News

There are 4 items in the Update this week.

1. Saturday 7 June: an ODOA Workshop on Improvisation workshop at St Andrew's Church Old Headington OX3 9DL, from 1.30 pm to 5.00 pm. This is entirely FREE, and everyone is welcome to come and watch or participate. We are very fortunate to have our member John Riley leading this. Refreshments will be served on arrival.

2. Monday, 9 June at 5.30 pm: there is a celebrity organ recital at Magdalen College. Royal Academy of Music Professor and Director of Music at St Mary’s Bourne Street, Richard Pinel, gives a diverse recital of music by Bach, Reger, and Whitlock, and transcriptions by both himself and others of works by Wagner and Richard Strauss. Tickets are £10 (£5 for students) which includes a glass of prosecco (or soft equivalent) and the opportunity to chat informally with the recitalist after the event.

3. Monday 9 June at 8.30 pm: there will be a free recital at  Radley College, Abingdon OX14 2HR, given by Henry Morris of Magdalen College.

4. Finally, we have some very sad news:  Dr Charles Mould died peacefully after a short illness on 25 May 2025. In his will he asked if some of his organ music could be given to ODOA. We are in touch with his daughter, Tory Voake, and we are considering how best to deal with this. If you would like to receive a piece of music in his memory, do contact us. I don't think there is a list of what is available.

There are 5 items on the update this week, including helpful information about the improvisation workshop: it's not too late to register your interest.

1. Organist for Sandford: Closest in time and rather urgent, a plea for an organist tomorrow at Sandford:
   Evensong at Sandford (south of Oxford) on Sunday, 1 June (5.00pm for 6.30). Fee: £150. Pick-up from central Oxford could be arranged. Stanford in Bb / Rose responses / O quam gloriosum, Victoria (unaccompanied) / Anglican chant / Hymns. The organ is a single manual with straight pedalboard. If available and interested, get in touch with their DoM Christian Bradley: cwwbradley@gmail.com

2. Organ Recital: On the same day, one of our young members, James Lord, will be giving his first organ recital at St Andrew's, East Hagbourne  (Church Close, East Hagbourne, Didcot OX11 9LP)  on Sunday 1 June at 5.00 pm. Entry is free, with tea and cake on offer afterwards. He will be playing a selection of music including Bach, Vaughan Williams, Flood and Fletcher. Please go along and support him if you can. James is the organ scholar at St Martin's Church in Roath, Cardiff.
   
   

3. Celebrity Organ Recital: Monday, 2 June at 5.30 pm there is a celebrity organ recital at Magdalen College given by  world-renowned organist and pedagogue Ludger Lohmann. His recital will be of German Romantic music, including Mendelssohn’s F minor Sonata No. 1 and Reubke’s thrilling Sonata on the 94th Psalm.  Tickets are £10 (£5 for students) which includes a glass of prosecco (or soft equivalent) and the opportunity to chat informally with the recitalist after the event.

4. In Conversation: Tuesday 3 June at 7.45 pm in Jesus College Chapel there will be a Betts Organ Talk: Chris Bragg (St Andrews University) will be in conversation with the Betts Scholar, Michael Koenig, on the subject of Pressing Issues in the Organ World. Everyone is welcome! Michael writes:
   
   Chris Bragg is a concert organist, scholar and music administrator of the highest calibre. To many, his name will be familiar from his regular contributions in the Choir & Organ magazine.Chris will be addressing topics such as skills building (not least to endorse the importance of all we are trying to do), the importance of being aware of international trends and, most importantly, advocacy for the organ. With respect to the latter, there is strong potential for further collaborations between ODOA members and the Oxford Organ Scholars.

5. Improvisation Workshop: A reminder, and more tempting details.
   Our next event: an Improvisation Workshop, led by ODOA member John Riley.  It's free to players and observers, and we look forward to seeing many of you at St Andrew's, Old Headington, as follows:
   
   Date: Saturday 7 June, 1.30 pm - 5 pm (refreshments on arrival)
   Venue: St Andrew's Church, Old Headington OX3 9DL
   Access: Headington is well served by local bus routes. (Street parking, with restrictions, is available close to the church. There is also a pay & display car park, 5 minutes walk away, next to Waitrose off Old High Street)

The attached notes, from John Riley, give a flavour as to what to expect ... but, with improvisation, who knows? Participants might like to bring a note book, but the focus will be on playing and listening, rather than writing!

The organ, built in 2009 by ODOA member Kenneth Tickell, with pipe shades designed by John Brennan, was cleaned and revoiced in 2022 by Nicholson and Co.: https://npor.org.uk/survey/E01551

Remember: there is no charge for your participation, but regardless of whether you are a member of ODOA, another IAO association or a student member through the Betts Scholarship arrangement, please send an email to Keith Lambert (keithxlambert@gmail.com) as soon as possible if you are planning to attend, saying whether as player or observer. This will help enormously (not least in the provision of chocolate biscuits!).

There are 3 items in this week's update (two of them quite long) - please read to the end!

1. Improvisation Workshop: Saturday 7 June, 1.30 pm - 5 pm  at St Andrew's Church, Old Headington OX3 9DL
   
   Organized in collaboration with the Betts Scholar, Michael Koenig, this is a follow-up to a workshop given in April, but is entirely self-contained. It's free to players and observers.
   
   Based in Edinburgh, the workshop leader, John Riley is a freelance organist with a broad experience in music education and music for church worship. He has a particular interest in organ improvisation and musical pastiche. He has given masterclasses to various groups, including several for the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and was a tutor at the 2024 Creative Oundle for Organists Summer School. His most recent article, on the organ works of Theodore Dubois, appears in the June 2025 issue of Organists' Review.
   
   Introducing the workshop, John writes: The session will cater for all levels of experience and focus on the following areas: 1. Fanfares for gospel readings and short processions. 2. Preludes for before the service and the procession of clergy and choir. 3.  Hymn-based preludes and extensions.  A range of styles will be explored from the 16th to the 20th centuries.
   
   Please do join us for what promises to be an interesting and enlightening session - one that will inspire your own improvisations in future!
   
   Remember: there is no charge for your participation, but please send an email to Keith Lambert (keithxlambert@gmail.com) as soon as possible if you are planning to attend, saying whether as player or observer. 

2. Opening Organ Recital: A notice from ODOA member Phil Johnson: Some of you may be aware that the organ at the Community of St Mary the Virgin (St Mary's Convent), Wantage, has recently had the organ cleaned and overhauled. The organ will be used for the first time since that work for a public recital and Evensong on Sunday 1st June at 3.40pm.
   
   The short opening recital starting at 3.40pm is being played by John P. Ridgway, Organist Emeritus of Wantage Parish. The Evensong will start at 4pm and is sung by the choir of Wantage Parish. The music for recital and Evensong will include:

JS Bach Prelude in E minor BWV555
Thomas Tomkins A Voluntary
Gordon Nevin Will o' the Wisp
Frank Bridge Two Pieces: Allegro comodo; Allegro marziale
Thomas Morley Preces & Responses
Henry Purcell Evening service in G minor
William Byrd O Lord rebuke me not

For those who don't know the organ, it is a small 2 manual instrument with no reeds (hence the renaissance music for Evensong), the flues are beautifully voiced and it fills the building perfectly. Some work has been done to improve the balance between ranks, but the majority of work consisted of cleaning and general repairs. We would love to see a few of you there, in this marvellous acoustic, for what promises to be a lovely recital and service. PS. The Sisters serve excellent cake!

3. Somerville Festival of Piano: On Wednesday 4 June at 8.30 pm in Somerville College Chapel, Woodstock Rd, Oxford OX2 6HD:  Sarah MacDonald (President of the Royal College of Organists) will play J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations as part of the Somerville Festival of Piano. Tickets are £15 (£5 concessions); no other booking details available, as the poster includes an erroneous email! Just contact Somerville if interested: enquiries@some.ox.ac.uk.

There are  4 items on this week's update.

1. Organ Recital: On Monday, 19 May at 5.30 pm there will be a guest organ recital at Magdalen College. Composer and Director of Music at Gonville & Caius’ College, Cambridge, Matthew Martin, gives a diverse recital of works by both himself and others, including Merikanto, Ahrens, Jackson, Racquet, Whitlock, and Vierne. Tickets are now available to book here: https://www.ticketsoxford.com/events/organ-recital-matthew-martin and cost £10.

2. Organ Recital: Also on Monday 19 May at 8.30pm there will be an organ recital by Timothy Morris at Radley College Chapel, Kennington Road, Radley, Oxfordshire, OX14 2HR. All recitals are free, no ticket required.

