Walter Parratt and Charles Wood. Howells wrote six Psalm Preludes equally divided into two sets. The first, written in 1916, is dedicated to Parratt and takes as its inspiration Psalm 34, verse 6: “Lo, the poor crieth and the Lord heareth him; yea saveth him out of all his troubles.” The form of the piece is a classic Howellsian crescendo-climax-diminuendo. Howells also wrote the hymn tune "Michael" to Robert Bridge's words All My Hope On God Is Founded. It is named after his only son who died from polio at the age of nine. For months Howells could not write a note until his daughter suggested he write a piece expressing his grief. The result was his Hymnus Paradisi, generally regarded as his masterpiece and one of the greatest pieces of English choral writing. I always play the piece as a prelude to the St Edmund’s Day Eucharist.<br />
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15 Toccata (Symphonie No 5) (C.Widor)<br />
Charles Widor was born in Lyon in 1844 into a family of organists. The famous organ builder Aristide Cavaille-Coll was a family friend and it was partially through his influence that Widor was in 1870 appointed Organist at Saint-Sulpice in Paris, the most prominent post for an organist in France. He was initially appointed on a trial basis of one year as some of the clergy were concerned that at 25 he might be too young although in the end this temporary appointment lasted 64 years! He also succeeded Cesar Franck as Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatoire.<br />
Widor wrote ten organ symphonies which were largely made possible as a result of the innovations in organ design introduced by Cavaille-Coll which allowed the player to control the dynamics. Before this an organist generally selected the stops at the beginning of a piece and then played through without touching them again. The fifth symphony was published in 1879. The Toccata, the fifth movement, surely needs no introduction. The pedal melody, the left hand rhythmic chords and the right hand staccato semiquavers combine to produce a thrilling climax. At St Edmund’s the work gets two outings a year, on Easter Saturday and on St Edmund’s Day.<br />
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London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-29578017869287390452013-06-26T07:19:00.003-07:002013-06-26T07:20:16.703-07:00T-19 F is for...France, and I shall be featuring music from composers such as Gabriel Faure (Pavane, Apres un Reve). F is also for Cesar Franck (Choral), Michael Festing & John Field.<br />
<br />London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-81636223711130759722013-06-18T09:19:00.001-07:002013-06-18T09:19:48.687-07:00T-27 Children's ExperienceAt 1600 I will be giving a brief demonstration of how the organ works and playing children's requests. There will also be a chance to have a go at playing the instrument.<br />
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London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-76616624143151752512013-06-17T08:54:00.002-07:002013-06-17T08:56:04.346-07:00T-28 Marathon overview1200 A is for...<br />
1300 B is for...<br />
1400 C is for...<br />
1500 D is for...<br />
1600 A Children's Experience<br />
1700 E is for...<br />
1800 F is for...<br />
1930 Recital - "From Advent to Trinity", followed by supper<br />
2200 G is for...<br />
2300 H is for...<br />
0000 IJK are for...<br />
0100 L is for...<br />
0200 M is for...<br />
0300 N is for...<br />
0400 O is for...<br />
0500 PQ are for...<br />
0600 S is for...<br />
0700 T is for...<br />
0800 U is for...<br />
0900 V is for...<br />
1000 W is for...<br />
1100 XYZ are for...<br />
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(Breaks at 45 minutes past each hour. Longer breaks for 45 minutes before the recital and after the recital until 2200)London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-47478242521290939292013-06-17T08:49:00.002-07:002013-06-17T08:49:49.256-07:00T-28 D is for...Debussy ("Clair de Lune"), Delius ("On hearing the first cuckoo in spring") and Dvorak (Largo from "New World" Symphony). I shall also be playing a selection of music from Walt Disney films.<br />
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My latest request is Percy Whitlock's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vETnDk_sc0E" target="_blank">Fanfare</a>" from "Four Extemporisations"London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-58286424282925800122013-06-09T09:32:00.002-07:002013-06-09T09:32:54.784-07:00T-36 C is for...Chopin, and I shall be featuring some of his piano music, including preludes, waltzes and nocturnes. I may also play music by Couperin, Canteloube, Coates, Cosma, Caccini and Clarke.<br />
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My latest two requests are Howells <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZzkBUokQs0" target="_blank">Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No 2</a> and J.S.Bach's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iE0MlCEs0Q" target="_blank">Prelude and Fugue No 2 in D Minor</a>London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-5725461254869934292013-05-30T01:53:00.000-07:002013-06-09T09:34:37.188-07:00T-46 B is for...My latest request is for music by Fats Waller. I hadn't realised that Waller was a classically trained organist and often played Bach to small groups. He was also the first person to record jazz on a full-sized church organ. His compositions included "Ain't Misbehaving" and "Honeysuckle Rose". Here is a clip of Waller playing "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TreP_Up9nck" target="_blank">Sugar</a>" in 1927 and here is arguably his best-known composition, "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97Wwhe9Hx_w" target="_blank">Ain't Misbehavin'</a>"<br />
