ALTON Organ Society seems to be defying the odds by negotiating Covid-19 restrictions - legally - and continuing to run its 2020/2021 season of organ concerts.
The second concert in the current season was given by international concert organist, Jane Watts, who delivered a very interesting programme of pieces not commonly performed.
Jane opened her programme with C Hubert Parry’s (1848-1918) Fantasia & Fugue in G major.
Parry’s musical output was legendary but, apparently, he didn’t turn his attention to organ music until later in his career.
Nonetheless, the finished product of his Fantasia and (added later) & Fugue seems to be very Bach in style and composition.
It was a brilliant opening to Jane’s concert and, it was clearly evident, her mastery and technique of organ playing was supreme.
William Lloyd Webber (1914-82) is probably more famous currently, for being father of his talented sons Andrew and Julian.
However, he was a gifted organist giving recitals aged 14 and gained his FRCO aged 19. He was a prolific composer and Jane included two of his organ compositions: ’Arietta’’ and the easily recognised ’Pastorale’ (By the Waters of Babylon), another version made famous by Boney M in 1978.
Concurrent with this organ concert, the American people were taking part in the Presidential elections so Jane selected, as a tribute, variations on ’The Star Spangled Banner’ by Dudley Buck (1839-1909).
To complete her concert, Jane chose a major composition by French organist/composer Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911), namely Sonata No 5 in C minor Op 80.
Often, only selected parts of Guilmant’s works are performed but Jane decided to play the whole piece which was a major tour de force beautifully and professionally performed.
Most of Guilmant’s works are well known and popular with organists but this Sonata was not that well known among the audience but popularly received. It was a most fitting and climactic work to end the concert.
As a postscript, Jane remarked that her Guilmant score was given to her by the late Sir David Willcocks when she was accompanist to the Bach Choir.
The music was already showing its age and towards the end of the piece, Jane’s husband – who was page turning – struggled to control this ancient manuscript which refused to cooperate!
Nonetheless, Callum regained control without mishap but made it abundantly clear to his wife that it must be replaced with a newer and more manageable copy.
The author sympathised with Callum having experienced similar embarrassing moments page turning, including letting fly a crucial page during David Hill’s concert.
His cricketing skills catching the offending page managed to retain sanity and kept the concert going unblemished but not unnoticed – it was clearly visible on the big screen. Who said organ concerts are boring...
We look forward to a return visit of David Poulter (formerly organist at Liverpool, Chester and Coventry Cathedrals) whose concert has been postponed from December 1 to 8.
His programme includes works by JS Bach, Buxtehude, William Lloyd Webber, Lefébure-Wély, Georgi Mushel and Piet Post.
Concerts take place at St Lawrence Church, Alton, GU34 2BW, start at 8pm but seats must be booked ahead by emailing ?[email protected]?
Further details about the society and programmes can be viewed at ?altonorgansociety.co.uk ?or by contacting ?[email protected]
Review by Tony Willman