3. Gloucester Organists Association: Our member Andrew Williams writes to tell us about a visit on Saturday 24 May by the Gloucester Organists Association to four churches around Tewkesbury. Andrew intends to be there and thinks the day might be of interest to our members. Details are attached (Bredon's Norton, Chacely and Ashleworth church organs).

4. Gala Recital at St Mary's Church, Bathwick: On Friday, 6 June at 7.30 pm there will be a Gala Recital at St Mary's Church, Bathwick BA2 4EB given by Martin Baker, formerly Master of the Music at Westminster Cathedral. Tickets £20 from www.bathboxoffice.org.uk

 There are  3  items in this week's update.

1. Summer Lunch We have extended the deadline for joining this year's Summer Lunch at at The White Hart, Dorchester-on-Thames, on Saturday 17 May at 12.00 for 12.30. The cost will be £30 per person. If you would like to join us, please let me know your menu choices as soon as possible. We are hoping to include a visit to St Birinus, a short walk from the hotel, afterwards.

Menu choices:

Starter
A. Soup of the day, buttered sourdough bread
B. Crayfish cocktail, turmeric and chilli sourdough
C. Caesar salad, anchovies, chives, croutons and parmesan

Main course
D. Oven baked haddock, white sauce, crushed potatoes and seasonal greens
E. Steak pie, buttered mash, seasonal vegetables and red wine jus
F. Truffled mushroom linguini, parmesan

Dessert
G. Eton Mess
H. Nonna's Bakewell tart
I. Blueberry cheesecake

Please pay for your meal online to

Account name: Oxford & District Organists' Association
Sort code: 20-85-73
Account number: 70683418

If that's not possible, cheques should be made payable to ODOA and sent to  Keith Lambert, 7 Chandlers Close, Abingdon OX14 2NN

2. All Saints Church, Down Ampney, is running a series of Spring/Summer organ recitals in aid of the Church Organ Fund. The organ is a 140-year-old Walker/Vaughan Williams organ, and there will be tea, coffee and cakes at 10.30 am, followed by the recital at 11.00 am.

• Sat 10 May: Andrew Kirk (concert organist and late of St Mary Redcliffe)

• Sat 28 June: Jonathan Hope (concert organist and  Assistant Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral)

• Sat 5 July: Thomas Hawkes (organist and Director of Music at Cirencester Parish Church)

Admission is free with a retiring collection.

3. Maggie Pemberton One of our more distant members, Maggie Pemberton (who is based in Germany), has shared her latest article for the Organ Club Journal. Scans of the cover and article are attached (OCJa, OCJb, OCJc)

There are 5 items in this week's update, so please remember to read to the end!

1. ODOA Summer Lunch Most urgently, we need menu choices (sent to me) for the Summer Lunch by Wednesday 7 May, so do think about joining us on Saturday 17 May at 12.00 for 12.30 at The White Hart, Dorchester on Thames. This is a lovely old coaching inn, and for the last 2 years they have provided us with excellent food and service. The menu is attached, and the cost is £30. There may be an opportunity afterwards to visit the organ at St Birinus, Dorchester on Thames. It's a great opportunity to meet other members socially.

2. The First Church of Christ Scientist, Oxford (36a St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LD) is looking for an organist for Sunday 11 May. Pam Naden writes:
   Our Sunday Service begins at 10.30am and lasts an hour. The soloist arrives about 10am for a run through with the organ. The music required is approx. 6 minutes of prelude before the service; 3 hymns; accompaniment to a soloist; offertory interlude (about 1 minute); postlude (about 2 minutes). I can provide the hymns and solo music. The church is open from about 9.30am. Please let me know if anyone is interested in this paid opportunity. I can supply further details as required. Email to: pam.naden@btinternet.com.

3. St James the Great Church, Fulbrook John Radcliffe, the Church Warden of  of St James the Great Church, Fulbrook, Burford, is looking for a regular organist. He writes:
   Now that Brian Kay, our Organist, is moving away we are trying to find someone to replace him and wondered if you can help us. At present we have four Sunday services a month at  9.30am. We have a very good organ which we keep in good order. If you know of anyone who could help us we would be extremely grateful and of course would be prepared to pay for their services.

4. Organ recital at Radley College Rachel Mahon, Director of Music at Coventry Cathedral, will give an organ recital at Radley College at 8.30 pm on Monday 12 May. Tickets (no charge) can be booked via this link: https://www.radley.org.uk/news-events/events/celebrity-organist-rachel-mahon/

5. Finally, we would like to extend a welcome to our newest member, John Oxlade. We hope you will be able to join us at ODOA events, John.

There are  3  items in this week's update.

1. Improvisation workshops: It's not too late to register your interest in John Riley's Improvisation workshops on this Saturday 26 April. Michael Koenig emphasises that no one should feel intimidated by the presence of the organ scholars - not least because those who have signed up are all freshers with relatively little experience. Some ODOA members are going along to Pusey House as observers, which will help their preparations for John's improvisation workshop for ODOA on 7 June. You can sign up HERE. If you would like to attend as an observer, say this in Section 7 of the form.

2. Inaugural Recital at Lincoln College Michael also tells us that he will be playing the inaugural recital of the new organ series hosted by Lincoln College on Wednesday 30 April at 2.10 pm (after the recital at Queen's).Michael writes: My programme seeks to reflect the manifold transitions that happened in English organ building throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries, which are also represented in the style and aesthetics of the beautiful Drake organ at Lincoln Chapel. The programme is also closely linked with my academic research about 19th-century English organ culture.

3. Orgues Nouvelles: John Brennan suggests that the information below may be of interest to members: Orgues Nouvelles is being published online in English.  A test version is available: see the link HERE

There are 4 items in the update this week.

1. Andrew Chamblin Memorial Concert
   We have received advance notice that the annual Andrew Chamblin Memorial Concert will be given by Roger Sayer ARCM FTCL at 8 pm in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford on Wednesday 2nd July 2025 and will also be livestreamed online. Mr Sayer will play an hour-long programme of organ works by Jackson, Reger, Vivaldi and Bach. The concert is free. There are no tickets required for in person attendance in the Cathedral and the weblink for the live-streamed performance is here: https://youtube.com/live/AxlxZJSfWp8 I will remind everyone again nearer the time, but do make a note in your diary.

2. Gloucestershire Organists' Association
   The Secretary and Newsletter Editor of the Gloucestershire Organists' Association, Simon Gibson,  has sent us their newsletter. Any ODOA members living near enough to visit would be welcome to contact him for more information. The newsletter is attached.

3. Shakespeare Organ Recital
   The annual Shakespeare Organ Recital at Holy Trinity Church, Old Town, Statford-upon-Avon will be given by Martin Baker on Thursday 24 April at 7.30 pm. This will be the inaugural recital following the organ's recent restoration, and the programme will include works by Beethoven, JS Bach, Mendelssohn, Widor, Judith Bingham and Martin Baker (improvisation) Tickets £15 from www.htcfom.co.uk or on the door.

4. Visit to Brasenose College
   On Monday 7 April, ODOA was privileged to visit Brasenose College, to see, hear and play Oxford's newest organ. Keith Lambert writes:

Seventeen members and friends (including two organ builders) assembled for our visit to the new organ by the Belgian firm, Orgues de Facto: their first instrument in the UK. It was the first time I had visited the college in my 44 years in Oxford, as it was for several others. T. G. Jackson's architecture is notable for the wooden ceiling and the organ case, which has been entirely retained. Nothing remains of the previous organ by Peter Collins, except perhaps some case pipes facing the ante-chapel.

With just 15 stops, the organ is conceived as a multum-in-parvo instrument, to a very specific brief (as per the former Director of Music): 

'The brief we refined prioritized a romantic organ in a single cogent style, I.e. avoiding hybridization for the sake of repertoire or other typical demands ... to service (in order of priority): the ceremonial/liturgical demands of the chapel and college, the repertoire of the chapel and its choir, solo repertoire, the technical and musical development of organ scholars and other organists, etc.'

A glance at the specification reveals much that is unusual: no mixtures, not even a 2' on the Great, etc. https://npor.org.uk/survey/S00299

1. Our member Peter Foster writes:
   We are looking forward to a wonderful evening of music by local teenage organists Catherine, James, Max, Thalia, Will and Zihan at St. Helen's Church Abingdon on Saturday April 5th, starting at 7.30.  As well as Bach (obviously), they will be playing an impressive range of music by Boëllman, Demessieux, Duruflé, Jongen, Mendelssohn, Rogg, and Vierne.  There will also be seasonal choral music by Purcell, Tallis and Byrd, performed by the Helenstowe Consort.  Tickets are available on the door or from Ticketsource, price £10 (accompanied U16s free).

