Five short films, recorded earlier in the year at Bradford Cathedral, will be officially launched on Thursday 24th October at 7pm. The series of short but powerful films for a secular society are entitled 'You Need to Talk about God', and have been created by Robin Gamble and Tom Harmer to enable conversation. They cover subjects including: Does He exist What about science and suffering? Where does Jesus fit in and why we all need to make our minds up. The Revd Canon Robin Gamble says about the series:“As a society we are suffering from ‘God Amnesia’. We are not so much God rejectors as God forgetters “These films are designed to get us all talking, thinking and remembering." All are welcome to the launch of the ‘You Need to Talk about God’ films on Thursday 24th October at 7pm. You don’t need to book in advance, and further information can be found at https://www.youneedtotalkaboutgod.com/
In this edition of 'Notes from an Organist' we discover more about them, and what to expect from their recital including playing a FAB-ulous piece of music; conducting at a birthday concert for composer Philip Wilby; and working with the Black Dyke Band. What can people expect from your recital at Bradford Cathedral?I am keeping with this term’s theme of secular and concert repertoire with a programme of music which, certainly for the most part, would be very unlikely to appear at one of our Cathedral services. There is a jazzy piece written for the coronation by Iain Farrington, alongside a virtuosic concert fantasia by W T Best and a dramatic depiction of flight by Cecilia McDowall.Why do you enjoy playing the organ?The organ is really unlike any other instrument, and the variety it offers is unparalleled.Do you have a particular favourite piece out of those you are playing?I have enjoyed learning some new music for this programme, and have especially enjoyed getting to grips with Cecilia’s piece. Though I think my favourite piece in the programme has to be the final number… This season’s theme is ‘The Town Hall Organ (Secular and Concert Repertoire)’. How are you reflecting this in your programme?The Concert Fantasia on a Welsh Tune was written by W T Best who was a famous civic organist in Liverpool, as well as giving the opening recital on the Sydney Town Hall organ. The piece is very much in this style with lots of grandiose, bombastic writing as well as a huge variety of the more peculiar sounds of the organ.What are your personal hopes or plans musically for the rest of 2024 and into 2025?I am hugely looking forward to a number of exciting concerts throughout the rest of the year. I’ll be conducting a concert with Halifax Choral Society in a few weeks celebrating the 75th birthday of Yorkshire composer, Philip Wilby, as well as this year conducting two performances of the Messiah, playing in another and singing in a fourth. We also have exciting projects with the Black Dyke Band here at the Cathedral as well as the usual tranche of carol services and concerts. A full list can be found here!As 2024 nears its end, how has the year been for you musically at Bradford Cathedral?It has been another exciting and varied year of music at the Cathedral, including the choir tour earlier in the year, and introducing our choristers to lots of lovely new music.What are you most looking forward to for the rest of the year?Usually, I would say around 12noon on 25th December when it’s all finished for another year… (!) but there are lots of exciting concerts and projects I’m looking forward to getting stuck into.You also have many upcoming music events across Yorkshire coming up – are there any particular highlights for you?Carols and Brass with the Black Dyke Band is always a favourite, alongside getting excited by the prospect of the St Matthew Passion which I’ll be directing just before Holy Week.Finally, how would you sum up your upcoming recital at Bradford Cathedral?F.A.B….You can join us on Wednesday 9th October at 1pm to hear Anthony's organ recital, with an optional £4 buffet lunch beforehand at 12:30pm. You can find out more about him on his website or X account, or on Instagram. You can discover more about our organ recital season on our dedicated page.
