Programme £2 - organrecitals.com

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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