麻豆社

麻豆社 PROMS 2011

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London

Presented by Louise Fryer

British organist Stephen Farr puts the mighty Albert Hall instrument through its paces in a programme which celebrates two musical anniversaries and includes the world premiere of a major new work.

The anniversary composers are Jehan Alain, the French organist born in 1911 and killed in World War II, and Franz Liszt, whose music for organ is the match, in virtuosity and sheer elan, of his more familiar works for piano.

Concluding the programme, Stephen Farr gives the first performance of a characteristically imaginative new work for organ by the British composer Judith Bingham. This suite of pieces depicts a lavish, but imaginary, ceremonial crown in which is framed seven fabulous gemstones of legend. Each movement of the suite takes one of these jewels to represents an aspect of royalty, good and bad - such as divinity and splendour, but also treachery and cruelty, representing the best and the worst of the human race.

Alain: Litanies
Liszt: Prelude 'Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen' (arr. Winterberger)
JS Bach: Chorale Prelude 'Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott', BWV 721
Judith Bingham: The Everlasting Crown (World Premiere)

Stephen Farr (organ).