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Cumbrian Society of Organists |
A dozen members of the Society and a few parishioners were treated to an outstanding recital given by Jeremiah Stephenson, who is based in London but with strong connections to Sheffield and Cambridge, on 24th July.
His programme opened with Bach’s delightful chorale prelude ‘Liebster Jesu’ which was followed, later in the programme, by Matthew Martin’s contemporary version of the same chorale, part of the Orgelbüchlein Project. The Bach theme continued with an impressive and exciting performance of the great Prelude and Fugue in D, BWV 532, and his arrangement of Vivaldi’s Concerto in D minor.
The remainder of the programme was devoted to various dance forms, including Sweelinck’s Ballo del Granduca, based on a 16th Century popular tune with four variations. Byrd’s Pavanne and Galliard continued the dances theme, before Gardner’s Five Organ Dances concluded the programme.
Jeremiah played this wide variety of pieces with great accuracy and precision, employing an impressive range of registrations and dynamics. He coped remarkably well with the idiosyncratic 1905 Wilkinson pedal board, particularly in the Bach fugue. His rhythmic accuracy was notable throughout the recital and was a lesson to us all!
A splendid lunch in the Glenridding Room at the Inn on the Lake followed, rounded off by Jeremiah’s account of his work encouraging young people to take an interest in the organ and some discussion about this with members and guests.
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