Colin Walsh - Live in Concert - 7.30 tonight

[mopsus]

I notice this is an organ recital!

'Colin Walsh, Organist Laureate of Lincoln Cathedral, puts the cathedral's mighty 'Father Willis' organ, completed in 1898, through its paces in a spectacular programme of the virtuoso French music which is his particular speciality. He includes works by several of the most significant composers in 20th-century French organ literature, as well as the 19th-century Cesar Franck - Belgian by birth, but the father-figure of the 20th-century French organ style.'

Now I don't really follow organ music programming as such, but how long is it since the main evening broadcast was an organ recital? I know it was a regular complaint on the old message board that music for organ was neglected on Radio 3, apart from the end of evensong broadcasts.

[mercia]

how long is it since the main evening broadcast was an organ recital?

a very long time, I would think. Very welcome, and an interesting programme too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rw23y

[mangerton]

Very welcome indeed.

I'm sorry to see, though, that Radio 3 describes it as a "mighty" organ being "put through its paces".

Can they not omit these dreadful clichés?

[Nick Armstrong]

Very welcome, and an interesting programme too

[ardcarp]

I'm sorry to see, though, that Radio 3 describes it as a "mighty" organ being "put through its paces".

Can they not omit these dreadful clichés?

We haven't had The King of Instruments yet. Or Colin Walsh AT the organ.

But agreed...congrats to the BBC for doing 2 hrs of live organ music.

[ardcarp]

He's being interviewed as well as playing.

Franck: Choral 3 in A Minor
Langlais: Cantilene (Suite Breve)
Langlais: Incantation pour un jour saint
Tournemire: Consummatum est
Tournemire (transcribed Duruflé): Victimae paschali laudes

c 8.15pm: Ian Skelly wanders around Lincoln Cathedral and talks to Canon Dr Nicholas Bennett about the triumphs and tribulations of William Byrd's time there as Organist and Master of the music.

c 8.35 pm:

Dupré: Cortege et Litanie
Messiaen: Offrande au Saint Sacrement
Duruflé: Fugue sur le thème du Carillon des Heures de la Cathedrale de Soissons
Vierne: Meditation
Vierne: Impromptu
Vierne: Carillon de Westminster

[Vile Consort]

Very welcome indeed.

I'm sorry to see, though, that Radio 3 describes it as a "mighty" organ being "put through its paces".

Can they not omit these dreadful clichés?

Yes, that made my toes curl. Firstly, as clichés go, it is a particularly well-worn one, and anyone interested in organ music will have cringed at it a hundred times. Secondly, it gives the impression that mechanism and technique are the object of the exercise rather than music.

Nice to hear actual organ music being played, too. I'm not a fan of transcriptions, and I certainly don't like the way they are edging out the organ literature.

I don't normally like too much talking in concerts, but this is working quite well.

[Philip]

Fab stuff - albeit coming from someone who loves the French tradition of organ music! Very well presented as well, I thought - useful introductions placing each piece and composer in context and nice to hear from Colin Walsh. Lets hope it got a good enough audience to encourage them to programme more of the same.

[ardcarp]

Very accomplished playing. It seems churlish to say that the organ itself sounded like a Willis/Harrison trying to sound French...rather than sounding French. There are few organs in the UK with a genuine French accent. I would have liked a bit more Messiaen in he mix, but it was a most enjoyable programme.

The interval talk, with sung extracts of Byrd's (mainly) English settings, was excellent.

[chitreb]

Utter delight. Thanks to all concerned.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Very welcome indeed.

I'm sorry to see, though, that Radio 3 describes it as a "mighty" organ being "put through its paces".

Can they not omit these dreadful clichés?

The recital is introduced by Jeremy Clarkson.