2. On Monday 7 April  from 7.00 pm there will be an ODOA visit to Brasenose College, Oxford, to hear and play the new organ. The specification can be found here: https://npor.org.uk/survey/S00299. The entrance to Brasenose is in Radcliffe Square: a map of Brasenose can be found here: https://www.bnc.ox.ac.uk/downloads/maps/Brasenose_College_Map_-_29.09.21.pdf 

The new organ is somewhat unusual: more information has been provided for us by Christian Wilson (he is now Director of Music at Keble, but was essentially responsible for commissioning the new Brasenose organ).

The brief we refined prioritised a romantic organ in a single cogent style, i.e. avoiding hybridisation for the sake of repertoire or other typical demands…

to service (in order of priority): the ceremonial/liturgical demands of the chapel and college, the repertoire of the chapel and its choir, solo repertoire, the technical and musical development of organ scholars and other organists, etc.

There are 2 items in the update this week, both relating to electronic organs.

1. Our member Charles Woodward is appealing for advice about his Wyvern 2/43 stop digital organ which needs attention. He writes:

This is usually provided by Royston Orme from Kidderminster but he is closing his business at the end of this month and I have not found anybody to replace him.

I know that other members of ODOA have similar instruments and wonder if any of them have found anyone to fill this gap? 

I think I have been using Royston’s skills for the best part of fifty years so I am bereft and I have an immediate problem as the instrument  can only be played using earphones! 

Any help would be deeply appreciated.

If you know of anyone who can help, please contact Charles directly at: cew@mawltd.com

2. Rebecca Lowden has an organ looking for a new home. She writes:

I wondered if any of your members might be interested in taking my grandad's old electric organ? I'd love to find someone who would make use of it rather than it being destined for the recycling centre! I'm not looking for anything for it, I'd just like it to be used. 

The Viscount organ was previously in very good condition, much loved and played multiple times a week. However for the last decade it has sat idle, I think it is still in a reasonable condition but appears to have some loose wiring so would require a bit of TLC. (Sometimes part of the upper register loses sound, but then the sound comes back if the organ is repositioned, so I think the likely cause would be a loose wire.)

Rebecca is in Thame (OX9). Please contact her directly at: raholmes93@gmail.com

There are 3 items on the update today.

1. This is the third week of Christ Church Cathedral's Student Organ Outreach Recitals, when two young organists share a short concert, each of them playing for 15 minutes on a Sunday afternoon. This week, ODOA member Jonathan Reynolds (organ scholar at St Mary's, Witney) is one of the players.  All are welcome to attend this recital and support these two young organists. 

The recital is at 3 pm on Sunday 9 March in Christ Church Cathedral. Admission is free, and you should be able to enter via Tom Gate, rather than having to follow the Harry Potter crowds.

2. Other organ recitals in Oxford this week:

• Saturday 8 March 12.00 pm Magdalen College Chapel: Henry Morris (Magdalen College)

• Monday 10 March 5.15 pm Magdalen College Chapel: Isabelle Demers (McGill University, Montreal) Price £10

• Tuesday 11 March 1.10 pm Exeter College Chapel: Anita Datta (in collaboration with the RETUNE Festival)

• Tuesday 11 March 9.00 pm New College Chapel: Christopher Stokes (Manchester Cathedral)

• Wednesday 12 March 1.10 pm Queen's College Chapel: Arthur Barton (The Queen's College)

• Thursday 13 March 8.30 pm Keble College Chapel: Andrea Cipriani (Professor, University of Oxford)

3. Kathryn Phillips of High Wycombe writes:

On Thursdays March 13, 20 & 27, 12:30-1:10 pm, David Phillips, organist, will play recitals around the theme of Psalm 130 ('Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord') on the Peter Collins organ of Wesley Methodist Church, High Wycombe HP13 6SE.  Composers include J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn and Max Reger.  Admission is free but donations of cash and/or tinned goods for One Can Trust will be very gratefully received.

Programme details are attached.

There are 4 items in the update this week.

1. Claire Hobbs (who is currently finishing her year as President of the Bristol and District Organists' Association) has moved to Oxford. She is looking for a church where she might practice for some upcoming recitals. She is happy to pay, or offer to deputise in return for access to the organ. Please contact her directly at cmkitay@outlook.com

2. An exciting opportunity for young organists: our member Peter Foster writes
   St. Helen's Church Abingdon is hosting a Young Organists' Showcase on Saturday April 5th at 7.30.  This will include performances by young organists from the Oxford and Abingdon area, alongside seasonal choral music by Tallis, Byrd and Purcell, performed by the Helenstowe Consort.  Any organists aged 19 or under who would like the chance to perform on St. Helen's fine three-manual Harrison instrument are invited to contact Peter Foster at DirectorOfMusic@sthelens-abingdon.org.uk with details of what you would like to play (you should be roughly Grade 7 standard or above).

3. Robin Lemaire is trying to dispose of his father's  Johannes Opus 20 Organ.
   The only requirement is that the new owner collects it from Ewelme. Please contact Robin at robinlemaire74@gmail.com.

4. Free organ recitals this week:

• Saturday 15th February at 12.00, Magdalen College Chapel: Drew Sellis (Magdalen College)

• Tuesday 18 February at 1.10pm,  Exeter College Chapel: Turl Street Music Festival: Music for 4 hands and feet by Exeter, Jesus and Lincoln Colleges

• Tuesday 18 February at 9.00pm, New College Chapel: James Anderson-Besant (Truro Cathedral) 'Memories'

• Wednesday 19th February at 1.10pm, The Queen's College Chapel: James Perkins (Berkhamstead School)

• Thursday 20 February at 8.30 pm: Stephen Darlington (Christ Church College)

This week's update has 2 items.

1. Michael Koenig, The Betts Scholar, shares this message from Esther Lay, rector of Wootton with Glympton and Kiddington:
   
   We need to hire an organist long-term for Wootton by Woodstock (about twelve miles north of Oxford). The job is very easy and well paid: £100 for three hymns and a voluntary, with a bit of improvisation during the setting up of the altar. It might suit a beginner who wants a low-pressure environment in which to get used to liturgical playing. The only caveat is that the organist must provide his or her own transport, not least because the locations rotate: Glympton, Wootton, and Kiddington. It would normally be only the second, third, and fourth Sundays in each month (the first Sunday of each month involves folk instruments). We’re catholic in worship style, but low-key and friendly. The Rector is a professional musician and looking for a good and collaborative colleague.
   
   Might this be of interest to anyone you know? In the short term, we need someone to play this Sunday in Glympton.  I’m happy to chat on the phone if anyone wants more details: 07896460905.

2. Organ recitals this week:

• Tuesday 11 February at 1.10 pm Exeter College  - Hilary Norris

• Tuesday 11 February at 9.00 pm New College - George Herbert 'Fairytales'

• Wednesday 12 February at 1.10 pm The Queen's College - Rudyard Cook

• Thursday 13 February at 8.30 pm Keble College  - Frederick Frostwick

There are 4 items in the update this week.

1. The Oxford Music Festival Organ classes were held on Saturday 25 January at St Andrew's Church, headington, using the Ken Tickell organ. Our committee member Peter Stutfield acts as liaison between ODOA and the OMF organisers, and Chris Greenough organised and helped with the practice sessions in the morning. There were three participants in the competitive class (ODOA sponsors the Michael Popkin Memorial Award, for young players under 25) and  five in the non-competitive class (where performers receive feedback from the adjudicator). There were many excellent performances of a very varied programme of music and a small but very attentive audience.

2. There will be a series of recitals at the Birmingham Royal Conservatoire this term. The first is on Tuesday 4 February at 6.00 pm, by Erwan le Prado (Caen), in the Organ Studio at BRC: 200 Jennens Road, B4 7XR Tickets are free.

3. Recitals in Oxford this week:

• Monday 3 February at 5.30 pm at Magdalen College Chapel. Christopher Allsop, organist of Eton College, will play a range of music from seven centuries. Tickets are £10 on the door. All Monday recitals are followed by refreshments in the Antechapel, with a chance to meet the recitalist.