On Monday 14th October Mary White will be presenting the talk ‘Wesley's Women - An Alternative History of Methodism’ at the monthly Monday Fellowship meeting, which is held in Bradford Cathedral’s de Lacy Centre at 2pm. Mary White says of the talk:“It’s about the women that Wesley knew, or were inspired by him, including his mother, his sisters, his wife, and other women, including myself. “Come along and you’ll hopefully find out things you don’t know!” This talk was shaped from an initial idea Mary had to talk about the collection her mother, who was a life-long Methodist, had of Wesley memorabilia. Mary’s father was also a Methodist minister. “When I looked up his relations, I found it more interesting to explore the women that knew him, and were inspired by him.” Mary has been a regular speaker at the Monday Fellowship gatherings, with her previous talk looking at the parents of the famous local authors, the Brontës, a talk that she has taken ‘on tour’. “I gave it recently for the third time at Cartwright Hall for the Friends of Bradford Art Galleries and Museums, and then again the week after for the Sandy Lane Baptist meeting, and will be giving it again later in December.” Mary also emphasised how much she was enjoying doing the talks. “I love it – as they are subjects that I enjoy and am passionate about.” With the Brontës and Wesley covered, what is next for the talk series? “Next year I’m going to do female hymn writers – called hymn and her!” All are welcome to hear Mary White’s talk - ‘Wesley's Women - An Alternative History of Methodism’ – on Monday 14th October at 2pm in the de Lacy Centre, as part of that month’s Monday Fellowship meeting. All talks are followed by refreshments.
Could you introduce yourself, how you got into music / become an organist and your musical journey to where you are today? As a child in primary school, a keen eyed teacher noticed how enthralled I was with the organ at Rochester Cathedral, and so arranged for me to have a play on the instrument in her church. I then took organ lessons with the organist of that church before going to the King’s School in Rochester and learning the organ with Roger Sayer. Upon leaving school, I was organ scholar at Chelmsford, Norwich (where I studied music at UEA) and Salisbury cathedrals, before moving to Newcastle in September 2015. Since being organ scholar at Chelmsford, I’ve studied the organ with William Whitehead.What can people expect from your recital at Bradford Cathedral?Hopefully something that will appeal to everybody, with some light hearted moments as well as some more reflective passages.Why do you enjoy playing the organ?Compared with most instruments, the colours are almost limitless, and the musical world is so rich. From playing tiny chamber organs supporting other musicians, or mimicking a whole orchestra, there’s never a dull moment.Do you have a particular favourite piece out of those you are playing?Probably the Langlais Triptyque. I learned this work with Roger Sayer, and it was one of the first complete works I had learned.This season’s theme is ‘The Town Hall Organ (Secular and Concert Repertoire)’. How are you reflecting this in your programme?I’ve tried to reflect this by including as much music as possible not composed for the church or religious events. For example, the Hollins Triumphal March is clearly written for a town hall organ, calling for bells and percussion if available. Langlais Triptyque was commissioned for the Royal Festival Hall, and if one listens closely, there are some not so subtle references to Westminster Chimes in the final movement.What are your hopes or plans musically for the rest of 2024 and into 2025?Over the next few months I have a few recitals coming up, including Leeds Minster and some more locally in the North East. I’m also enjoying singing with various groups and am looking forward to singing in Beverly Minster with the Tallis Consort for their Messiah Performance in November.You last played a recital here back in October 2022; what have you been up to musically since then?I’ve enjoyed regular recitals here in the North East, as well as accompanying various choirs in cathedrals such as Salisbury, Bristol and Norwich. Last summer, I was delighted to be asked to play for my first ever Songs of Praise in Jesmond, Newcastle.Back in February you held an Evensong alongside the Cathedral Music Trust and their ambassador Alexander Armstrong. What was that like to be part of?It was slightly surreal but a great experience meeting not only Alexander, but his team from the Cathedral Music Trust. It was also lovely to have such a large congregation in our stalls for a midweek Eucharist!You also recently welcomed their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to Newcastle Cathedral where the choir performed one of your compositions. Was that an honour for you?It really was. When I wrote the piece (a commission from a chorister parent to mark her daughter’s 18th) I never imagined that it would have been performed so widely. As well as the recent performance with the Duke and Duchess, Ian kindly put it on our latest Choir CD, and also performed the piece on the radio.Finally, how would you sum up your upcoming recital at Bradford Cathedral?Hopefully, rather fun and relaxed!You can join us on Wednesday 2nd October at 1pm to hear Kris’ organ recital, with an optional £4 buffet lunch beforehand at 12:30pm.You can discover more about our organ recital season on our dedicated page.
