St Peter's Church - Organ Appeal

Inaugural Concerts

These inaugural concerts, testament to the ongoing fundraising that has culminated in our magnificent new pipe organ, mark the beginning of a new era of musical excellence which we hope will enrich the musical life of our city.

St Peter’s is perhaps one of St Albans’ best-kept secrets – a parish church that offers a range of traditional church music at a standard that is usually found in a cathedral setting.

We have brilliant musicians, excellent choristers and a wonderful team of supportive parishioners who have worked their socks off to ensure the arrival of our new organ. I’m immensely proud of them all and want to thank everyone who has supported this project – by prayer, practical assistance and financially.

So sit back, enjoy – and then spread the word!

Thomas Trotter 7.30pm Saturday 27 May 2006
Concerto after Vivaldi in A minor BWV 593 Allegro Adagio Allegro	J.S. Bach (1685–1750)
Four pieces from the London notebook	W.A. Mozart (1756–1791)
Fantasia K.608	W.A. Mozart
The Holy Boy	John Ireland (1879–1962)
Capriccio	John Ireland
I N T E R V A L (20 minutes)
Three pieces: Variations sur un thème de Clément Jannequin Deux danses à Agni Yavishta Litanies	Jehan Alain (1911–1940)
Variations on an Old American Air	Isaac Flagler (1842–1909)
Toccata for Piano	Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953) arr. Jean Guillou (b.1930)
About Thomas Trotter British virtuoso Thomas Trotter was appointed Birmingham City organist in 1983, succeeding Sir George Thalben-Ball. He is also organist at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey. A scholar at the Royal College of Music, London, and subsequently organ scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, his formal studies culminated under Marie-Claire Alain in Paris. In addition to his thirty recitals each year at Birmingham Town Hall, Thomas Trotter regularly tours North America, Europe, Australia and Japan. He has performed with leading orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic. In May 2002 Thomas Trotter became the first ever organist to win the Royal Philharmonic Society award for Best Instrumentalist.

Dame Gillian Weir 7.30pm Saturday 10 June 2006
Voluntary in D minor	Henry Purcell (1658–1695)
Dr Bull’s Jewel	John Bull (c.1562–1628)
Dr Bull’s My Selfe	John Bull
Voluntary	John Stanley (1713–1786)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor ‘Dorian’ BWV 538	J.S. Bach (1685–1750)
Variations on ‘Braint’	William Mathias (1934–1992)
I N T E R V A L (20 minutes)
Toccata, Fugue et Hymne sur Ave Maris Stella Op.28	Flor Peeters (1903–1985)
Epitaphs for Edith Sitwell	Malcolm Williamson (1931–2003)
L’Ange à la Trompette	Jacques Charpentier (b.1933)
Toccata	Sergei Slonimsky (b.1932)
Toccata	Georgi Mushel (1909–1989)
About Dame Gillian Weir Throughout her unique career as an internationally acclaimed concert organist, performing worldwide at major festivals and with leading orchestras and conductors, Dame Gillian Weir has become established as a distinguished musician. She is known for her virtuosity, integrity and outstanding musicianship. Dame Gillian’s fame as a performer, which has motivated numerous young players to follow her, is backed by her scholarly reputation. She is in constant demand as an adjudicator for all the leading international competitions and as a lecturer, broadcaster, teacher and writer. Her television appearances, meanwhile, have enabled her to reach vast new audiences. Her repertoire is exceptional in its breadth and variety, stretching from the Renaissance to contemporary works. She has performed the complete works of Bach, Messiaen and others. Dame Gillian’s pre-eminent position as a Messiaen interpreter is further illustrated byher CD release of his complete organ works to unprecedented acclaim. She has also contributed to Faber’s The Messiaen Companionand other publications. Dame Gillian has received many prizes, awards and honours, including, in 1989, a CBE. In the 1996 New Year Honours List she was created Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her distinguished services to music. Her exceptional artistry was marked in 1999 by the re-issue of her series of Argo recordings on CD; her nomination by Classic CD Magazine as one of the 100 greatest players of the century and by The Sunday Timesas one of the 1,000 music makers of the Millennium. In December 2000, ITV’s South Bank Show chronicled Dame Gillian’s worldwide activities as performer, teacher and recording artist in a highly acclaimed documentary. For further information on her current activities and CD releases, visit www.gillianweir.com

John Scott 7.30pm Saturday 15 July 2006
Introduction and Passacaglia in D minor	Max Reger (1873–1916)
Concerto in G Op.4 No.1 G.F. Larghetto e staccato Allegro Adagio Andante	Handel (1685–1759)
From the Schübler Collection: Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten BWV 647 Meine Seele erhebt den Herren BWV 648 Ach bleib’ bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 649	J.S. Bach (1685–1750)
Adagio and Allegro in F K.594	W.A. Mozart (1756–1791)
I N T E R V A L (20 minutes)
Fantasia and Toccata in D minor	C.V. Stanford (1852–1924)
Chanson de Matin	Edward Elgar (1857–1934) arr. A.H. Brewer (1865–1928)
Scherzo	M.E. Bossi (1861–1925)
Two movements from ‘Rubrics’ The Peace may be exchanged The people respond – Amen!	Dan Locklair (b.1949)
Three pieces: Impromptu Etoile du Soir Carillon de Westminster	Louis Vierne (1870–1937)
About John Scott A native of Yorkshire, John Scott received his earliest musical training as a Chorister at Wakefield Cathedral. Under the guidance of Jonathan Bielby, he gained the diplomas of the Royal College of Organists while still at school, winning the major prizes. He was Organ Scholar of St John’s College, Cambridge, acting as Assistant to Dr. George Guest. During this time he continued his studies with Dame Gillian Weir. On leaving Cambridge he became Assistant Organist at both St Paul’s and Southwark Cathedral. He later became Sub-Organist at St Paul’s and, in 1990, succeeded Christopher Dearnley as Organist and Director of Music. Under his direction, the St Paul’s Choir toured three continents, made many recordings and performed with most of the London orchestras. As an organist, John Scott has performed in five continents, premiered many new works written for him, and has worked with various specialist ensembles. He is a first-prize winner from the Manchester International Organ Competition (1978) and the Leipzig J.S. Bach Competition (1984). In 1998 he was nominated International Performer of the Year by the New York Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In the summer of 2004, after a 26 year association with St Paul’s Cathedral, he took up the post of Organist and Director of Music at St Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, where he directs the renowned choir of men and boys. He was awarded the LVO in the 2004 New Year Honours List.