• Wednesday 5 February at 1.10 pm at The Queen's College Chapel. Our member Michael Koenig, the Betts Scholar,  plays 'Organ Transcriptions Revisited'. Admission free with retiring collection. (Live streams and recordings are available here: https://www.queenschoir.com/organ-recitals)

4. Finally, our Treasurer, Keith Lambert, reminds us that ODOA subscriptions are now due. From Saturday 1 February the rate increases to £15 for those who have still to pay. Please see the attachment for details. We look forward to hearing from you.

There are 5 items in this week's news.

1. Tomorrow (Saturday 25 January) is the day for this year's Oxford Music Festival Organ Classes. Do go along to St Andrew's Old Headington at 2.00 pm to hear some outstanding music.

2. James Lancelot (who led an excellent workshop for us last year) writes:
   
   Please could I draw your attention to the Stanley Vann Scholarship, which is awarded each year to a student who shows promise in liturgical choral conducting?  The webpage which explains it is here: https://iao.org.uk/grants/stanley-vann/ .
   
   If there are any promising students among ODOA members it would be very good to receive their applications.  The closing date is 31 March; recent awards have been £1000.  Anything you can do to publicise it would be very useful; the more candidates we attract, the better!

3. The Birmingham Royal Conservatoire is launching a series of four celebrity recitals this term. They are:

• 4th February: Erwan le Prado (Caen)

• 11th March: Nathan Laube (New York)

• 25th March: Pier Damiano Peretti (Vienna)

• 8th April: Daniel Moult (London, Birmingham)

All performances take place 6–7 pm on the beautiful instruments – by Drake and Flentrop – of the Organ Studio at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (Postcode: B4 7XR).

Entry is free, but seating is limited, so please kindly reserve a place here: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/events-calendar/celebrity-organ-series-04-02-2025

4. Also tomorrow, 25 January, at 7.00pm, Lucille Dollar ((Radio France, Paris) will play Transcriptions of French Impressionistic music at Exeter College. Full price tickets are £15, Standard concessions £7.50

5. Finally, on Wednesday 29 January at 1.10pm there will be an organ recital in The Queen's College Chapel by Thomas Simpson of Trinity College, Cambridge. Admission free with a retiring collection

For the final update of 2024 we offer five items of news.

1. On Sunday 29 December at 5.30pm our member Peter Foster will present a selection from Olivier Messaien's  La Nativité  du Seigneur at St Helen's Church Abingdon (St Helen's Court, Abingdon, OX14 5BS). Admission is free; there will be a retiring collection. A link to the flyer.

2. On Sunday 5 January at 5.00 pm  at St Peter's Church, Wolvercote, our member Chris Fletcher-Campbell will conduct the East Oxford Choral Society in excerpts from Bach's Christmas Oratorio (St Peter's Church, First Turn, Wolvercote, OX2 8AQ). A link to the flyer.
   
   

3. On Saturday 11 January the Gloucester Organists' Association will visit St Gregory's Church, Cheltenham, to hear the newly installed Father Willis organ (St Gregory the Great, 10 St James Square, Cheltenham, GL50 3PR). Our member Andrew Williams invites us to join it. He adds:

Originally it was built for St Mark's Anglican church, Horsham (see NPOR N15642). I think it spent some time in Willis' storage after the demolition of the old church, maybe throughout the 1990s; and was later installed by the same firm in St John's Seminary, Wonersh, in 2004 (see NPOR K00113), with addition of pedal ophicleide. Once the seminary had closed, the Cooke Organs removed the organ in late 2022 and transplanted it to St Gregory's over the following 18 months. This instrument is now registered as M00224 in NPOR and its specs could be found at https://npor.org.uk/survey/M00224.

4.  However, on the same day and time there is also a celebration of the restoration of the organ at Cranham Church, with a recital by Paul Hale, insights from Ross Daly on his restoration work, and a celebratory glass of fizz for those attending (St James the Great, Church Lane, Cranham GL4 8HP).

5. Here is a look ahead to what the ODOA Programme for 2025 holds. All events will be publicised nearer the time via the update, and dates may be subject to confirmation as we move through the year.

• Monday 20 January – Zoom presentation about the 2024 Organ Tour.

• Saturday 25 January – Oxford Music Festival at St Andrew’s Headington.

• Monday 24 February – Zoom presentation about the Hill family.

• Monday 24 March – Zoom presentation about organ design.

• Monday 7 April – Visit to Brasenose College Chapel.

• Late April – improvisation workshop with John Riley. Date to be arranged.

• Saturday 24 May – Summer lunch.

• June – visit to Horton-cum-Studley, possibly to include lunch and a visit to Beckley. Date to be arranged.

• July – visit to The Queen’s College. Date to be arranged.

• Monday 15 to Friday 19 September – Organ Tour, possibly to Brittany.

Finally, the committee sends good wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all our members!

1. THE FIRST Royal Birmingham Conservatoire  (RBC) YOUNG ORGANISTS' ACADEMY - Sat 22nd February 2025, 11am - 4 pm

An exciting opportunity for school pupils working at grade 7+ to be fired up by masterclasses from RBC's inspirational tutors, Daniel Moult & Nicholas Wearne, to play RBC's beautiful organs, and to work on effective strategies to manage their musical lives!

FREE OF CHARGE  - LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE

Please email daniel.moult@bcu.ac.uk by 31st January to register your interest, with a few sentences about your playing achievements to date, and a couple of suggested pieces. The Juliet organ (William Drake Ltd) is suitable for Romantic music as well as more recent repertoires. The Wolfson Organ (Flentrop) is a copy of a German Baroque instrument. 

If you are under 18, your parent or guardian must be copied into the email exchange, and you must be accompanied on the day.

2. Andrew Patterson writes:

I wonder if all ODOA members heard the wonderful organ dialog at the opening of Notre Dame on Saturday?  Archbishop Lauren Ulrich spoke to the organ 7 times,  and it replied with different improvisations…    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV4yfmrkV8c     Starts at 1hr 27m into the link.  Well worth the time to look at!

3. On a similar topic, you might like to read Martin White's account here: https://martinwhite.substack.com/

4. Finally, one of our new members, Louis Fletcher, is looking for more opportunities to play the organ next term.

He is free on Sunday mornings in term time. He is currently the Junior Organ Scholar at Lincoln College, and would be pleased to hear from you if you need someone to fill in for you. Contact the ODOA Secretary in the first instance.

This week's update has 4 items.

1. St Martin’s Church, Bladon is looking for an organist to assist with two Sunday services a month and occasional other services (including weddings and funerals) from January 2025. There is a small choir. The 1906 pipe organ was completely refurbished in 2023 and is in excellent condition. For further details please contact the Rector, Revd Sarah Bourne on sarah.bourne@woodstockandbladon.com or the Rector’s Secretary on stmmwoodstock@gmail.com (tel 01993 812915).

2. John Brennan would like to remind everyone that if they are wishing to buy books for organists this Christmas (or put a book on their own Christmas list), the Positif Press website is here: https://www.positifpress.com

3. North German Organ Tour In the New Year there will be a Zoom presentation (with video clips) about this year's organ tour to North Germany. To whet your appetite, Malcolm Pearce has written an illustrated account of this, his first such tour.

4. Organ recitals in Oxford this week:

Sat 23 November 12.00pm - Christopher Too, Magdalen College Chapel
Mon 25 November 5.30 pm - Ben Bloor, Magdalen College Chapel (Tickets £5)
Tues 26 November 1.10 pm - Jonathan White, Exeter College Chapel
Wed 27 November 1.10 pm - Rudyard Cook, The Queen's College Chapel
Thurs 28 November 1.15 pm - François Cloete, Merton College Chapel
Thurs 28 November 1.15 pm - Carl Jackson, New College Chapel
Thurs 28 November 8.30 pm - Alyssa Chan, Keble College Chapel

Dear ODOA member

There are only 2 items in the update this week.

1.  Revd Esther Lay writes:

I'm looking for an organist to play on Christmas Eve in Wootton by Woodstock, for Midnight Mass at 11.30pm. I can offer accommodation overnight if that is an issue. We can offer £50. There is no choir; it will just be congregational hymns.

The Revd Esther Lay

Rector

The Parish of Wootton with Glympton and Kiddington 

glymechurches.org

If you can offer to help, please contact Esther directly at: brazile@gmail.com

2. Organ recitals in Oxford this week are:

Sat 16 November, 11.00 am - Edward Byrne, Magdalen College Chapel

Mon 18 November, 5.30 pm - Peter Stevens, Magdalen College Chapel (Ticketed: £5)

Tues 19 November, 1.10 pm - Himeno Nlimi, Exeter College Chapel

Wed 20 November, 12.00 pm - Christopher Fletcher-Campbell, Oxford Town Hall (Ticketed: £6.50, cash only)

Wed 20 November, 1.10 pm - Claire Alsop, The Queen's College Chapel

Thur 21 November, 1.15 pm - Giovanni Goggi, New College Chapel

Thur 21 November, 8.30 pm - Timara Easter, Keble College Chapel

Fri 22 November, 1.15 pm - Huw Williams, Merton College Chapel

There are 4 items in the update this week.

