15 – 18 September 2016 Programme £2 www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk Introduction Buxtehude, bangers and beer: by Fr Tim Pilkington, Rector As Rector of Berkhamsted, I am always delighted by the number of concerts and recitals held in our Parish Church. Following last year’s successful Bach Oktoberfest, this year we are combining Oktoberfest with a Buxtehude marathon: seven hours of his great organ works performed by a relay of recitalists to whom we owe a huge vote of thanks. In an age where many are realising the bankruptcy of materialism and seeking something deeper, more lasting and of a spiritual nature, church buildings offer a space for reflection, for a coming together in community to ponder the deeper meanings of life. In this searching for deeper meaning, music has a key part to play. When sacred music is performed in a sacred space, such as a church or a cathedral, then we have an opportunity to come to the windowsill of heaven and to contemplate the glorious life of being in the company of God. In these days of iTunes downloads and instantly accessible music for the individual, why bother gathering with others to listen to such glorious music, and why do so in a church building? Both Buxtehude’s music and the building known as St Peter’s Church possess integrity of form which seeks to draw us into the mystery that is at the heart of all life, the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus. Places of worship are not monuments to some lost era, they are not tributes to individuals or to groups of people or to historic events, but places of encounter with the living God. Within this encounter with Mystery, music has a crucial role to play with its capacity to transcend the here and now by opening the doors of our minds and hearts to something beyond ourselves, to God. Buxtehude is one of the greatest organ masters of all time – so much so that Bach walked hundreds of kilometres to meet him. And being German, he would surely have approved of us partaking in beer and sausages following the Sunday morning festival eucharist! At St. Peter’s we are embarking upon a process of rediscovery and renewal, where we are seeking to discern afresh precisely how we may serve God and the wider community of Berkhamsted, not least through this building and what happens within it. Whatever we decide, it will be a costly business, but we do want to develop this facility to serve the people of our town in ways that are life-giving. Introduction Many people think being the Church of England we receive financial support from either the government or the local authority: this is not the case. We are totally reliant upon local giving. To this end may I encourage you to make a donation to our building fund by visiting our website, by putting a donation in the gift aid envelope you will find in your pew, or even by text (simply text STPT33 and the amount to 70070). Yours in Christ, Fr Tim Jonathan Lee, organist, writes: So, after a successful Bach marathon in 2015, where does one go? Well the best answer is to a composer whom Bach, Handel, Mattheson and countless other musicians in subsequent generations have viewed as the father of north German organ music; but not just north German organ music, for in his influence of Bach and Handel and Mattheson (who all travelled the distance to meet him), he has influenced the whole canon of Western classical music. The automatic assumption might be that because Bach and Handel came later, that they are somehow better, or somehow more developed, which by extension could mean that Buxtehude’s music is less interesting. I hope you will find quite the opposite to be true: Buxtehude’s music is all light, fresh and rhythmically diverse, and at times harmonically challenging, even to modern ears. You will hopefully hear why Bach was so inspired, and why his music attracted so much attention in the early 18th century. This year there is opportunity on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. to enjoy a coffee talk and tasting given by Colin Smith – a coffee professional. Coffee is such an important friend to all musicians, particularly singers and organists, and it seemed such an extra opportunity to perform Bach’s coffee cantata – a secular work about coffee addiction. Don’t miss it! The Buxtehude music has been arranged, with a few exceptions, by liturgical year; the scheme is based on a similar set of recitals given some years ago by Andrew Arthur, who graciously let me use his scheme as a basis for this festival. If you are a regular organ recital attendee, you cannot fail to have heard that Buxtehude offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to all three of the composers above, and that they all refused … maybe not all his creations were as beautiful as his music… Enjoy the Buxtehude, wine, beer and sausage. Jonathan Lee The Organ The Organ of St Peter’s Church, Great Berkhamsted Specification Peter Collins 1986/Vincent H. M. Woodstock 2011 GREAT Dulciana Principal Rohr Flute Octave Hohl Flute Quint Octave Tierce Mixture Trumpet Tremulant PEDAL Double Open 16’ 8’ 8’ 4’ 4’ 2’ 2/3 2 1 3/5’ IV 8’ 