Jane Parker Smith 1950-2020

[Pianophile]

I don’t think anyone has posted this already...
Very sad to hear of the death of the fabulous Jane Parker Smith. I was bewitched by her towering playing as a school boy and have continued to follow her career. She was due to play in London this November for the Society of Women Organists at Bloomsbury Baptist Church. I was very much looking forward to hearing her again.

Sounds like she was tremendous fun away from the organ console too.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/06/29/jane-parker-smith-virtuoso-organist-brought-glamour-insight/

[Braunschlag]

A charismatic and exciting player - much more so than her contemporaries (Weir and Bate). She avoided the Messiaen fixation and concentrated, more successfully I thought, on bringing a little pizazz and even showmanship to the organ console when it really needed it (and does so more than ever).
A sad loss indeed.

[Keraulophone]

‘She swore like a trooper, drank like a fish, smoked like a chimney and played the organ like a woman possessed.’ (DT obit.)

Described by Paul Driver in The Sunday Times as ‘the Martha Argerich of the organ’, JP-S was indeed a keyboard virtuoso, having begun her RCM years as a first-study pianist. She brought much-needed colour and fun to the organ world, beginning recitals with lively pieces such as this wrist-sapping Lanquetuit Toccata:

https://youtu.be/np3XMVSeMSo

Here she is rehearsing it at the RFH in 2016: https://youtu.be/Y3pym1F69HA

R.I.P.

[Braunschlag]

‘smoked like a chimney’, would that be a flute a chiminée?....
Not in any way to detract from the thread post and all deserved praise of JPS I trust she didn’t indulge in ‘console smoking’ as the great Pierre Pincemaille quite clearly did.
Here’s a couple of examples where he has obviously been having a crafty Gitanes before the final Sortie.

Seventh one down here -

https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Musician-Band/Pierre-Pincemaille-57158622040/videos/

And here he is at it again -

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yCNfJcamgi8

Maybe they have a particularly pungent incense in St Denis

[ahinton]

‘She swore like a trooper, drank like a fish, smoked like a chimney and played the organ like a woman possessed.’ (DT obit.)

Described by Paul Driver in The Sunday Times as ‘the Martha Argerich of the organ’, JP-S was indeed a keyboard virtuoso, having begun her RCM years as a first-study pianist. She brought much-needed colour and fun to the organ world, beginning recitals with lively pieces such as this wrist-sapping Lanquetuit Toccata:

https://youtu.be/np3XMVSeMSo

Here she is rehearsing it at the RFH in 2016: https://youtu.be/Y3pym1F69HA

R.I.P.

A first study pianist; I know - I used to have piano lessons with her teacher after her own. Sometimes mine would start late...

[Keraulophone]

I trust she didn’t indulge in ‘console smoking’

I have witnessed a Titulaire’s Gauloises ash falling onto the keys of the grand orgue at Notre-Dame de Paris.

However, on the RFH organ there is a terse sign - ‘Definitely no smoking at the console’, just in case a visiting Parisian forgets he or she is à Londres.

[BBMmk2]

She used to have an Ford Espirit sports car. Rather liked those, apparently. Such a sad loss for an amazing character and organist. RIP J P-S

[cloughie]

‘She swore like a trooper, drank like a fish, smoked like a chimney and played the organ like a woman possessed.’ (DT obit.)

Described by Paul Driver in The Sunday Times as ‘the Martha Argerich of the organ’, JP-S was indeed a keyboard virtuoso, having begun her RCM years as a first-study pianist. She brought much-needed colour and fun to the organ world, beginning recitals with lively pieces such as this wrist-sapping Lanquetuit Toccata:

https://youtu.be/np3XMVSeMSo

Here she is rehearsing it at the RFH in 2016: https://youtu.be/Y3pym1F69HA

R.I.P.

RIP Jane

Slightly off topic Keraulophone - I don’t know how far back your links with Truro Cathedral go but back in 1980 - fact 40 years ago next Monday Gillian Weir played a recital to celebrate the completion of the rebuild of the cathedral organ - I don’t remember all the pieces she played but certainly tested all stops and colours that could be extracted from the mighty instrument.

[Keraulophone]

the completion of the rebuild of the cathedral organ

Hi cloughie,

Just pointing out that the Truro Father Willis has never had to suffer a ‘rebuild’. It remains the FW in most original condition, with unchanged stop list, of any English cathedral. The most significant work has been a detached console in 1963 and a recondition in 1991. I am not aware of the work you mention completed in 1980.

The late Jennifer Bate and Catherine Ennis were regular recitalists, particularly during the Three Spires Festival era.

[frankbridge]

A sad loss to the organ world. I remember her recording with Rattle and the CBSO in Janacek's wonderful 'Glagolic Mass' which was quite divine.

RIP Jane :rose

[vinteuil]

.

... as an unabashed appreciator of Lefebure-Wely, I shall have to acquire her disc -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000028BV2

.

[Pianophile]

.

... as an unabashed appreciator of Lefebure-Wely, I shall have to acquire her disc -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000028BV2

.

Thanks Vinteuil...I shall be acquiring this too. I’d no idea she had recorded this music.

[cloughie]

Hi cloughie,

Just pointing out that the Truro Father Willis has never had to suffer a ‘rebuild’. It remains the FW in most original condition, with unchanged stop list, of any English cathedral. The most significant work has been a detached console in 1963 and a recondition in 1991. I am not aware of the work you mention completed in 1980.

The late Jennifer Bate and Catherine Ennis were regular recitalists, particularly during the Three Spires Festival era.

Maybe I got this wrong then - whatever the reason for the special recital but it was an excellent evening!

[rauschwerk]

I have the first of her three albums for the Avie label which has given me much pleasure. She certainly had the measure of the organ at St Martin, Memmingen, Switzerland. She kicks off with the Langetuit Toccata mentioned above and continues with a mix of pieces by both well-known composers and those known mostly to organ buffs. What a player!