1. ODOA AMG
   Don't forget that the AGM is on Monday 4 November at 7.00 (for drinks and nibbles) and 7.30 (for the brief business meeting). This will be followed by a short recital and then a light supper provided by the committee. Please note the new location: Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry OX3 8NU - we are grateful to our member Andrew Patterson for arranging use of the church for us. Full details (including the Zoom invitation) were sent in my email on 14 October. If you need the Zoom invitation again or any other information, please contact me this weekend.

2. The Oxford Music Festival Organ Classes - Saturday 25 January 2025.
   The ODOA has supported the Oxford Music Festival for many years, and many of our members have participated. This year the organ classes return to St Andrew's Church in Old Headington, and the Kenneth Tickell organ.

The closing date for entries is only 8 days away - Saturday 9th November 2024. As
with all festivals, the class will only remain available if there are participants. Do consider entering
this year and participating in a very friendly and enjoyable session of music making.

The entry fee is only £14 for the competitive class (25 years or younger) or £16 for the non-competitive class, for which you can present an 8-minute programme and receive some encouraging and enlightening feedback from the expert adjudicator.

Details of the Festival and the Organ Classes may be found at:

• Oxford Music Festival

• OMF Organ Classes

Do encourage other organists you know - both young and not so young - to join in.

3. Betts Centre Master Class
   You may remember that the Betts Centre Fauré Masterclass led by Richard Gowers was opened to the ODOA. Our member Naomi Bowen writes:

I went to this, and am so glad I did. There were about 20 of us in attendance, mostly youngsters and mostly male, and Michael, or perhaps Richard, had had the forethought to bring along some full scores, so for me the highlight was when one of the attendees played, while others sang, the opening of the Requiem. Richard, by the way, looked impossibly young himself to have acquired so many awards and distinctions already!

As always, it was a great pleasure to see, as well as hear, Merton's beautiful instrument. Many thanks.

4. Oxford recitals this week

• Saturday 2 November 12.00 pm - George Herbert, Magdalen College Chapel

• Tuesday 5 November 1.10 pm - Polina Sosnina, Exeter College Chapel

• Wednesday 6 November 1.10 pm - George Herbert, The Queen's College Chapel

• Thursday 7 November 1.15 pm - Andrew Lumsden, Merton College Chapel

• Thursday 7 November 1.15 pm - Joseph Hyam, New College Chapel

• Thursday 7 November 8.30 pm - Frederick Frostwick, Keble College Chapel

Visit to Chelsea Old - Saturday 5th October

We have arranged to visit and play the 2019 IIIP33 William Drake Ltd organ at Chelsea Old Church,  Old Church Street, SW3 5DQ from 10.30am.

The church is on the north side of the Thames, on Chelsea Embankment between Battersea and Albert bridges.   Nearest tube stations are Sloane Square (0.7 miles)  or South Kensington (0.9 miles)  Buses 11, 19, 22, 170, 319 and 345 stop close to the church. Details of the organ including pictures can be found at NPOR | Survey [V00558] The Director of Music, Andrew Macmillan, hopes to be available to meet us and show us the organ.

Bryan has been in contact with St. Giles-in-the-Fields, 60 St Giles High Street, London, WC2H 8LG to see if we can visit and play their 2006 IIIP31 Drake/Gray & Davison organ on Saturday afternoon, for those that would like to make a day of it. 

St Giles is close to Tottenham Court Road tube station and not far from Foyles bookshop on Charing Cross Road. Bryan hopes to hear back from St. Giles this week and will confirm as soon as possible. Details of the St Giles organ can be found at NPOR | Survey [P00119]

Meanwhile, please let Bryan know if you are planning to attend (bryanalmond10@gmail.com) and we look forward to seeing you at Chelsea Old Church on Saturday morning if you can make it.

There are only two items in the update this week.

1. The ODOA Committee 

The ODOA committee is meeting soon to plan next year's programme. If you have any suggestions for events, workshops or visits, please email me with your ideas before next weekend.

2.  Bachhaus 4

ODOA member Ian Needleman writes with advance notice of the next Bachhaus event in February 2025:

We are delighted the announce details of Bachhaus 4 on 1 February 2025. The theme for the day will be ‘Bach the Vocalist’. The wonderful Dan Moult will again run a workshop in the morning followed by a masterclass for six players and up to four observers. We expect to fill the places quickly and the event will also be promoted by the Royal College of Organists. As in previous years, we will reserve two performer places for state school students. The Champniss Foundation is generously covering the costs of these places which we can offer at no cost to the players and will include coverage of reasonable travel.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like to discuss Bachhaus 4 with us. In the meantime, we can highly recommend the Proms performance of the St John Passion by the Bach Collegium Japan available until mid-October (www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0021xb2) for inspiration on vocal line and dialogue with instrumentalists.

As always, our grateful thanks go to the Royal College of Organists and to the Champniss Foundation for their support of Bachhaus.

If you are interested, please contact Ian for full details of the event and an application form: ineedleman@aol.com

Best wishes

Ian and Hilary

Dear ODOA member

There are only two items for you this week, both advertising upcoming recitals:

1. Our member Arne Richards will give a Harpsichord Recital at the Charlbury Arts Festival on Sunday 25th August from 3.00pm to 4.00pm at the Memorial Hall, Charbury. Tickets are £10. 

2. Discounted tickets are available to ODOA members for the Grand Organ Festival at Westminster Cathedral. William Waine, Music and Liturgy Administrator, writes: In 2023, we were delighted to welcome our largest Grand Organ Festival audiences since 2019 to hear stunning recitals by Simon Johnson, Peter Stevens, Martin Schmeding and Johann Vexo.

We are delighted to announce another thrilling line-up for the 2024 edition, and warmly invite Oxford and District Organists' Association members to buy their tickets at a discounted price of £10, a discount of 33%.

The recitals take place each Wednesday in September, beginning at 7.30pm. Each performance lasts 75 minutes without an interval. Tickets are available on the door. 

Members should present this announcement on arrival to purchase their tickets for £10.

Dear ODOA member

There are three items on the update this week.

1. First of all, Happy Birthday

Congratulations to Charles Mould, who is 96 in the coming week. We think he may be our oldest member - are there any other contenders for the post?

2. Next, an opportunity at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in November

ORGAN FESTIVAL: FREE MASTERCLASS FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS  Approx Grade 7 and above; up to age 18

Saturday 9 November (1.00pm warm-up, 2.00pm class)

Part of the Organ Festival 2024, this is an exciting opportunity to play in a public masterclass with Daniel Moult on RBC's new Juliet & Wolfson organs by Drake & Flentrop.

There will also be an early evening festival concert by the stellar German concert organist, Anna-Victoria Baltrusch (6.00pm) .

Please email daniel.moult@bcu.ac.uk by 16th September to register your interest, with a few sentences about your playing achievements to date, and a couple of suggested pieces. 

If you are under 18, your parent or guardian must be copied into the email exchange, and you must be accompanied on the day.

3. Introduction to the Hauptwerk

Iain Russell sends a reminder of the Introduction to the Hauptwerk organ, at his home in Standlake on Saturday 21st September. This event is free and open to all members, and includes the opportunity to hear John Hosking (organist at Blackburn Cathedral)  demonstrate the Blackburn and Laurenskirk systems. Please contact Iain directly if you would like to attend, as spaces are limited. ihrussell2020@gmail.com

Dear ODOA member

There are four items on this week's update; please read to the end!

1. An opportunity in the parish of Winchcombe: Director of Music.  £8,000 - £10,000 depending on experience and qualifications

The parish of Winchcombe, in the beautiful Cotswolds, seek a talented Director of Music to:

• Lead the delivery of music in worship

• Enable our choristers to grow in musicality

• Oversee the delivery of music across the parish

Please complete an application form, which can be downloaded from the website https://www.winchcombeparish.org.uk and return electronically or by post.  For further details and/or an application form please email: revdpenny@winchcombeparish.org.uk or write to: Revd David Penny St Peter’s Centre Gloucester Street Winchcombe GL54 5LU.