32’* Wood Principal Subbass Octave Pommer Wide Octave Trombone * = digital SWELL COUPLERS Gedact Viola Celeste Principal Stopt Flute Gemshorn Larigot Mixture Cremona Schalmey Clarion Tremulant 8’ 8’ 8’ 4’ 4’ 2’ 1 1/3’ IV-V 16’ 8’ 4’ Great to Pedal Swell to Pedal 16’ 16’ 8’ 8’ 4’ 16’ Swell to Great Zimbelstern-Firshman Combination system with 8 general pistons (256 levels), 6 pistons to each divison (12 levels), and a stepper. Programme of events Thursday 15 September Numbers indicate the Buxtehudewerkverzeichnis (BuxWV) 19:00 Recital 1, Including Advent and Christmas Prelude in G minor Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt Canzona in D Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn Prelude in G minor Prelude in E minor Te Deum laudamus Toccata in D minor 20:00 Marilyn Harper 150 211 183 168 191 147 152 218 155 Recital 2, including chorale settings for Christmas Prelude in C Puer natus in Bethlehem Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g’mein Canzona in G minor Prelude in G minor Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren (3 verses) Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ Ich dank dir schon durch deinen Sohn Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ Toccata in F Linden Innes-Hopkins Marilyn Harper 136 217 210 173 148 212 214 213 188 195 189 157 Julian Larkin Friday 16 September 19:00 Recital 3, including chorale settings for Christmas and Epiphany: Prelude in F sharp minor Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn In dulci jubilo Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern Lobt Gott, ihr Christen allzugleich Ich dank dir, lieber Herre Der Tag, der ist so Freudenreich Es ist das Heil uns kommen her Prelude in C Prelude in D Julian Larkin Jonathan Lee 146 192 197 222 223 202 194 182 186 137 139 20:00 Recital 4, including chorale settings for Lent and the Annunciation Prelude in A minor Mensch, willst du leben seliglich Magnificat (2 verses) Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort Canzonetta in G Ciacona in E minor Canzonetta in G Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott Fuga in C Magnificat Primi Toni Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam Prelude in C Rupert de VincentHumphreys 153 Benjamin Woodward 206 Julian Larkin 205 Liam Cartwright 185 171 160 172 184 174 203 180 138 Saturday 17 September 11.00 RECITAL 5: including chorale settings for Passiontide and Easter Passacaglia in D minor Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder Ciacona in C minor Kommt her zu mir, spricht Gottes Sohn Ach Gott und Herr (2 verses) Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der den Tod überwand Toccata in F 12.15 RECITAL 6: including chorale settings for Pentecost Prelude in D minor Komm, heliger Geist, Herre Gott Komm, heliger Geist, Herre Gott Fuga in B flat Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist Gott der Vater wohn uns bei Danket dem Herren (3 verses) Prelude in F Jonathan Lee Benjamin Woodward 161 David Hardie 178 159 201 177 224 198 156 Jonathan Lee David Hardie 140 Richard Carr 199 200 176 209 190 181 145 15.00 Coffee Talk and Tasting in church 16:00 J S Bach: Coffee Cantata, BWV 211 with Kathryn Jenkin, Phillip Conway-Brown, Andrew Tinkler & Buxtehude music by chamber group Serenata 18.30 RECITAL 7: including chorale settings for Trinity Vater unser im Himmelreich Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott (4 verses) Canzona in C Canzona in G Prelude in E Benjamin Woodward Jonathan Lee 219 196 207 166 170 141 19:30 WINE TASTING Sunday 18 September Von Gott will ich nicht lassen (220) Von Gott will ich nicht lassen (221) 09.30 Parish Mass (including Alles was ihr tut, das tut im Namen Jesu) Organist Jonathan Lee Prelude in E minor (142) 11.00 BAVARIAN BREAKFAST 12.00 Linden Innes-Hopkins RECITAL 8: including chorale settings for Trinity Fugue in G Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren Prelude in E minor Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl Canzonetta in A Canzonetta in C Prelude in A Prelude in A minor 175 215 143 187 225 167 151 158 Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ Herr Jesu Christ, ich weiss gar wohl 196 193 Jonathan Lee 18.00: Choral Evensong With Buxtehude Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (arr A S Davis) Prelude in G minor (149) Organist Jonathan Lee Coffee Tasting – Kaffee und Kuchen Saturday 17 September 15:00 in the church Tickets available in advance , cost £5 Here is an opportunity to enjoy a talk about coffee and to taste it in the best circumstances – accompanied by German cake: Kaffee und Kuchen. The talk is to be given by Colin Smith, a coffee professional, whose company is generously providing the coffee supplies. Ulrike Grego has organised the cake. On a Saturday afternoon in Germany one sees large numbers of people leaving the baker’s shop and walking home with paper-wrapped horizontal parcels: trays of cake portions to be eaten together with the family, with coffee and a comfortable chat around the table. The back of St Peter’s church may not quite achieve the required level of Gemütlichkeit, but the coffee and cake