Hard work, learning & fun – RCO Academy’s Easter Course

Posted in Education, Events by on 8 May 13

If the weather during RCO Academy’s Easter Course in mid-April in Cambridge made a gradual diminuendo over the three days of tuition, from bright Spring sunshine to April showers, this was matched and confounded by a crescendo in team spirit and group learning.

As course member Jonathan Davies remarked, “it was great to be in such a beautiful place with access to such wonderful organs”. We were most grateful to St John’s College for generously providing rooms for the written paper tuition and for the equally generous portions of food served in the Buttery at meal times.

Among the organs used for tuition were those at Clare, Gonville & Cauis’, Jesus, King’s, Queen’s, St Catharine’s and Trinity Colleges and at Trinity Hall.

Each day included a recital: tutors on the first and last days and course members on the middle, each person taking turns to make music in the vast, atmospheric chapel of St John’s College.

Daniel Hyde made the ‘Hindemith Connection’ on the exciting and colourful Kuhn organ of Jesus College in a programme which made links between Hindemith’s music and that of Reger, Karg-Elert, Dupré and even former Jesus College organ scholar and recent recipient of the RCO Medal, Peter Hurford.

John Kitchen made the ‘Krebs Connection’ on the Metzler organ of Trinity College (arguably still the best organ in Cambridge in the best organ acoustic?) with a wide variety of music by pupils of J S Bach, the master himself showing them how it might be done in the great B minor Prelude & Fugue, BWV 544.

As for the teaching programme, ARCO strand student David Pimm found it was “very nicely structured to stretch across the full ambit of the syllabus” and the tutors were “outstanding across the breadth of the course”. Another ARCO student, James Kealey, said simply: “Great course! Great help! Many thanks!”

Course members came from as far afield as Australia and as locally as Cambridge itself, and ranged in age from 17 to post-retirement (if there is still such a thing). Some were full-time musicians or music students whilst others were fitting RCO exam preparation into their spare time from their main career. As Mike Rudd said, it was “great to spend time with like-minded people”.

Planning has now started for the Easter Course 2014 which will be in Oxford, provisionally from 9-11 April. And we’re planning something special for this, the College’s 150th anniversary year!

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Bach in Amsterdam

Posted in Education, Events, Member News by on 2 May 13

In mid-April, a group of 12 RCO St Giles Organ School advanced students enjoyed two Bach masterclasses on the Müller organ in the Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam, with Jacques van Oortmerssen.

Jacques, Professor of Organ at the Conservatory of Amsterdam as well as an international teacher, concert and recording artist, has given sell-out classes for the Organ School here and in Amsterdam for many years.

As ever, his entertaining teaching style and his deep insights into the music of Bach never failed to inspire.

Nothing can convey the excitement of the event better than the students’ own comments:

“One of the best masterclasses I’ve attended. Jacques’ inspiring teaching on the Bach works evoked an immediate response from all of us.”

“Jacques is an inspiring teacher who can share his wisdom with pupils of all levels with great humour and clarity. I could say the same about the organ too – its amazing sound enhanced every piece and it was a delight to play.”

“I found the whole two days quite inspiring. Jacques teaching was excellent, informative and helpful, whilst also with humour.”

“I think it was simply the best masterclass I’ve been on! Jacques’ teaching is always special, but I though he was really on form, and everyone played so well; it was a huge success.”

 

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Welcoming a new organist

Posted in Education, Events, Outreach by on 15 Mar 13

Encouraging someone to take up the organ after playing it for perhaps the first time is one of the most rewarding outcomes we can have from any of our introductory events.

So we were thrilled to hear from Charlotte Kidd, a teenager who had had no formal organ lessons before attending our Set Your Sights! day in Cambridge on 2nd March.

This day of tuition on pieces, keyboard skills, choral accompaniment and conducting really caught Charlotte’s imagination.Set Your Sights!

She writes: “Well, I had a fantastic day! Thank you, thank you, thank you for organising it and letting us have so many different experiences and chances to visit some beautiful college chapels and their organs.

“I cannot believe I played and accompanied the hymn in Clare College. I enjoyed it so much. We were talking about it all the way home last night.

“I really want to learn to play the organ and have lessons, and hope you can help me find a teacher. Please pass on my thanks to all the tutors.”

Well, on behalf of all the tutors I would like to extend to Charlotte and all her fellow attendees our thanks in return, for the part they played in making the day such a rewarding experience for us as well.

We shall look forward to watching all of you progress as organists and build on the undoubted talent you all show.

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Images from Conferment

Posted in College News, Exams, Member News by on 13 Mar 13

Our warmest congratulations to everyone taking part in Saturday’s Conferment of Diplomas ceremony at Southwark Cathedral.

We were thrilled to be awarding hard-earned Diplomas and Certificates to a total of 57 Members, and honoured to have the RCO Medal accepted by Prof. John Butt OBE, Mark Venning, and Dr Peter Hurford OBE, whose Medal was collected on his behalf by his wife Mrs Pat Hurford.