2. The organ music of Théodore Dubois

Our member John Riley has shared a link to an article on the organ music of Théodore Dubois (this year is the centenary of his death). It is available on his website: www.johnrileyorganist.com.

Go to 'Publications and Resources' and then 'Books and Articles' and scroll down to find the article on Dubois.

3. An introduction to the Hauptwerk system

Our member Iain Russell is offering an introduction to the Hauptwerk system on Saturday 21 September at his home in Stadhampton. This is now open to all members (not just Young Members and their parents). Contact him directly to book a place: ihrussell2020@gmail.com.

4. The Church Organ World Roadshow is coming

to Highworth in October

Roadshow at Highworth St Michael (SN6 7AD): Friday 25th Friday 17:00 - 19:00; Saturday 26th October  10:00 - 15:00.

Several organs available to play, sheet music and OrganMaster shoes for purchase (please confirm your interest likely size in advance).

Keith Harrington, the Managing Director, points out that entry is free, and that not only will there be several quality digital organs available to try, but 'we will have with us around 1,000 sheet organ music titles for sale … probably more sheet organ music in one place than organists will have seen for many a year.'

Dear ODOA member

There are 3 items on this week's update:

1. The Aspiring Organists Workshop on Saturday 20th July at Wolvercote. This is for anyone who has had no formal organ training, but who is sometimes prevailed upon to accompany church services on the organ.  Experienced teacher Malcolm Pearce will offer advice on the basic technicalities of playing the organ (with or without feet!), practical advice (aka a bluffer's guide) to accompanying hymns and service music, and gentle appraisal of voluntary repertoire that delegates bring along to share with the group. If you (or anyone you know) would like to take part, do contact Peter Stutfield as soon as possible: peter.stutfield@googlemail.com
   
   

2. The RCO is running 'The Organ Student Experience Week' in Oxford at the end of this month, with two interesting recitals available.

Tuesday 23 July, 20:00 - 21.15hrs

Erwan Le Prado (St Etienne Abbey, Caen)

Keble College Chapel, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PG

Music by Bach, Bruna, de Arauxo, de Grigny, Tournemire, Vierne

Friday 26 July, 13:15 - 14:00hrs

Carolyn Craig (Wells Cathedral)

Magdalen College Chapel, High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AU

Music by Kerensa Briggs, Dupré, Duruflé, Horatio Parker, Udi Perlman, Cecilia McDowell 

Admission free/retiring collection. Full programmes available at https://www.rco.org.uk/events/TOSE24

3. Introduction to Hauptwerk: Don't forget the offer by committee member Iain Russell of an introduction to the Hauptwerk system on Saturday 21 September at his home in Stadhampton. Details attached. Contact him directly to book a place: ihrussell2020@gmail.com.

Dear ODOA member

This week's Friday Update has 5 items for you.

1. Orgelbüchlein workshop

First, a reminder that next Saturday, 6 July is the Orgelbüchlein workshop led by James Lancelot. Held at St Andrew's Church, Headington, there will be refreshments available from 1.30pm and a 2.00pm start. Come along for an afternoon of music and discussion of interest to everyone.

2. Organ recitals at All Saints' Church, Down Ampney

Our member Andrew Williams tells us about a series of morning organ recitals at All Saints' Church, Down Ampney on Saturdays in August. Tea, coffee and cakes at 10.30 am and recitals rom 11.00 to 11.45am. Retiring collections in aid of the Organ Conservation Fund (the organ is described as a 150-year-old Walker/Vaughan Williams instrument). Players are Keith Hearnshaw (Concert Organist) on 17 August, Sam Bristow (Assistant Organist, Chelmsford Cathedral) on 24 August, and Carleton Etherington (Organist and Director of Music, Tewkesbury Abbey) on 31 August.

3. Demonstration of Hauptwerk System

Advance notice of an ODOA event on Saturday 21 September. Young members with their parents are invited to the home of Dr Iain Russell to hear the Blackburn Cathedral organ (Hauptwerk) demonstrated by the cathedral's organist-in-residence John Hosking. Please read the email attachmentBand let us know if you would like to attend (numbers will be limited).

4. John Brennan attended the funeral of our much-loved member Jill Greer this week. 

He writes:

I attended the funeral of Jill Greer (1938–2024) yesterday at St Nicholas’s Church, Chadlington at 12 noon. It was a Service of Thanksgiving for her life directed by the Rector, Mark Abrey, who had known her for many years.

Having lived in Ulster for most of her life, Jill returned to England after her husband's death and settled in Chadlington. She was an active organist, playing regularly at several churches in the area, and joined the ODOA in the early 2000s.

From 2003 onwards she came on the ODOA European Tours every year, and took part in 16 trips in total. 

These had clearly formed an important part of her life and were mentioned several times during the Service, and at the reception afterwards.

Apart from myself, there were three other former or present members of the ODOA present, and one of them, Maureen Lake, delivered one of the Eulogies.

It was a deeply religious Service with excellent music and readings which Jill had selected, in a beautifully restful historic church – and a fitting memorial for her.

5. ODOA Member Gordon Curtis died this week. 

Richard Vendome was in touch with him and will send details of the funeral in due course.

Dear ODOA member

Apologies for an extra email, but this is just a reminder for the recital at Christ Church on Thursday this week:

The 18th annual Andrew Chamblin Memorial Concert will be given by Wayne Marshall OBE at 8 pm in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, on Thursday 20 June 2024, and will also be livestreamed online.

Mr Marshall will play an hour-long programme of organ works by Dupré, Laurin and Bach. The concert is free. There are no tickets required for in-person attendance in the Cathedral and the weblink for the live-streamed performance is below: https://tinyurl.com/oxfordconcert2024

Dear ODOA member

There are 4 items on this week's update: please read to the end!

1. Sadly, our dear friend Jill Greer died recently. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday 26 June at 12 noon at St Nicholas Church, Chadlington OX7 3LX. There is roadside parking opposite the Church or in Church Road.

Rosy Nixon, who has led the choir there for many years, has been asked to speak about Jill's love of church music, especially the organ. If anyone has any memories of Jill they would be willing to share, please contact Rosy at rosy.nixon@btinternet.com as soon as possible.

2. A last-minute reminder of the Banbury Organ Day tomorrow, Saturday 15 June. If you have ever wondered what it's like to study the organ at an advanced level, come and hear the masterclass given by Daniel Moult as he coaches students from the Birmingham Royal Conservatoire. There will also be recitals, an opportunity for young keyboard players to try the organ, and a workshop on liturgical organ playing. I will circulate a separate email with booking links, but you may also just turn up tomorrow without booking.

3. Do think about coming to St Andrew's Church, Headington on Saturday 6 July for James Lancelot's Workshop on the Orgelbuchlein, and put the date in your diary. Even if you don't wish to play (there is one place left for players), it will be a fascinating afternoon of music and discussion, as James will give an introduction to the Buchlein before the masterclass and a short recital afterwards. Details are on the website. Observers pay only £10 and there will be free refreshments. Contact me if you would like to come so I know how much cake to provide!

4. Finally, Andrew Wiliams writes to say that Dominic Gwynne (of the organ builders Goetze and Gwynne) died recently.

Dear ODOA member

There are three items in our update this week.

1. We have received the sad news that our member Jill Greer died yesterday. She will be much missed, both as a good friend and as enthusiastic supporter of the Organ Tours.

2. This is a reminder of the ODOA Workshop with James Lancelot.

Saturday  6th July, 14.00-17.00: Orgelbüchlein Workshop at

St Andrew's Parish Church, Headington, Oxford

For full details and Registration Form follow this link: Full Details.

Today -  Friday 31st May 2024 - is the deadline for expressions of interest

from potential players. It is this early so we can put together a playing list

for the participants and chorales. This list will be passed onto James Lancelot

so he can make some preparations for the playing session.

It would be good to have an idea of total numbers for refreshments, so everyone (whether playing or observing) is encouraged to register their attendence. Do this either by using the Registration Form

or by dropping an email to oxfordorganists@gmail.com with "ODOA Workshop"

as the subject.

All ODOA members are encouraged to attended what promises to be an interesting

afternoon of music and discussion.

If you have any questions about the workshop, or any difficulty in opening the

link to the registration form, please contact Chris Greeenough (werkprinzip@gmail.com)

or Jan Greenough (penhouse@btinternet.com).

3. Don't forget the Banbury Organ Day on  Saturday 15th June. This will include talks and recitals as well as an organ masterclass by Daniel Moult with members of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and a session on Liturgical Organ Playing by Jonathan Kingston.