will certainly be up to standard. As Jon Lee says, coffee is such an important friend to all musicians, particularly singers and organists, and here it is in good company: the tasting will be followed by Bach’s coffee cantata, a secular work about coffee addiction. Don’t miss it! Smiths are specialist coffee bean roasters in Apsley, Hertfordshire. We are delighted to offer our customers a comprehensive range of freshly roasted coffee beans from around the world. This includes single estate, speciality, Fairtrade and organic coffees as well as many blends to suit every occasion. A range of flavoured coffees and loose teas are also available German Wine Tasting Saturday 17 September 19.30 in the Court House Tickets available in advance , cost £15 An exploration of German wines will take place in the Court House as part of St Peter’s Oktoberfest. It should at this point be explained that the original “Oktoberfest,” held in Munich every year since 1810, is a 16-day folk festival traditionally extending from mid or late September to the first weekend in October, and based around a celebration of German food and drink. Beer is, admittedly, a more prominent feature of the festival than wine – but over time many places have developed their own variations, and St Peter’s modest four-day Fest this year celebrates wine as well as beer – with food, and music! The wine tasting will be guided by the Rev’d Mike Eggleton (WSET1 tutor) and introduces some new and very exciting German wines from some of Germany’s great vineyards. The selected wines include Heuchelberg Weingärtner: Riesling mit Muskateller 2015 Winzer vom Weinsbergertal: Noblesse, Chardonnay Weinmanufaktur Untertürkheim: Rosé, Trocken Weinkellerei Hohenlohe Fürstenfass: Merlot Winzer vom Weinsbergertal: Noblesse, Regent Weingut Allmendinger Horrheim: Samtrot 2014 The wines will be accompanied by food in the form of Maultaschen – a traditional German (Swabian) dish: an outer layer of pasta encloses a filling traditionally consisting of minced meat, smoked meat, spinach, bread crumbs and onions flavoured with various herbs and spices. Maultaschen are only produced in Swabia, a historical region that was incorporated into the modern German states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Vegetarian alternatives will be available! Guten Apetit 1 WSET: Wine and Spirits Education Trust Bierfest Sunday 18 September 11.00 in the Church Yard (Court House if wet) Cost £5 for a beer, sausage and Bretzel The Parish Eucharist is at 9:30, and will include more of Buxtehude’s music: the choir will sing parts of Alles was ihr tut, das tut im Namen Jesu (BuxWV 4) during the service, and Jonathan Lee will play Buxtehude works both before and after the service. As the organists resume their final day of Buxtehude’s complete organ works, come and join us for a Bavarianstyle Bierfest. This traditionally includes Weisswurst, Weissbier (wheat beer) and Bretzel. Weisswurst is translated as white sausage, and is made from a mix of finely minced veal and fresh pork bacon. It is usually seasoned with parsley, lemon, mace, onions, ginger and cardamom. The Sausage Man UK Ltd The beers being served are Paulaner Weizen Paulaner ‘Oktoberfest’ Vegetarian alternatives are also available, as are soft drinks, and breakfast service will continue until we run out of supplies. Acknowledgements We would like to thank very much everyone involved in this weekend’s festival: the clergy, churchwardens, PCC and Hilary and Kate in the Church Office of St Peter’s for their support and help; the incredible army of organists who have so generously given their time; the Cowper Society, all the helpers who have given time to make this work; Mike Eggleton, Adrian Davis, St Peter’s Choir, members of Chiltern Chamber Choir; all instrumentalists and singers for Bach’s coffee cantata; Colin Smith for his help with the coffee talk and tasting; Majestic Wine; Rob Halls and Thomas Coram School; Kate Perera for the programmes, and Ed Clarke for his superb graphics. We are very grateful again this year to Charles Wesley, The Sausage Man UK Ltd for Wurst und Bretzel, and we owe a very big debt of gratitude to Reiner Ackermann of Getränke Ackermann his expert help and for supplying us. Bridgewater Sinfonia Season 2015 -16 Bridgewater Sinfonia congratulates St Peter’s Church on its magnificent Oktoberfest, and is grateful for the opportunity of advertising its forthcoming season. Saturday, 1 October 2016 J S BACH Aaron COPLAND Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Brandenburg Concerto No 6 Clarinet Concerto soloist Marie Lloyd Scheherazade Saturday, 26November 2016 W A MOZART Robert SCHUMANN W A MOZART Overture: Le Nozze de Figaro Konzertstück Requiem with Chiltern Chamber Choir Saturday, 11th March 2017 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Johannes BRAHMS: Overture: Egmont Symphony No 7 Piano Concerto No 2 soloist Dinara Klinton Saturday, 17th June 2017 Felix MENDELSSOHN Maurice RAVEL Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY Overture: a Midsummer Night’s Dream Ma mère l’Oye Symphony No 4
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