Resident organist, Dr August Guan, will give a recital at the church of St Gregory the Great, St James Square, Cheltenham.
St Gregory the Great, St James Square, Cheltenham GL50 3PR
14:00 - 15:00
Free entry - retiring collextion
Organiser: Parish of St Gregory the Great / cheltenham.stgregorythegreat@cliftondiocese.com
The recital will explore the vibrant world of 18th century French organ music featuring both the Willis and Blank organs and will include pieces by from Claude-Bénigne Balbastre , Josse-François-Joseph Benaut (Mass in A Minor with chant featuring members of St Gregory's choir), Michel Corrette, and Jacques-Marie Beauvarlet-Charpentier. There will be extensive programme notes.
A key feature of this recital is the use of both organs at St Gregory the Great, Cheltenham. The altar organ was built by Sebastian F. Blank of Herwijnen, though Dutch Baroque style in origin, it has been adapted to meet the modern British taste and the need of Catholic services. The gallery organ, on the other hand, is a fine example of 'Father' Henry Willis' craftsmanship, inheriting the acoustic ideas of British chamber organs from the first half of the 19th century. However, its sound is considerably louder and more full-bodied, designed to be somewhat independent of the acoustics of larger buildings. Balbastre and Benaut’s works will be performed on the Blank organ, while Corrette and Beauvarlet-Charpentier’s compositions will be played on the Father Willis.