The Organ in the Limelight - National Organ Month 2008
The organ took a welcome turn in the public spotlight during September, National Organ Month, thanks to the efforts of the organ community all round the country and the strong support of Radio New Zealand Concert.
Encouraging responses came from the regions as well as the metropolitan centres. In Palmerston North, for example, the Manawatu Organ Group organised a bus tour of the city's organs. As the bus travelled to each instrument, passengers heard a short introductory explanation of its main features. The novel concept attracted a full busload of 45 people, including many members of the general public. In Nelson, a concert at St-Johns-in-the-City by Bill Buck attracted nearly 70 people. Variety was provided by Japanese euphonium player Momoko Yasuda.
In the capital the Wellington Organists' Association ran an energetic week-long series of lunch hour recitals in various city churches featuring local organists. Then only days later, the Festival Singers performed Haydn's 'Great Organ Mass' with Jonathan Berkahn playing the organ part.
In Christchurch, the focus was on an organ, voice and piano recital given by John Dodgshun (organ), Libby Bennetts (soprano), Lynley Clarke, John Robinson (baritone) and Beryl Cohen (piano) at St Andrews at Rangi Ruru.
Further south in Dunedin, September saw a Town Hall concert on "Norma" played by St Paul's Cathedral's David Burchell. Also the Otago Southland Organists' Association members presented a recital at First Church by organists Peter Stockwell, Alan Edwards and Graeme Kirk with Les Green (tenor horn). Helped by good publicity the concert attracted an encouraging attendance of nearly 70.
The versatility of the organ was well demonstrated in Auckland concerts. Early in the month, David Brookes presented "The Versatile Organ" at Dilworth School chapel, ranging through many musical styles and showing off the three-manual organ's resources, including the separate Antiphonal Division and even the instrument's ability to play itself! A very different instrument also showcased was St Patrick's Cathedral North German baroque-style instrument: two manuals, unenclosed and with few playing aids. Yet, playing in the magnificent setting of the refurbished church, organist Sherry Shelton & Philip Lloyd (trumpet) successfully presented a wide range of music not usually heard on such an instrument, including even such "pop classical" pieces as Nessun Dorma and Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Pie Jesu.Then as October began, City Organist John Wells, Viva Voce, Grant Dixon and Philip Lloyd gave a fabulous performance of much-loved works, ranging from solo organ, love songs and sea shanties to a stirring rendition of Handel's Zadok the Priest which elicited a standing ovation. A fine end to both the concert and Organ Month during which Stephen Vincent, Philip Smith and Indra Hughes also presented concerts.
Around the country many parish organists played special voluntaries, gave mini-concerts and encouraged people, especially young people, to become familiar with the instrument.
No summary of National Organ Month would be complete without mentioning the wonderful selection of organ programmes presented during the first week of September by Radio New Zealand Concert. Olivier Messiaen was featured as Composer of the Week, beginning with an introductory talk by Max Kenworthy and continuing with recordings of many of the French composer's works.Three NZ organ concerts were broadcast: Andreas Meisner at the Christchurch Town Hall, Donald Nicholson at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington, and John Wells' final recital on the Auckland Town Hall organ before the new Klais organ project began. Finally, "Pressing On" focused on Nicholas Grigsby's assessments of new organ CDs.