Catch master organist live in concert
Maestro Dr Christopher Cockburn, will perform a solo afternoon concert with the newly-refurbished 116-year-old Henry Willis organ at St Thomas Church, Berea, on Sunday, 30 May, at 3pm.
MASTER organist, Maestro Dr Christopher Cockburn, will perform a solo afternoon concert with the newly-refurbished 116-year-old Henry Willis organ at St Thomas Church, Berea, on Sunday, 30 May, at 3pm. The concert is being held to celebrate the completion of the organ’s major restoration process.
The programme features a carefully curated blend of famous and fabulous organ music such as the perennial favourite Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by JS Bach, and the Toccata from Charles-Marie Widor’s fifth (of 10) organ symphonies.
Interspersed with these two grand works will be pieces relevant to the organ’s illustrious past.
Cockburn is well-known throughout South Africa as an organ recitalist and accompanist.
He has performed recitals throughout South Africa and appeared as an organ soloist with orchestras in Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, and Johannesburg.
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“The organ is one of the best church pipe organs in South Africa. It is one of the few instruments in South Africa made by the world-renowned Henry Willis and Sons – a Liverpool-based, British firm of pipe organ builders founded in 1845, who have been making bespoke organs for more than five generations. They are responsible for many of the greatest organs in the UK and further afield: Winchester Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral London, Salisbury Cathedral, Kings College Chapel London and Truro Cathedral (where Cockburn has performed),” he said.
“Unlike many instruments which have been changed and added to in order to reflect the changing tastes of generations of organists, the instrument at St Thomas has fortunately not suffered in this respect so it is very satisfying to play. It is an English Romantic organ, and several pieces on my programme will reflect this, but because it has retained its basic integrity one can effectively perform a range of other music on it. It has the character of an English Romantic organ, but because it’s a good example of its kind you can adapt it to play other music as well,” Cockburn added.
This concert forms part of the popular series on Sundays at St Thomas Church. Tickets for the concert can be booked by contacting the church office in the mornings on 031 201 2204. Alternatively, contact organist Mervyn Payne on WhatsApp on 082 706 4619.
Tickets are R100 with concessions of R80 for pensioners and students and must be pre-booked before the day.
The money raised will go towards the enormous costs of refurbishing the organ.
All Covid-19 protocols will be observed.
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