Dear ODOA member

This week's update includes news of an exciting workshop opportunity for ODOA members, and various recitals.

1. Saturday  6th July, 14.00-17.00: Orgelbüchlein Workshop at St Andrew's Parish Church, Headington, Oxford

The workshop will be led by James Lancelot who was Master of the Choristers and cathedral organist at Durham Cathedral from 1985 to 2017. On retirement he was appointed Canon Organist Emeritus by the Bishop of Durham.

The workshop will be an exploration of the Orgelbüchlein which will include:

• An introduction to the Orgelbüchlein with musical examples and illustrations by James,

• a opportunity for participants to play an OB chorale for James who will offer comments
  and performance suggestions, and to conclude the workshop a

• Short Recital of the Orgelbüchlein chorales by James.

All members are encouraged to attend, though places for players are limited to 8. The costs will be: £20 for players and £10 for those who have come to listen and learn. Young members can attend (as either players or listeners) for free. 

Potential players should prepare one or two chorales (only one of which will be presented) and submit
their titles and BWV numbers when applying to attend the Workshop. The playing programme
will be selected from these chorales and players will be informed which choral should be played
on the day.

Fuller details and application form will be available next week (watch for the next update email).

If you have any questions about the Workshop please contact Chris Greeenough (werkprinzip@gmail.com) or Jan Greenough (penhouse@btinternet.com).

2. The eighteenth annual Andrew Chamblin Memorial Concert will be given by Wayne Marshall OBE on Thursday 20th June 2024  at 8.00 pm in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and will also be livestreamed online.  Mr Marshall will play an hour-long programme of organ works by Dupré, Laurin and Bach. The concert is free. There are no tickets required for in person attendance in the Cathedral and the weblink for the live-streamed performance is below: https://tinyurl.com/oxfordconcert2024

3. ODOA Members may be interested in this recital at Spitalfields, and the ones that follow later this year (see attached PDF flyer).

CHRIST CHURCH SPITALFIELDS 

Commercial St, London E1 6LY

(Tube: Liverpool Street or Aldgate East)

2024 Organ Concerts on the

1735 Richard Bridge / William Drake organ

* * * * * * * * * 

Monday 13th May 2024 at 7.30pm

Admission by programme £15 or online:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/organ-concerts-2024-season-3209219 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

MARGARET PHILLIPS

programme

SAMUEL SCHEIDT (1587–1663)

Magnificat Secundi Toni

THOMAS GLADWIN (1710–1799)

Sonata no. 6 in E minor/major

Largo – Allegro – Affettuoso – Minuet

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL (1685-1759)

Overture in Samson

George Berg (c. 1730–c. 1775)Voluntary in C minor/major  Op. 8 no.14

Larghetto – Allegro moderato – Allegro moderato

JEAN ADAM GUILAIN (FL. 1702–1739)

Suite du Quatrième Ton

(Pièces d’orgue pour le Magnificat)

Plein jeu – Cromhorne en taille – Duo – Basse de Cromhorne –

Trio – Dialogue – Petit plein jeu

JOHN MARSH (1752–1828) Overture Allegro moderato – Adagio – March: Maestoso

J. S. BACH (1685–1750) Fuga sopra il Magnificat  BWV 733

Dear ODOA member

Several items on this week's update, in date order, so please read to the end.

1. Trip to Buckland and Faringdon, this Saturday 27 April
Details in last week's email. Start at St Mary's Buckland at 11.00am. Andrew Williams adds: Please note that at All Saints, Faringdon, the main church door will be locked, but you should follow the path round to the left and enter at the side door there. Full details  are  given in last weeks Notices -  Friday 19th April 2024.

2. ODOA Summer lunch payments 

Payment for the Summer Lunch on 18 May should be made to Keith, please. The cost is £32.50 and menu details are in last weeks Notices - Friday 19th April 2024. Online payments are preferred:

Account name: Oxford & District Organists' Association

Sort code: 20-85-73

Account number: 70683418

Cheques should be made payable to ODOA and sent to  Keith Lambert, 7 Chandlers Close, Abingdon OX14 2NN

3. Proposed Thirty First Annual European Organ Study Tour to Lübeck and Stralsund, Thursday 5th to Tuesday 10th September 2024.

Arrangements for a tour to visit and play the organs of Lübeck and Stralsund in Northern Germany are well advanced. The Jakobi Kirche in Lübeck has three historic organs.  Lübeck is also well known for J.S.Bach’s visit to meet and hear Buxtehude at the Marienkirche who played the Totentanzorgel which was sadly destroyed during an air raid in March 1942. The Hanseatic cities of Stralsund and Lübeck are noted for organs built by Friederich Stellwagen (1603-1660) including the Marienkirche in Stralsund which we shall visit and play.

Arrangements are planned to be similar to the 2023 tour to Groningen where we make our own way to Hamburg on Thursday 5th September from where we shall hire cars to drive to Lübeck and where we shall stay that evening. Late Friday afternoon we shall make our way by car to Stralsund where we shall be based over the weekend returning to Hamburg via the Ladegast organ in Schwerin Cathedral on Tuesday 10th September.

Accommodation will be hotels with one night in Lübeck and four nights in Stralsund.   We will hire cars at Hamburg airport with four people per car.

We plan to stay in or near the old city in Lübeck and in central Stralsund for the remainder of the trip.  Average hotel costs are approximately £130 per night including breakfast at current prices (April 2024). 

Car hire including fuel will be around £300 per car shared by four or five if there is space.   Meals will be extra although we may try and go for an all-inclusive rate including evening meal at the hotels, if available,  as that worked well in Groningen.

As with previous continental tours there may be some expenses we need to share related to arranging access to the organs.

Fuller details can be found here.

In order to proceed with arrangements, please do let Bryan (bryanalmond10@gmail.com)  and John (jb@positifpress.co.uk)  know if you are interested in joining what promises to be a most enjoyable tour,  ideally by Friday 10th May.

Dear ODOA member

There are two dates for your diary this week: a three-organ opportunity next Saturday 27th April,  and a reminder about the Summer Social on 18th May.

1. Saturday 27th April: We have the opportunity to visit organs in the Faringdon area. Andrew Williams, who has organised the trip,  suggests the following timings:

• 11.00 St Mary's Buckland to 12.00 or 12.30

• 12.30 Lunch at The Lamb in Buckland or Crown or others in Faringdon. (The lady at The Market Café, in Faringdon,  says they could reserve a table for us, if requested. It is in a perfect spot ½ way between All Saints and Blessed Hugh churches.)

• 14.00 to All Saints, Faringdon

• 15.30 to Blessed Hugh, Faringdon, ending 1630.

Details of the organs may be found here: https://npor.org.uk/survey/A00498 (St Mary's) and https://npor.org.uk/survey/N09931 (All Saints). Blessed Hugh does not (yet) have an entry in NPOR but Andrew tells us that 'This organ is by Martin of Oxford, 1888. It is a gem, probably untouched since then, except that I had John Bailey restore it in about 1970.' 

Travel: The S6 bus from Oxford/Swindon goes every 20mins, stopping at Buckland and Faringdon.  St Mary's is a 5-minute walk downhill from the Buckland Turn stop on A420, first stop after Mollies from Oxford.

Cars can also park at Buckland Turn in the layby on the left towards Gainfield, or on the right, road down to Buckland, and you can take the bus to and from Faringdon. All Saints is 2 minutes away uphill from the main Faringdon bus stop. Blessed Hugh is a similar distance in the opposite direction. Ecofriendly, and free for those with right passes! There is also car parking near St Mary's, and 2 car parks in Faringdon (first 2 hours free), and around town.

2. Our Summer Social event will be lunch at The White Hart Hotel, Dorchester, on 18th May.

This was an excellent event last year, and the food was very good and the surroundings are lovely.  The menu is attached: please send your choices to me as soon as possible, so that we can pre-order.

To encourage more musicians to take up the organ, and existing organists to develop their skills and grow their confidence, the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) has relaunched Church Music Skills (Organ).

Students can learn at their own pace from anywhere in the world, with no specific time commitments, and gain a certificate from the RSCM.  You can find out more in this short presentation CLICK HERE and on the RSCM website CLICK HERE.

Our next event is on Wednesday 17 April, in two parts: we hope you will come to one or the other, or both.

At 12 noon, the Oxford Town Hall lunchtime recital will be given by Rosemary Evans, whose admirably symmetrical programme includes four pieces from 'An Oxfordshire Organ Book'. ODOA played a part in relaunching the recital several years ago, and it would be lovely to have your support. Admission is £6.50, including tea, coffee and biscuits. You are welcome to bring a packed lunch too.

