CHELMSFORD CATHEDRAL LUNCHTIME CONCERT

Tom Wilkinson, organ

04.09.09

Tom Wilkinson moved up to St Andrews this summer, after a year as Assistant Director of Music at Chelmsford Cathedral.

Good to welcome him back so soon, with an attractive programme beautifully interpreted.

He began with the young Couperin, including a delicate Dialogue sur la Voix Humaine, followed by a plaintive Récit from Couperin's contemporary, Nicolas de Grigny.

After a Bach Prelude and Fugue, we heard the familiar Albinoni Adagio, sounding very majestic on the full organ at the end. Just as rousing was Guilmand's March on a Theme of Handel which ended this short recital.

Hearing this magnificent Mander so expressively played, in this acoustic, reminds us that the organ places the audience at the virtual heart of the instrument.

The next Cathedral Lunchtime is on the 18th, with Tim Smith at the piano; other highlights from the Autumn Season include a Salvation Army band in October and the Forest School in November.

Tom Wilkinson can be heard again at the Cathedral on September 15, when he joins Director of Music Peter Nardone and Kit Hesketh-Harvey in a tribute to Percy Grainger.