Unique opportunity to hear virtuoso organist perform all-time great musical works

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Thomas Heywood, guest recitalist at the ORGANZ Congress in Palmerston North at Queen's Birthday, is a talented and prolific transcriber and his solo organ arrangements of the most famous classical and romantic music are published for world-wide distribution. 

The Melbourne-based virtuoso is celebrated as "an acknowledged master" for his spoken introductions and a truly unique ability to make the greatest music of all time come alive on the King of Instruments.
 
Heywood's solo recital on Saturday 30th May at 7.30pm at All Saints on the Square will be a dazzling array of virtuoso works including many of his own transcriptions of the masters. These include many unique examples such as Chopin's Grande Valse Brilliante and Military Polonaise,  Handel's Harmonious Blacksmith Variations and Monti's celebrated Czardas.
 
Traditional organ works will be represented by Mendelssohn's Sonata No 1, Guilmant's Grande Choeur in D and Lemare's Toccata di Concerti as a finale. 

The first of Heywood's two appearances in Palmerston North will be on Friday 29th May at St Andrews in the City at 7.30 pm as part of a Gala Concert featuring Wellington organists Judy Dumbleton, Paul Rosoman and Jonathan Berkahn and local artists Gaye Carrington-Smith (soprano) and Roy Tankersley.  This concert will involve two pipe organs, harmonium, string, wind and brass players.  Heywood will present Handel's Organ Concerto in Bb with a Cadenza by W.T.Best published in 1845 and accompanied by the Manawatu Sinfonia. 

The emphasis of the Congress is 'Joining the Ranks'  - the organ within the mainstream of music - as an accompanying instrument with instruments and voices as well as a solo instrument.  On Sunday night at the Jazz Service at All Saints Christchurch organist Barry Brinson will present jazz style items on the organ.

 

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