From 2 pm to 4 pm, we are visiting the organ of the chapel of Harris Manchester College (IIIP 41; Gray and Davison, 1923; John Nicholson, 1930; subsequently rebuilt or overhauled by NIcholson and Co, most recently in 2008). The case features 33 diapason pipes elaborately decorated by William Morris.

We are asked to arrive at the front door to the college, on Mansfield Road. The visit will include a short tour of the college, and tea and biscuits.

Saturday 26 October, 10:30am to 1pm at St Peter’s Church, Wolvercote, OX2 8AQ. Come and try the organ. Oxford and District Organists’ Association present an opportunity for pianists and keyboard players age 10 to 18 try out their music on the St Peter's pipe organ under the guidance of Malcolm Pearce, FRCO, former director of music at Magdalen College School. £12 for non-members, free to young ODOA members. For booking and further information please contact peter.stutfield@gmail.com or telephone 01865 876848. 

Saturday 20 July, 11am to 4pm at St Peter’s Church, Wolvercote, OX2 8AQ. Aspiring Organists’ Workshop. The day is mainly aimed at late starters, village organists, those who play for services when no-one else steps forward and who may have had no formal organ tuition. Malcolm Pearce, FRCO, of the Oxford and District Organists’ Association, will be on hand to offer guidance on congregational accompaniment and organ voluntary repertoire. £20 for non-members, £10 for ODOA members. For booking and further information please contact  peter.stutfield@gmail.com or telephone 01865 876848. 

Dear ODOA member

In this week's email there are only three items.

1. The funeral of our long-standing member Martin Ball is to be held at 2pm on Friday 5th April, in Beckenham Methodist Church (Bromley Road, BR3 5JE). For a map of the area see the church website:       https://www.beckenhammethodistchurch.co.uk Gloria Toplis writes: Beckenham is a crowded place and there is no parking at the church.   The church itself is quite small so we recommend arriving early.  There is a carpark nearby, opposite the Anglican church, but payment is via RingGo, as is payment for parking meters in the Bromley borough.  Some roads immediately around the centre of Beckenham have parking restrictions, and where parking is free it is difficult to find a vacant place.  If you would like to attend, let me know and I will put you in touch with Gloria for advice.

2. Would anyone like a keyboard-playing engagement for a parish communion on 7th April / 10:00am at Holy Trinity,  Headington Quarry? https://www.hthq.uk/

Fee £50 + expenses.  3-4 hymns,  and a straightforward mass setting. No choir,  and a reasonable digital keyboard with “organ-simulator” / no pedal division.

If anyone is interested please contact : vicar.hthq@gmail.com

3.  On Saturday 27th April we plan to visit churches in the Faringdon area. Our member Andrew Williams reminds us that there are several places available for lunch, including The Lamb in Buckland, and others in the centre of Faringdon, very close to All Saints and Blessed Hugh, such as the Faringdon café, the Faringdon Market café, Sadlers, and Costa. There is also another Costa next to waitrose on the A420.

Dear ODOA member

In an effort to avoid filling your inboxes with mails, I am collating various bits of information into one Friday email. Today's mail has 4 sections.

1. The Summer Lunch. Following last year's successful event, Bryan Almond has once again booked The White Hart at Dorchester for lunch on Saturday 18th May.  Please put this date in your diary - May feels a long way away but we will need to organise menu choices and payments. Link to menu. Let me know if you wish to attend (last year's event was excellent) along with your menu choices. Instructions about payment will follow soon.

2.  We have had an interesting request from Mary McKnight. She writes:

Dear Oxford Organists, I wonder whether a member would like to help at an event please? Oxford Town Hall is hosting the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons  annual meeting. The President is a friend and colleague and I am helping on the social side of the programme. We are both consultants at the JR and the evening dinner would be made if we could have a short selection of popular classics. The hall should be full of mostly UK surgeons and  a small selection of International colleagues. There would be some funding for this. If you can help, that would be fantastic. 

If you would like to help with this, please contact Mary directly by phone on  07985905075 or by email at: mcknightmary501@gmail.com

3. On Monday 11 March we held our latest Zoom event, a presentation and discussion on Repertoire led by Committee member Simon Galloway. This was a wonderful evening with music by Buxtehude, John Campbell, Liszt, Franck, Petr Eben and Rheinberger, and included sound and video recordings as well as scores. This is a link to Bryan Almond's presentation on Liszt.

4. Finally, I'd like to remind you that time is running out for payment of subscriptions. We use your subscription to act as permission for us to retain your contact details under GDPR regulations. After March, if you are not on the membership list, I have to remove you from the email circulation list. Many thanks to all those who have paid already - it makes the job of Keith (the Treasurer) much easier.

Dear ODOA member

You are invited to join us at a Zoom presentation led by comittee member Simon Galloway on the subject of 'Repertoire'. Members will tell us about the challenges and pleasures of particular pieces, why they chose them and which performances they recommend.

The Zoom invitation is below. Please note that although the invitation says the meeting starts at 7.45 pm, the presentation will begin at 8.00pm. (The extra 15 minutes is to allow everyone to join and for the ironing out of technical issues.)

For further information contact: oxfordorganists@gmail.com

Student Organ Recitals: Zihan

For the next in our series of Sunday recitals by young organists, we’re delighted to welcome Zihan, a chorister at St Giles, Oxford. Zihan holds a Scholarship from the Dr Martin Clarke Young Organ Scholars' Trust and recently achieved his Grade 8 organ with Distinction. He will be playing an exciting programme of music by JS Bach, Frescobaldi, Remondi, and Mendelssohn.

Admission is free.

Zihan is an ODOA member, and I am sure he would welcome our support.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o2wmxw0f8U

 Programme

G Frescobaldi (1583-1643), ‘Bergamasca’, Fiori Musicali

J S Bach (1685-1750), ‘Vivace’, Trio Sonata VI

Bach/Vivaldi, Concerto in D minor

R Remondi (1851-1928), ‘Allegro moderato’, VI Grandi studi per sola pedaliera

F B Mendelssohn (1805-1847), ‘Con moto maestoso’, Sonata III

Dear ODOA member,

This is a reminder that our next online Zoom event is TODAY. It will be a presentation given by Dr. Philip Kaye  at 8pm entitled 'It's Never Too Late: The Journey to FRCO and its Council'.

 Philip studied music at Oxford University and was organ scholar at Lincoln College. He continued his studies with a D Phil, on the influence of English music on mainland Europe between 1380-1440. Following his doctorate, he held a research fellowship at Worcester College whilst completing a modern edition of the sacred works of Gilles Binchois (1400-1460). Philip then moved away from academia and trained as a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor. He was a partner at Deloitte, one of the big-4 professional services firms for nearly 25 years. In 2019, as he approached retirement from Deloitte, he set himself the challenge of passing the ARCO and then FRCO, having played the organ only sporadically since his Oxford days. He completed the FRCO in early 2022 and has since been co-opted onto the Trustee Council of the Royal College of Organists.

 Please do join us for what promises to be a very interesting presentation. The Zoom invitation is below. Please note that the meeting proper will start at 8.00 pm - the time from 7.45 is to enable the presenter to finalise technical issues.

 Best wishes,

Bryan

Dear ODOA members

This series of concerts caught my eye in the weekly update from Christ Church Cathedral: I have copied their text but have no further details of subsequent concerts.

We’re delighted to welcome our Cathedral Singers Organ Scholars, Robert and Edward, to give the first of our organ outreach concerts, which are taking place across the next four Sundays at 1500. They will be presenting an exciting and varied programme, including Dietrich Buxtehude’s Toccata and Fugue in F (BuxWV 157) and Jean Langlais’ thrilling setting of the Te Deum. The recital is free and all are welcome to attend. 

Philip studied music at Oxford University and was organ scholar at Lincoln College. He continued his studies with a D Phil, on the influence of English music on mainland Europe between 1380-1440. Following his doctorate, he held a research fellowship at Worcester College whilst completing a modern edition of the sacred works of Gilles Binchois (1400-1460). 

Philip then moved away from academia and trained as a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor. He was a partner at Deloitte, one of the big 4 professional services firms for nearly 25 years. 

In 2019, as he approached retirement from Deloitte, he set himself the challenge of passing the ARCO and then FRCO, having played the organ only  sporadically since his Oxford days. He completed the FRCO in early 2022 and has since been co-opted onto the Trustee Council of the Royal College of Organists.