By Andrew Cesana

As I write these lines during the course of December 2002, it gives me a chance to reflect upon the events of the past year, not only nationally and internationally, but also within the Kent County Organists’ Association as a whole. I have also had some interesting moments, going over to France and Belgium as well as participating in two visits to Salisbury.

    The two events in Salisbury were most enjoyable. The first I attended was the Improvisation for All course in July (16th-19th), organised in conjunction with the Sarum College. They organize courses for volunteer and experienced organists throughout the year. The course tutors were Michal Novenko from Prague, Andrew Smith (St. Peter’s, Eaton Square) and Martin Baker (Master of Music, Westminster Cathedral). On the first evening, I improvised in the style of Tournemire on the plainsong sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes. Certainly, it was a privilege to have improvised on the Salisbury Cathedral organ.

    During the course of the three days, the instruments used were those at the Cathedral, St. Martin’s Church and the Sarum Collegewhere, each morning and evening, the new Kenneth Jones instrument in the College Chapel, and the new Vincent Woodstock organ in the practice room — which has two balanced 8ft stops — were used. However, on the Thursday evening of the course Michal Novenko gave a recital at the Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Swanage, which was an hours drive from Salisbury. Regular organ recitals take place during the summer months at Swanage Parish Church, including a number of eminent recitalists and Michal Novenko’s recital ended with a Prelude and Fugue on the hymn Will your Anchor Hold, perhaps appropriate as Swanage is on the Dorset coast by the sea.

    A month later, during August, the British Institute of Organ Studies Summer Conference was held, again at the Sarum College. On this occasion, lectures were given on the first day by Nicholas Plumley on the pre Commonwealthand Harris organs in Salisbury Cathedral. Ian Davies lectured on the eighteenth century choir and organ, Jenny Nex and Lance Whitehead on Sun Insurance records and organ builders in London and Barrie Clark on the architecture of Salisbury Cathedral. The first day culminated with an excellent Organ Recital by Geoffrey Morgan — Organist of Christchurch Priory, Dorset — at the Cathedral, which began with the exceptionally fine Introduction and Passacaglia by Sir Walter Alcock, who was Organist at Salisbury from 1917 until his death in 1947, also music by Ireland (Elegiac Romance), Mozart, Hollins and Henri Mulet.

    On the Tuesday morning, those delegates attending were transported by Buddens Coaches — just bypassing Shaftesbury, where Barry Ferguson, Rochester Cathedral’s former Organist and his wife Sandi now live — to the English Organ School, Milborne Port, Dorset which is housed in the former United Reformed Church. This is also the home of Margaret Phillips, the leading international recitalist and teacher, and her husband, David Hunt who had Kent connections, she having been the Assistant Organist at All Saints, Maidstone. The school houses an extraordinarily fine collection of organs, harpsichords and other musical instruments, the most recent being a new two manual instrument by Peter Collins who was present during the day to introduce it. After the visit, the coach proceeded to Milton Abbey. This is the place which contains a renowned public school and where, in 1978, BBC TV filmed the drama adaptation of R. F. Delderfield’s novel To Serve them All my Days. It starred John Duttine as David Powlett Jones, later to become Headmaster of the imaginary Bamfylde School. The organ, originally built by Gray and Davison in 1845, was demonstrated by Trevor Doar, the Abbey Organist, in music by Karg Elert, Mulet and Widor (Symphony no. 2 complete). It seemed unusual that no English music was included as the instrument was ideal for nineteenth century English Organ Music. The instrument even includes a 32ft reed!

    After the Conference Dinner in the evening at the Red Lion Hotel, Salisbury, Wednesday morning was taken up with lectures by Christopher Kent on Music of a Rotten Borough and Barrie Clark in Division in the Choir and nineteenth century organs. Christopher Anderson lectured on Sir Walter Alcock and the organ (attended by members of the Cathedral Choir Association in Salisbury as well as the two grandchildren of Sir Walter Alcock), Terry Hoyle on the Salisbury Cathedral Organ in twentieth century recordings and concluding with a short recital by Robert Fielding (who we shall be meeting next year when the KCOA visits Salisbury) in the Sarum College Chapel. I could not get to Devizes Parish Church for the afternoon concert due to having to be at Downside Abbey that evening. Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable conference.

    I am so glad that the Ypres trip went so well, with Ludo Geloen, City Carilloneur also being present at the Cathedral, though I managed to visit St. Martin’s Church, Haringe, in August for the recital given by Gustav Leonhardt, which was a remarkable occasion as the church was packed for the recital. How many organ recital series can boast that in this country?

    Next year, there are certainly going to be some exciting meetings including the celebration of the centenary of the birth of Percy Whitlock on Saturday 8th February. Malcolm Riley’s lecture I am sure will be very much a guiding point to the rest of the centenary year. I seem to be getting a certain feeling of Englishness within my musical heart in 2003. With Sir Frederick Bridge, mentioned at St. Nicholas, Strood, Percy Whitlock at Rochester Cathedral and Sir Walter Alcock at Salisbury Cathedral, these are three names to watch out for during the course of 2003.

    I am looking forward to newer challenges since having recently left St. Nicholas, Strood. I look forward to taking you all to Salisbury in June, Singing to the praise of the dear old days, as we once sang together in the Choir when we were boys together and life was all fair weather in the shadow of the Salisbury Spire. Harts “A Song of Salisbury”.

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