Diocesan News25 Jun 14

Wonderful Performances During Belfast Cathedral Music Festival

Canon Denise Acheson, Cathedral Organist Ian Barber, guest recitalist Jonathan Clinch, Master of the Choristers David Stevens and the Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev John Mann, pictured before Jonathan gave an organ recital as part of the Belfast Cathedral Music Festival.

Belfast Cathedral’s first ever week–long Music Festival in June featured violas and violins, organs and harpsichords, cellos and flautinos and the fabulous voices of the Cathedral choirs.

The many highlights of the Festival included a performance of Jonah–Man Jazz by the pupils of the Cathedral’s Choir School project, and a wonderful and very complex performance of Handel’s Neun deutsches Arien by soprano Catherine Harper.

The Festival opened with a concert by the Edinburgh University Music Society. Dean John Mann captured the atmosphere: ‘They swept in with Rossini’s William Tell Overture as they got a feel of the building and its acoustic; then we settled in to Fauré’s Requiem,’ he said.

‘The Ave Maria from the Rachmaninov Vespers was simply beautiful, the choir ranged in single rows lining the side aisles. The effect was stunning.’

The Jonah–Man Jazz Concert was a great showcase for the talents of the young singers in the Cathedral choirs and in the Choir School Project. A large and enthusiastic crowd enjoyed 15 minutes of beautiful singing, interspersed with brief words spoken by pupils from the three north Belfast schools taking part in the Choir School.

Dean Mann said: ‘This was a performance that was tuneful and would have stood up with anything that primary school children could perform anywhere, but most important it gave us reason to thank those who work with the young for their vision and vitality, and those who are children now for giving us hope of a better and brighter future, together.’

Jonathan Clinch, organist and musicologist based at Durham University, visited the Cathedral for an organ recital and played four pieces. The first three were J.S. Bach – Fantasia & Fugue in G minor BWV 542; Percy Whitlock – Fantasie Choral no.2 in F sharp minor and César Franck– Andantino

Dean Mann said: ‘The final piece, lasting about 25 minutes, Julius Reubke’s Sonata on the 94th Psalm, presented just the kind of contrasts that an organ can produce – and played brilliantly.’

Belfast Cathedral’s Master of the Choristers David Stevens gave an organ recital the following night. ‘A robust Bach opening prepared us for Mendelssohn with lashings of double cream, a beautiful folk melody that drifted in and out of familiarity, that such lilting music inspires, a subtle piece of Caesar Frank,’ said Dean Mann.

 ’Then three delightful Haydn petit fours, followed by a joyful burst of the tuba stop, before rounding off with an ice–cream soda: the skater’s waltz.

During the week, the Dean joined David Stevens, professional violinist Katie Stevens and Cellist Alex Rolton for an evening of instrumental music. The programme included: Bach Concerto to two violins, in D minor, BWV 1043; Bach Cello suite No.5 in C minor BWV 1011 and Handel Violin Sonata in D major HWV 371.

Friday night was another superb evening of music when opera diva Catherine Harper, a Choir School tutor, sang Neun deutsches Arien by GF Händel, accompanied by Belfast Baroque musicians.

The musicians demonstrated great skill and passion. Jordan Bowron’s Telemann Viola Concerto was wonderful and Olwen Foulkes made quite incredible music on the recorder, peforming Vivaldi Concerto for Flautino RV444.

On Saturday 14 June, St Anne’s Cathedral Choir and Belfast Baroque performed a series of Baroque favourites including pieces by Handel, Back, Vivaldi and Purcell.

Belfast Cathedral’s Music Festival ended on 15 June with a Festival Eucharist, featuring St Anne’s Cathedral Choir and Belfast Baroque.

It is hoped the Music Festival will become an annual event.

Photo 2: Soprano Catherine Harper sings during the Belfast Cathedral Music Festival accompanied by Belfast Baroque.

Photo 3: Dean John Mann performs during the Cathedral Music Festival with professional musicians from Belfast Baroque.

Photo 4: Belfast Cathedral Choirs sing on the last night of the Cathedral’s Music Festival.

For further information contact Karen Bushby, Press Officer, St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on 07766 103880 or email [email protected]