Full details of the day can be found in the press release here, and Members can see more photos on the RCO website by signing in and going to the Event Photo Library within the Member Services section.

Or, to view (and purchase) a full range of photos from the day, visit our photographer’s website at www.simonjacobs.com/rco.

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Calling young composers

Posted in General by on 5 Mar 13

The 2013 Lord Mayor’s Composition Prize is looking for young organ composers to demonstrate their skills and creativity.

The competition, which is open to UK citizens under the age of 35 by the closing date, has a prize of £2,000 from The Worshipful Company of Musicians.

Entrants must submit a score of their composition by 1 July 2013.

The winner will be announced, and the composition performed for the first time, at a Reception hosted by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress in the Egyptian Hall in Mansion House, London on 13 September 2013.

An application form and full regulations are available by email from: clerk@wcom.org.uk at The Worshipful Company of Musicians or can be found  at www.wcom.org.uk

 

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Book early for Thomas Trotter

Posted in College News, Education, Events, Member News by on 4 Mar 13

We are absolutely delighted that Thomas Trotter has decided to make his 30th anniversary concert at St Margaret’s Church, Westminter, in support of RCO Academy (full story here).

No organist can fail to be aware of the man and his music – he is quite simply one of the outstanding musicians of his generation and the concert promises to be a wonderful event with music by Bach, Bull, Coates, Wagner, Lemare, Vierne and Messaien, and on-screen video link to organ console.

I’m sure a great many RCO members won’t want to miss this memorable occasion, so please do book early.

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Sing Stainer!

Posted in Events by on 1 Mar 13

“What a good sing on Saturday – great conductor, organist, soloists, and venue. Thoroughly enjoyed it – thank you.”

It’s always good when people tell you they have enjoyed an RCO event and, in the case of ‘Sing Stainer!’ on 23 February, particularly so as this is one of the year’s biggest events and the one which attracts nearly all non-RCO members.

One hundred and forty singers gathered in the generously proportioned, light and airy nave of the Collegiate Church of St Mary Warwick to spend the afternoon working with one of the world’s leading choral directors, David Hill FRCO, Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers and Musical Director the Bach Choir.

The chosen work was Stainer’s ‘Crucifixion’. David soon brought the group to life, in stark contrast to the very dead looking effigies on the church’s famous tombs, with energetic warm-up exercises, and before long this diverse group of singers had cohered into a choir, its sound enhanced by the beautifully true acoustic.

Most singers booked on as individuals, simply to have the chance to re-visit or make the acquaintaince of this much-loved work. The Hampton Singers though attended en-masse, using the day as a boost for their own forthcoming performance. And we were grateful to three members of their bass section for taking it in turn to deliver the short solos marked ‘a voice from the choir’!

Our confident, capable and committed soloists, Christopher Griksaitis (tenor) and Samuel Oram (baritone), came from Birmingham Conservatoire where they are both in their third year of study. The day provided them with their first chance to perform ‘The Crucifixion’.

Mark Swinton, Assistant Director of Music at St Mary’s, conjured myriad colours from the organ. With pipes placed in three distinctly separate parts of the building we never knew where the sound was going to come from next!

My thanks to former RCO colleague Gordon Clarke and to Mylene Shoreman ARCO and her husband John for help in ensuring that the day ran smoothly. We look forward to an extra-special ‘Sing!’ event in 2014 to mark the 150th anniversary of the RCO’s founding.

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Inspiration for all on RCO summer events

Posted in College News, Events, Member News by on 30 Jan 13

The Royal College of Organists has announced details of its two flagship summer events, offering inspirational teaching, outstanding instruments and unique social experiences for any organist.

The ever-popular RCO St Giles Summer Course for Organists is always a landmark event in the organ calendar.

Taking place from 29th July to 3rd August in the City of London, it welcomes up to 75 organists of all standards for a mix of masterclasses, informal learning groups, concerts, workshops, visits and daily services – more than 70 separate group events plus the individual lessons and daily access to practice organs.

This course is known by its many regular attendees as ‘the big event with the personal touch’ because it combines the social opportunities and fun of a major group event with a high level of personal tuition, encouragement and one-to-one attention.

With seven levels of study and a range of 25 organs available for practice, tuition and performance, the event  is suitable for any organist, whether  beginner, church organist, self-taught, examination candidate or recreational player.

For 2013, the repertoire theme of the masterclasseses will be anniversary composers and their teachers, including music by Sweelinck and his student Scheidemann, J S Bach and his student Krebs, César Franck and his student Pierné, and Frank Bridge and his student Britten.

Meanwhile in Oxford, The Organ Scholar Experience will run from 22nd to 27th July. This event is tailored specifically for those preparing for, or considering, organ scholarships at universities, cathedrals and churches.

From their riverside accommodation at St Hilda’s College, students can experience something of scholar’s life, and prepare through inspirational classes on repertoire, technique, accompanying, conducting, improvisation and keyboard skills.