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B is for Bach, of course, and I shall be featuring some of the master's greatest works. Other composers I may feature this hour include Beethoven, Brahms, Barber, Bernstein, Britten, Bridge & Buxtehude.London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-17577852585543175922013-05-20T07:42:00.000-07:002013-06-09T09:36:54.209-07:00T-56 A is for...Although it runs for twenty-four hours, I will not actually be playing non-stop! As a general rule, I will be taking a fifteen minute break at forty-five minutes past each hour. There will also be longer breaks - approximately forty-five minutes - before and after the recital. This means that there will be about seventeen and a half hours of actual music.<br />
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In the run-up to the recital, I shall be outlining some of the pieces I shall be playing each hour. Other than the recital, each hour is devoted to a particular letter of the alphabet<br />
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The first hour (1200) is devoted to the letter A.<br />
Composers I may feature include:<br />
Richard Addinsell ("Warsaw Concerto")<br />
Jehan Alain<br />
Adolphe Adam ("O Holy Night")<br />
Stephen Adams ("The Holy City")<br />
Tomaso Albinoni (Adagio in G minor)<br />
Leroy Anderson ("Sleigh Ride")<br />
Anton Arensky<br />
Harold Arlen ("The Wizard of Oz")<br />
Thomas Arne ("Rule Britannia")<br />
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A is also for Andrew Lloyd-Webber, and I shall be playing a medley of some of his greatest hits<br />
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A is also for anniversary, and I may feature music written by Richard Wagner (b1813), Giuseppe Verdi (b1813), Benjamin Britten (b1913) and Paul Hindemith (d1963)<br />
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There may of course be other pieces which have been specifically requested for the particular hour which are not linked to the relevant letter!London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-76765731258441053252013-05-11T02:12:00.004-07:002013-05-12T03:18:17.086-07:00T-65The following is an article I have written for the Marathon publicity<br>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">My second St Edmund’s Organ
Marathon – the first was five years ago and raised over £5000 – is in aid of
the organ restoration appeal. The present instrument was originally installed
in St Dunstan’s Church, Stepney in 1902. It was moved to St Edmund’s about
twenty-five years ago and is currently in need of some serious attention. The
theme of the event is “A Musical Alphabet” with each hour being devoted to a
different letter. There is also an evening ticketed recital entitled “From
Advent to Trinity” featuring music from the liturgical year by Bach, Walton,
Howells and Boellmann. There will also be a limited number of post-recital
super tickets available. On the Monday afternoon there will be a children’s
experience where I shall be demonstrating how the organ works and playing
requests with a chance to have a go on the instrument.</span><br>
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You can support me in a number of
ways. Firstly you can sponsor me for the event and encourage your family,
friends and work colleagues to do the same. For a minimum donation of £10 you
can request a particular piece of music to be played at a time of your choosing
with a dedication in the souvenir programme. I would be grateful for as much
notice as possible for your requests as I may need to source the sheet music
and I cannot guarantee to be able to play your request. Finally, it would be
great to see you in the audience on the day (and night!).</div>
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Sponsorship forms are
available at the back of the church. If you would like a request then please contact me directly. My email address is <b><i>hammond@cantab.net</i></b>.
During the event itself you will be able to contact me at the console on
Twitter. You can follow <b><i>@hammondmarathon</i></b> or use the hashtag <b><i>#hammondmarathon.
</i></b>I have a marathon blog at <b><i>www.organ-marathon.blogspot.co.uk</i></b>
and will also have a webcam running on my website <b><i>www.mark-hammond.co.uk.</i></b></div>
London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140746932465123488.post-3779404539794517792013-04-28T11:32:00.000-07:002013-04-28T11:32:00.329-07:00T-78My latest request is a bit of an odd one. It's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGFR3zz12p0" target="_blank">Halfway down the stairs</a>" by Robin the Frog!<br />
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The evening recital is starting to take shape. Entitled "From Advent to Trinity" it features music from the church year:<br />
1 Walton - Crown imperial (Christ the King)<br />
2 Hand - O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Advent)<br />
3 Bach - In Dulci Jubilo (Christmas)<br />
4 Cornelius - The Three Kings (Epiphany)<br />
5 Peeters - Chorale Prelude on "Stuggart" (Epiphany)<br />
6 Bach - Chorale Prelude on "Aus Tiefe Rufe Ich" (Lent)<br />
7 Parry - Prelude on "Rockingham" (Passiontide)<br />
8 Boellmann - Suite Gothique<br />
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9 Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (Easter)<br />
10 Messiaen - Majestie du Christ Demandant Sa Gloire a son Pere (Ascension)<br />
11 Rowley - Prelude on "Picardy" (Corpus Christi)<br />
12 Matt - Fame and Glory (Remembrance)<br />
13 Paradis - Sicilienne (Remembrance)<br />
14 Howells - Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No 1 (St Edmund)<br />
15 Widor - Toccata (St Edmund)London Sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04998392911847260054noreply@blogger.com0