Among the teachers will be Neil Cockburn (Head of Organ Studies, Mount Royal

University Conservatory, Calgary and Artistic Director, Calgary Organ Festival), Catherine Ennis, (President–elect, the Royal College of Organists and Director of Music at St Lawrence Jewry in the City of London), David Goode (Organist and Head of Keyboard, Eton College), Daniel Hyde (Organist and Informatur Choristorum, Magdalen College, Oxford), Daniel Moult (one of the UK’s leading players and tutors) and Owen Rees, (Director of Music, The Queen’s College, Oxford).

RCO Academy Director Simon Williams said: “Together these two flagship events ensure there are outstanding opportunities for anyone hoping to use their summer break to improve their playing, find new inspiration, or to prepare themselves for the next stage of their musical journey.”

For more details on these two events plus the complete RCO programme, visit www.rco.org.uk.

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Organists abroad – discovering Cavaillé-Coll

Posted in Events, General, Member News by on 16 Jan 13

If you’re going (or thinking of booking one of the few remaining places) on our April study trip to Amsterdam, this report from last year’s fantastic Paris trip may help whet your appetite!

(The Amsterdam JS Bach study trip with Waalse Kirk is on April 17-18, and details can be found at the bottom of the page here http://www.rco.org.uk/organ_school.php).

Thank you to Peter Chester and Gary Williams for taking time out to describe what I think everyone agrees was a fantastic experience.

RCO St Giles visit to Paris 2012

A group of 12 enthusiastic organists gathered just before 2pm on the steps of the Eglise Notre-Dame d’Auteuil with our trip coordinator Peter Bassett to meet Frederic Blanc who was to be our tutor; we were to have two sessions with him on the Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning.

Frederic duly arrived and introduced himself – remembering those who he had met when he came to give a master class for St Giles students a few years ago at St Johns Islington. We then climbed the circular stairwell and seated ourselves on both sides of the console with good sightlines of what was happening. Frederic introduced the organ and put it in context of other churches in Paris and their players. This Cavaillé-Coll instrument was inaugurated by Widor in 1885; it has 3 manuals and 53 stops.

It was time to hear our first piece–Messiaen’s Le Banquet Céleste. While this was the only example of his music we were to hear over the two days, other composers represented were Widor, Vierne, Franck, Gigout, Dubois, Demessieux, Boëllmann and Lefébure-Wély. Eight of our group played in this first session with the remaining four playing the next day.

As each person played, Frederic described the essence of the French music and the organist-composers who dominated the field. Above all he said we were to just enjoy the music and the great importance of the line of melody. He stressed again and again the legato in all parts and how although the printed copy has phrasing marks these were often ignored and the line carried on without a break.

Frederic described how each composer had developed their craft and he often had amusing anecdotes that helped the session along. For instance how Demessieux was such a slight figure of a woman and yet wrote this incredibly strong and vibrant music. His comments on Franck were particularly vivid; a romantic who had a great freedom of expression, the importance of a singing line of melody, full of life and humanity; these comments came out of two people’s playing of the Choral no 1 and also the Prelude , Fugue and Variation.

It was instructive and inspirational to watch Frederic coaxing each player to bring more feeling and nuance to their interpretations; and it worked ! The organ here played its part too as we enjoyed the glorious sounds of full organ and some lovely solo stops and flutes.

After a group dinner that first evening we assembled the next morning at Eglise St Jean- Baptiste-de-la-Salle where again we climbed up a circular staircase to the organ gallery with its Merklin tracker organ dating from 1850 with 3 manuals and 28 stops. The difference in sound to the Cavaillé-Coll was apparent, lacking the fiery reeds and overall brightness.

However it was another enjoyable session with Frederic imparting his musicality and enthusiasm and help in realising this repertoire. It was the time for us to bid him farewell and thank him for inspiring us.

We then moved on to St Sulpice where Daniel Roth, titulaire since 1985, talked to us in the nave; he was very welcoming to us and also amusing in relating the history. The organ was built in 1862 by Cavaillé-Coll using much material from the Clicquot instrument dating from 1781 which it replaced. He demonstrated the organ for us and then invited us up to the gallery. The major impression on first seeing the console with 5 manuals and 101 stops is how venerable and well preserved it is with mellow woods and fading stop knobs. You almost need a training manual to fathom out how the barker lever system and ventils work. After ample time for everyone to have a good look at this famous instrument we left St Sulpice; this was the last element in our brief but fascinating sojourn in Paris.

This event had been very friendly and Frederic Blanc with his enthusiasm and sense of  fun had certainly inspired the group.

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Still making headlines

Posted in Uncategorized by on 10 Jan 13

Freddie James FRCO, Limpus Prizewinner in the Summer 2011 exam session, continues to make well-deserved headlines.

We were delighted to see him awarded the 2012 Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal in a ceremony at Drapers’ Hall in November (pictured being presented with the award by Prof John Morehen, Master of the Worshipful Company of Musicians).

Freddie, who is currently in his third and final year as organ scholar of St John’s Cambridge, will also play at Coventry Cathedral on 13 September thanks to the 2011-2012 Coventry Cathedral Recital Award.

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